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John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints |
If you are travelling between Las Vegas and St George, Utah then a diversion via the Valley of Fire State Park is highly recommended if you have the time.
You can reach the park directly from I-15, or via Lake Mead National Recreation Area. An ideal route when travelling north is to head from Las Vegas to Lake Mead NRA, then visit Valley of Fire State Park, then join I-15 north.
From the visitor's centre a spur road goes off to Mouse's Tank and the White Domes.
Mouse was the nickname of a renegade Indian who used the area as a hideout in the 1890's. Mouse's Tank is a natural pool of water hidden amongst the rocks, which due to being well shaded does not dry up quickly. Mouse used the water in the tank to survive. The trail to Mouse's Tank, although level, is quite exhausting in summer due to the heat - but well worth the effort. Along the way there are said to be some Indian petroglyphs (rock art) on a rock but I must say that I couldn't spot them.
Another spur road leaves the main road to the west of the visitor centre and provides access to Atlatl Rock. Here there is a staircase leading to a fine collection of petroglyphs which can be observed close-up.
The park has many examples of exotic desert plants and various species of wildlife.
As the name of the park suggests the entire area is extremely hot in summer.
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Most recently modified 18-Jan-04