Valley of Fire itinerary
 

Have one day to get out of the strip and explore. The plan is to rent a car and do some hiking in the Valley of Fire State Park. Is Hoover Dam/Lake Mead worth seeing? I’ve been reading pros and cons. If so, should we go to the dam first and then VOF, or vice versa?

Also, I understand there’s no restaurants in the area…..is this the case? If so, I’ll need to pack a picnic.

My alternative plan was to go to Red Rock, Spring Mountain and Mt. Charleston but posters here seem to favor VOF.

What will the weather be like end of September? 80s?

Thank you.

Even at the end of Sept the desert can be pretty hot and bright sun. For what it's worth, I'd do the dam last and I do think it is worth a visit. But if you save it for last you always have the option of not going if you find something that you just can't pass up in
VOF.
Find a good deli in Las Vegas and pack a lunch, lots of water and have fun.

If you plan on visiting the dam would suggest you do that first unless you plan on getting into Valley of Fire for dawn. It gets its name from the way the red rocks really "glow" at sunrise and sunset. If you don't care about that do the dam last that way the rocks haven't had a change to heat up all day.

You could definitely take a lunch - but there was a little place near the Valley of Fire (right at the tip of the water from Hoover Dam) where we got sandwiches. I thought Valley of Fire was beautiful during the day, as well - and think it's much nicer than Red Rock (which I've gone to a couple times).....

Thanks for your replies!

Is this doable in 1 day? Take I-15 to VOF, hike; return to Vegas via the scenic North Shore Road around Lake Mead, perhaps stopping at some marinas, and lastly, the dam?

That's the way we did it--made the great circle route. You'll love it!

great circle route - it will be very hot at VOF, bring lots of water, hats and sunscreen. i'd pick pretty short hikes.

Thanks again for your replies; appreciate it.

We did this last summer. Of course, with the heat did minimal hiking at VOF, but thought it was great place. Go to visitor center first and get map of the different trails and where the petroglyphs are located. We did like seeing Hoover Dam, got there too late for tours - maybe next trip.