If you’re planning a trip to Nevada, the Valley of Fire famous photo spot deserves a spot on your itinerary. Unfortunately our time there was brief—barely an hour as we passed through on our way to Antelope Canyon. But this stunning location, conveniently close to the park entrance, is the perfect stop. All it took was a quick pull-up, and we were instantly immersed in fiery red sandstone scenery.
If you’re interested in experiencing this iconic Instagram spot for yourself, read on for everything you need to know.
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Valley of Fire State Park was established in 1935, after efforts to preserve its natural beauty and archaeological importance. It’s also Nevada’s oldest state park and spans over a whomping 40,000 acres. Its name also reflects the intense red sandstone formations that, when hit by sunlight, appear as if they’re on fire. These formations were created by shifting sand dunes roughly 150 million years ago and since they have been shaped into the unique structures we see today.
HOW TO GET TO VALLEY OF FIRE
The park is most easily accessible from Las Vegas, making it ideal for both short and long trips. To get to the Valley of Fire famous photo spot, drive northeast on Interstate 15, then take Exit 75 toward Valley of Fire/Lake Mead. From here, it’s about a 15-minute drive to the West Entrance of the park. If you’re traveling from Arizona or Utah, it’s best to navigate through St. George, Utah, before heading south on I-15 to reach the park. I found that gas is also cheaper in Utah, so it’s a good place to fill up on your road-trip.
VALLEY OF FIRE FAMOUS PHOTO SPOT LOCATION
The Valley of Fire famous photo spot is located within the park, just off the main scenic drive, about five minutes from the Visitors Centre.
This particular spot is pretty incredible, featuring a winding road, mountain backdrop, and striking red-rock alleyway. It gives everyone ample opportunity to stop and take in this unique location, a place definitely worth pulling the camera out for.
To get there, enter ‘Valley of Fire State Park’ and follow the Valley of Fire Highway, before turning onto Mouse’s Tank Road. This road will lead you directly to this iconic spot. Use this pin for specific coordinates to help you locate it.
PARKING AT THE VALLEY OF FIRE FAMOUS PHOTO SPOT
Parking is pretty straightforward with small pull-off areas available if you’re able to arrive here early. During peak seasons, you might find that these parking areas fill up quickly. However, there is a small parking area which you can click through to here which is further along and has much more availability.
BEST TIME TO VISIT THE VALLEY OF FIRE FAMOUS PHOTO SPOT
The best time to visit this photo spot is during sunrise or sunset. We visited just after sunrise and it was the perfect time, with there being a limited amount of people around. I would highly suggest this if you are looking to photograph the Valley of Fire famous photo spot as ideally, you’ll want no one else in your photos.
Arriving just after 7am in May meant that the light was already starting to become quite harsh so if you’re interested in more soft, natural lighting, I would aim to arrive just before sunrise. The further into the day you get the harsher the lighting becomes.
According to Travel Nevada, the park can become busy after 10am, especially during spring and fall when the weather is cooler.
PHOTOGRAPHY
When you’re at the famous photo spot in Valley of Fire, a few photography tips can help capture this incredible landscape. First, consider underexposing the road to avoid overexposing the sky, especially in bright daylight. Later in editing—Adobe Lightroom is incredible for this—you can lift the shadows to bring back details. A zoom lens is also great to have in your kit, letting you create that compressed effect that makes distant rock formations look larger. Just ensure that if you’re photographing a subject, give them a bit of distance so they’re framed naturally. And finally, as mentioned earlier try to visit when the light is softer for the best effect.
Ultimately, just remember to have fun! This viewpoint offers many perspectives to explore, so don’t hesitate to experiment.
SUMMARY
In this post, we explored the Valley of Fire famous photo spot, covering its location, an overview of its history, and some photography tips. This breathtaking destination offers incredible opportunities for stunning photography. Just make sure to arrive early for the best chance of capturing that amazing shot.
For more Instagram worthy destinations in the USA, explore our comprehensive travel guides.