But the Seven Wonders Loop picks up where the initial trail leaves off. This marks the end of the Fire Wave Trail, with most turning around at this point. Expect lots of people here, however, to prevent you from getting a clean shot! Looking down toward Fire Wave knob The knob at Fire Wave The masses at Fire Wave Another look at Fire Wave The best angles are from the immediate north and south sides of the grooved “wave,” with the colors most vibrant in the bowl-shaped washes adjacent to the famous knob. Find your way down to the protruding pink-and-cream colored knob below-the Fire Wave. The route ascends a slight incline as it approaches the first “wonder,” with many stopping to take in the view at a high point overlooking the Valley of Fire. Peering south toward the Fire Wave area Looking back at Rock of Gibraltar Fire Wave Trail Approaching Fire Wave Descend to the drainage again, then follow the yellow blazes out across the slickrock, enjoying the striated patterns and colorful swirls at your feet. Beyond, hikers can catch a glimpse of a pinkish-orange ridgetop the Fire Wave feature lies just beyond. Rise to a crest at 2/10 mile, then descend a new arroyo that passes through another crop of sandstone chunks. The Fire Wave route makes for a clay saddle with several mammoth-sized boulders that at one point were sheared off from the Rock of Gibraltar above. Rock of Gibraltar from the Fire Wave Trail The iron-oxidized behemoth towers above as the trail drops partway into a minor drainage and bears south. The jaunt begins with the very popular Fire Wave Trail, which culminates at the first of the “Seven Wonders.” ( Note: The Fire Wave Trail is on the Valley of Fire maps found at the Visitor Center, but the Seven Wonders Loop-although now an “official” trail-is not.) Set on a sandy, scrubby basin surrounded by deep ruby outcrops of Aztec sandstone, the Fire Wave Trail sets out eastward toward the “ Rock of Gibraltar” (no, not that one). Park on the east side for easiest access to complete the loop in the clockwise direction. The walk amid the “wonders” begins at the Fire Wave Trailhead (Scenic Vista #3), with parking lots on both sides of the White Domes Scenic Byway, about 4.7 miles north of the Valley of Fire State Park Visitor Center and just under 60 miles from Las Vegas, Nevada. The hike is also sometimes combined with the one-mile White Domes Trail to form a roughly three-mile trek.) Map of Fire Wave Trail – Seven Wonders Loop, Valley of Fire State Park created using ( Note: Admittedly, however, the “seven wonders” are still hard to spot yours truly identified only four of the seven see here and here for details of more successful runs. The wonderful diversity makes this perhaps one of the best two-mile treks in the state of Nevada and is relatively easily accessible to all-as long as one can follow the sporadically-placed yellow blazes, essential for navigation in this trail-less terrain.

In a hike combining Valley of Fire State Park’s most Instagram-famous spot with the wilder and more adventurous Seven Wonders route, this scenic loop traverses some of the park’s most spectacular scenery, from narrow slot canyons to vibrantly-hued sandstone knobs. Seven Wonders Loop, Valley of Fire State Park, February 2023

White domes valley of fire