Hike to Mouse's Tank in Valley of Fire State Park
Clark County, Nevada
Details
Distance
1.5 miles
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Jake Young
Hike through one of the best places to see Petroglyphs in Valley of Fire State Park
This short hike takes you through a red sandstone canyon covered in beautiful Native American rock art. The incredible amount and concentration of petroglyphs on this hike make this a must-see in Valley of Fire State Park.
There is a parking lot roughly one mile north of the visitor center where the Petroglyph Canyon Trail starts. There is also a nice covered picnic area across the street from the parking lot if you are trying to find some shade.
Before you start the hike, be sure to check out the sign with the symbols you might see on the hike as well as their potential translations.
The trail follows a sandy wash for 3/4 of a mile and ends at Mouse's Tank. Keep your eyes on the upper portions of the canyon to view the petroglyphs carved into the sandstone faces. Be sure to stay in the wash as climbing on the rocks could damage the rock art.
The trail ends at Mouse's Tank, a natural water catchment made out of sandstone that holds water even during dry periods. The tank is named after a Native American, called Mouse, who used the canyon as a hideout.
There is also the option to continue up the canyon for a few hundred yards to view a natural sandstone arch in a narrow slot canyon.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Reviews
When I reached the "End of the Trail" sign, I looked to my left and saw an easy climb to a higher vantage point. At the top, there's evidence of a former railing or posts. If you hike around a down, there are plenty of footprints in the sand indicating many others have hiked the unmarked trail past the "End of Trail" sign. Explore a little further!
5.0
Did this on the way to Zion. Rocks are even redder than in Zion. Was a fun (and hot) stop
5.0
Mouse's Tank was an easy hike, like most of them in Valley of Fire. The colors were beautiful no matter what time of day. Kind of hard to believe it's been there for years, and it took me until I was in my 30's to learn about it even though I'd been to Vegas so many times. If you're looking for a cool experience without putting in a day's worth of effort, don't miss this hike.
5.0
We stopped here on the way to Zion NP. I didn't expect it to be so orange here! It was even more orange than Zion, and similar in color to Bryce! We did a couple short hikes and explored the rocks. The tiny chimpunks (or squirrels) were so very cute!
5.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Hike the Petroglyph Canyon Trail to the Mouse's Tank
Hike the Rainbow Vista Trail
Photographing Rainbow Vista
Five Canyon Overlook
Hike the Prospect Trail in the Valley of Fire
Hike the Pinnacle Loop in the Valley of Fire
Community
Mobile Apps
© 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy