Surrounded by the grey limestone of the Muddy Mountains the rocks in the Valley Of Fire, the oldest state park in NEVADA, glow a bright red. The rocks do indeed appear to burn in a magical fire that seems to transform them into stone and the origin of this glowing sandstone dates back almost a hundred and fifty million years to the Jurassic Period when the visible rock strata of today was formed by sand dunes.

Following the Fremont People and those of the Basketmaker Culture this rocky domain was regularly visited by members of the legendary Anasazi Tribe who originated from the nearby Moapa Valley. For the Anasazi the shining rock formations symbolised a sacred land in which they held various religious ceremonies until they began to leave the area in around the 12th century.

Around fifty miles from the noisy hustle and bustle of Las Vegas, The Valley Of Fire State Park is a welcome contrast to the synthetic city of gambling and neon. In recent years the solitude and beauty of this natural landscape with its fascinating glowing-red rock formations has attracted an increasing number of visitors.

During the course of each day the sun transforms each aspect of the scenery, including the colour of the rock, into something truly amazing - a land of intense light, shadow and colour. The Valley Of Fire is a remarkable experience.