When you think of Las Vegas camping usually doesn’t come to mind. Glitzy lights, gambling, loud shows, the party scene, and lots and lots of people. What many don’t know is that there are some great hikes and camping opportunities just beyond the Las Vegas lights. Trip eight was about exploring options far enough away from the lights and crowds, but close enough to fit into a relatively short time frame (at least short for us). We spent a little over a week traveling from Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park and then to Zion National Park. Round trip, it’s about 350 miles. To get you into the mode for the trip, I’ll start with a gallery of pictures from Valley of Fire, beginning with the picture of our campsite that adourns our homepage.
We decided to follow a trail from AllTrails that seemed to extend beyond one trail, traverse mountains of boulders and end at another trail. There was a lot of climbing, sometimes squeezing through tight spots between massive rocks and then jumping down five feet to get to continue what we thought was the trail. There was only a minor amount of arguing about the direction we should be going. Three hours later we finally arrive back at our car, dehydrated, dirty, but truly inspired by the unique landscape.
Our campsite was a narrow butte – definitely, as you can tell, an instagrammable setting. The only drawback was the wind. It gusted like a hurricane, and I could swear that our trailer moved in the middle of the night, inching its way to the edge of the butte.
Since we didn’t really want the sandblasted finish on Aristotle, we decided to move on after two days. Originally we considered heading south, but on a whim decided to try our luck at Zion National Park. Honestly, I did not have high expectations, assuming that it would be overly crowded, hard to find good camping, and a bit more touristy than desired. Man, was I wrong. Our experience there was one of the best. While the hike up to Angel’s Landing was a bit crowded, it was easy to find hikes in the back country where very few ventured. We also found a truly spectacular campsite on BLM land just outside of town and right at a trailhead. Matt was in heaven. As soon as we set up camp, he grabbed his bike and with a grin from ear to ear, set off over jumps and boulders, skirting the rim of the valley. I was mildly concerned that he might miss a turn and head off a cliff, but at least he would have died happy.
The setting, the hikes, the rides, the landscape, the quiet… it was so good that we ended up staying five days. Then it was time to head back for work obligations, so we packed up and headed back to Las Vegas, dropping Aristotle and Plato off at storage and catching a flight out of the sin city.
Tips…
Visiting Zion. Seeing Zion is like a religious experience. You cannot imagine the mixture of gold, orange, pink, brown, black, yellow set against a brilliant blue sky that is accented with wisps of white clouds. It is surreal. However, this also means it gets crazy busy. We visited at the end of October, a week before the park would close for the season. It was chilly at night and cool during the day, but I’d swap the weather for the crowds anytime.
Hiking essentials. I subscribe to the less is best mode for hiking accessories. Often I forget to even take water, heading out equipped only with my cell phone (for music, photos, and in case of an emergency, and hoping there’s a cell signal). Matt likes to have a bit more, like water, some snacks, extra sun block, just a few basics. Things happen that you don’t expect – think about the book 127 Hours. Well, it seems every so often something happens on the trail where we wished we had something to help. I’ll add a story about two incidents later, but in the meantime, here is our list of essentials on the trail.
- Cell phone. As mentioned, this is my #1 essential for pictures, music for added motivation when legs are tired, mapping and following trails, AND, for emergencies. Though, more often than not, we are out in cellular dead zone, so that takes me to item #2
- Satellite phone or a GPS tracking system. Satellite phones are expensive to have, so may not be the best option. With a GPS tracking system, you can send your “emergency contact” a link to track you. And, I think the tracking system allows for texting.
- Water. This should be #1, but I so often forget to pack water. Frankly, I hate carrying something on a run. Matt got me a glorified fanny pack for water. It’s okay, but tends to bounce. However, you need something for water. Camel backs may be a better choice and they have added spaces for storing other items, like the next one…
- Snacks. A hungry person can become a confused HANGRY person. Take some almonds, or something to help in a pinch when hunger starts. It definitely helps to not be hungry when you are frustrated, a bit lost, and tired.
- Rope. No, I’m not suggesting you take rope on a road run, or a run around a lake, but when hiking in areas of large boulders it can come in handy. We found ourselves in need of a rope on the Valley of Fire hike, so much so, that it’s no on the essential list. Will try to remember to post a camper story on this.
- Sunscreen. I bath in sunscreen and lotion every morning. Beyond the vanity of not wanting sunspots, preventing a sunburn or future cancer just seems smart. You will also notice that I wear long sleeves and hates as much as possible.