Fiery sunrise on Friday morning at Valley of Fire. This was about 5:15 a.m.
By 5:45 a.m. I was at the trailhead of Petroglyph Canyon Trail which ends at a landmark called Mouse's Tank.
Jimson Weed blooming near the trailhead. It has some medicinal uses, but is also hallucinogenic and can be fatally toxic.
The trail down Petroglyph Canyon is pretty easy, except walking in soft sand can be strenuous.
The walls of this canyon are covered with ancient petroglyphs.
There are also wild flowers blooming along the way.
This little wren was my only companion on the trail.
Almost every available "chalkboard" was covered with petroglyphs.
Hunting must have been good here...I see a lot of bighorn sheep symbols.
The trail.
More petroglyphs as we approach Mouse's Tank.
"Mouse's Tank" is a natural rainwater-collection pool, which got its name from a renegade Paiute called "Little Mouse," who hid in these canyons and was known to obtain water at this and other pools.
Local folklore says that Little Mouse was hunted down by a posse and shot to death when he refused to surrender for his alleged crimes in the 1890s.
The water source may be what attracted the sheep as well as their hunters.
As I return back to the parking lot, the sun begins to reach farther into the canyon.
It has been a nice cool shady hike early in the morning.
Evidence of creatures in the night.
Next I hiked the Rainbow Vista Trail. The sun has risen enough to brighten the colors we will see. I am still the only hiker here.
The start of this trail is so scenic that wedding parties come here for photos of their grand occasion.
Rainbow Vista
More tracks in the sand...
Trail marker....the trail continues another mile to Fire Canyon Overlook.
This was a lizard...you can clearly see his foot tracks and tail dragging.
Rainbow Vista
The purple waves were different.
Not sure this was part of the official trail, but I followed other people's tracks to the top of this rock for a grand view of the area.
The view!
Back down, you have a choice to go back to the parking lot or continue to the Fire Canyon Overlook. We're going on.
The trail is still in the shade.
Someone thought this was a special place and built this little cairn.
There's about a 5-foot drop here which gave me pause, but there is a way around without having to jump.
Scenes from the trail.
The trail abruptly ends at a cliff drop-off overlooking Fire Canyon.
Fire Canyon
Scenes from the return trip: An arch.
Once again, a wren is my only hiking pal.
Desert flora.
Jack Rabbit tracks.
Back to Rainbow Vista
It was still early so I drove out the east entrance to the town of Overton for gas and groceries. This is the view re-entering the park from the east side.
