Valley of Fire State Park
Famed for its vivid red Aztec Sandstone formations from the Jurassic period, Valley of Fire was first inhabited by man around 11,000 years ago. Petroglyphs are among the best preserved reminders of these prehistoric cultures. Later, Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) were here, and remained until about 1150 when drought forced their relocation. Thereafter, the valley was occupied by Paiutes, which were here as recently as the 1860s when nearby St. Thomas was settled by Mormon pioneers.
In 1912, a crude road was built across the valley as part of the Arrowhead Trail connecting Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. By the 1920s, the valley was gaining popularity and the name Valley of Fire was coined by an AAA official after visiting during sunset. The archaeological heritage of the valley was also being uncovered around this time, and in 1931 8,760 acres of federal land were transferred to the State of Nevada to be used for recreational purposes. Work on what would become the park began in 1933, when the Civilian Conservation Corps began building the first facilities and campgrounds. On April 1, 1934 - Easter Sunday - Valley of Fire was designated Nevada's first State Park (though it wasn't formally recognized until the following year when the State Legislature convened). Today, Valley of Fire State Park has grown to nearly 46,000 acres, the largest in the state, with numerous trails and landmarks to explore.
