Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire State Park is Nevada's oldest State Park. It covers an area of 34,880 acres (141 km²) and was dedicated in 1935.

Valley of Fire is located 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Las Vegas at an elevation of between 2,000 and 2,600 feet (610 and 790 m). It abuts the Lake Mead National Recreation Area at the Virgin River confluence. It lies in a basin 4 miles (6 km) wide by 6 miles (10 km) long, 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Overton, Nevada.

The rough floor and jagged walls of the park contain brilliant formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes more than 150 million years old. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays.

The Valley of Fire derives its name from red sandstone formations, formed from great shifting sand dunes during the age of dinosaurs. Complex uplifting and faulting of the region, followed by extensive erosion, have created the present landscape. Other important rock formations include limestones, shales, and conglomerates.

-WikiPedia

The geology here is just mind bending, any which way you look at it. 150 Million years old. Erosion patterns that dont seem to make sense. It looks like the surface of mars, and has portrayed the Red Planet in many TV shows and movies just for that reason.
The highlight for me were the Petroglyphs left behind by Ancient Pueblo People, or the Anasazi who were farmers from the Moapa Valley 300 B.C. to 1150 A.D.

To stand in the same place as they did when they were marking these rocks, without velvet ropes or barriers keeping you away from the rock face is an unforgettable experience.

Some other pics from the day....




JR in the Valley







As always, the proof.