Sure Bet in Vegas

If you travel to Las Vegas and have never been to the Southwest before, there is a popular, but not too publicized, day trip that will introduce you to the wide variety of topography and geology across the entire area. The sights and vistas of the route are very reminiscent of southern Utah, Arches National Park, and the Lake Powell region. Easily accomplished in a day (but a full day), the trip takes you away from the glitz and glamour(?) of Vegas and gets you connected with the wonders of desert southwest.

The trip is essentially Hwy 93 south to Hoover Dam, Route 167 north through Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and then west through Valley of Fire State Park to I-15. If pressed for time or not interested, Hoover Dam can be skipped but it is an iconic structure that defined and allowed the foundation and growth of the American Southwest (Las Vegas and LA). The route can be traversed in either direction but if you are a photography enthusiast I would examine the map carefully in terms of your travel direction in the AM and late afternoon coupled with your shooting goals. For example, Valley of Fire can be shot either in the AM or PM, but most Lake Mead shots will be a PM shoot as the Lakeshore Drive section (southern part of 167) faces east. The northern section of 167 leading to Valley of Fire is called North Lakeshore Drive. There is little traffic (at least after the summer rush) except I would assume it heavier on Saturdays or Sundays. Some additional traffic is encountered in Valley of Fire.

When entering Lake Mead from the South, there is an entry fee (generally) of 10 dollars that is good for 7 days. There is a North entry station that is located at the east Valley of Fire turnoff (just south), but on a Monday in early October it was closed. Valley of Fire requires a $10 per vehicle fee as well. There are self-pay stations at the east and west ends of the drive.

The chief attractions/vistas by area are;
Hoover Dam - Lake Mead overlook (on the road down to Hoover Dam), The Hoover Dam itself and Museum, and the new Highway 93 bridge walkway where you can look down upon the dam.

Lake Mead – Lakeshore Drive overlooks of the Lake itself, Northshore Drive has many pullouts for outstanding views of mountains and a wide variety of rock formations, and the Redstone area of rock outcrops.

Valley of Fire – Main drive has close views of the extruded red stone formations, White Domes Road has more traditional layered, multi-colored sandstone formations similar to those across the southwest, and Fire Wave trail is at Parking Lot 3. Fire Wave (sometimes called “mini-wave” or “the wave”) is a small version of “The Wave” formation at North Coyote Buttes on the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness Area near Page Arizona. If you’ve been to this formation you can skip Fire Wave. If not, it is worth the .6 mile hike down to it. Valley of Fire is on par with most National Monuments in term of quality of experience, staffing, educational exhibits at the visitor center, etc. I was very impressed and wish I hadn’t waited so long to visit.

Good luck at the tables and happy shooting.