As I mentioned earlier, to see the Fire Wave one must descend to the lower end of the expanse of banded slickrock. There, angling out over a small wash, was a sculpted prominence of the same banded slickrock, alternating in colors between light pink and red. In addition to the wavy lines from the bands, which contribute their own sense of motion and flow, the actual outer surface of the rock was eroded into what might reasonably be called a wave - a wave that was just about to crest.
courtesy JInnes
courtesy BConnell
courtesy RHanel
courtesy PChen
courtesy PChen
courtesy RHanel
After we had expended several gigabytes of memory card storage, we began the slightly uphill walk back to the trailhead. It had been close, but I think Caroline's Fire Wave hike had in fact been even more scenic than the White Domes Loop hike. Some impressive scenery packed into this tiny little park!
courtesy PChen
courtesy JInnes
After the Fire Wave hike, we took a short detour off of the Mouse's Tank Road, quickly taking a few van-side pictures of the Silica Dome area. We then decided that noontime is indeed a good time for lunch, and located the extremely scenic (and at the time, empty) Seven Sisters picnic area along the main park road.
courtesy RHanel
Across Rainbow Vista Valley
Seven Sisters Picnic Area
It was only noontime and we had already complete four hikes in Valley of Fire. We decided that we'd had a more than sufficient visit, and we elected to get started on our way back to Las Vegas.
Interactive trackmap with photo points - Valley of Fire hikes - click map to view
Start Time:
8:44a.m.
End Time:
8:55a.m.
Duration:
0h11m
Distance:
0.41 km
(0.26 mi)
Average Speed:
2.2 km/hr
(1.4 mph)
Start Elevation:
2245ft
(684m)
*
Max Elevation:
2245ft
(684m)
*
Min Elevation:
2194ft
(669m)
*
End Elevation:
2235ft
(681m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
0ft
(0m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
24ft
(7m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
Start Time:
9:18a.m.
End Time:
9:59a.m.
Duration:
0h40m
Distance:
1.23 km
(0.77 mi)
Average Speed:
1.9 km/hr
(1.1 mph)
Start Elevation:
2065ft
(629m)
*
Max Elevation:
2066ft
(630m)
*
Min Elevation:
2033ft
(620m)
*
End Elevation:
2066ft
(630m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
18ft
(5m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
24ft
(7m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
Start Time:
10:23a.m.
End Time:
11:08a.m.
Duration:
0h44m
Distance:
1.78 km
(1.11 mi)
Average Speed:
2.4 km/hr
(1.5 mph)
Start Elevation:
2016ft
(614m)
*
Max Elevation:
2047ft
(624m)
*
Min Elevation:
1900ft
(579m)
*
End Elevation:
2003ft
(610m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
80ft
(24m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
118ft
(36m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
Start Time:
11:20a.m.
End Time:
12:11p.m.
Duration:
0h51m
Distance:
2.36 km
(1.47 mi)
Average Speed:
2.8 km/hr
(1.7 mph)
Start Elevation:
2003ft
(611m)
*
Max Elevation:
2034ft
(620m)
*
Min Elevation:
1853ft
(565m)
*
End Elevation:
1990ft
(607m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain:
125ft
(38m)
*
Total Elevation Loss:
148ft
(45m)
*
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph