Just a few more snippets from Valley of Fire State Park. These are places that are just a short walk from the main road. The first one is Elephant Rock, located near the East Entrance Station.
Thistle enjoyed looking for Antelope Squirrels that scampered during our morning walks.
This short trail leads to some petrified logs from long ago forests.
Trees washed down in some ancient flood were buried in silt and mineralized over time. There are at least two sites along the main highway through the park that have petrified logs on display.
These cabins were built in the 1930s by the CCC as a shelter for passing travelers. They are constructed of native sandstone.
Each is equipped with a dirt floor, a window, and a rock fireplace.
A brick monument was erected in 1949 by local citizens, a memorial to Sergeant John J. Clark, whose body was found in this spot with his buckboard and horse, which also died.
The Clark Memorial along the old Arrowhead Wagon Trail.
He died here in June 1915 at the age of 67.
Another pretty sunrise.
That morning I hiked a portion of the old wagon trail where the old man died of thirst.
I thought of him as the sun rose higher, and temperatures climbed.
I only hiked 3 miles and then went back to my air-conditioned RV. Travel was sure a lot tougher in those early days.
There were wedding pictures being taken at Seven Sisters picnic area.
That's a black-tailed Jack Rabbit that Thistle wanted to chase on another morning walk near the campground.
This is near Arch Rock on the scenic loop past the two campgrounds.
Arch Rock Campground has nice primitive sites, but no electric hookups. You can see another arch high above that RV.
A little cottontail bunny trying to hide in one of the holes. Thistle didn't see this one.
There's a Guided Hike Company that brings hikers from Las Vegas to hike here. I liked this picture on their van.
Tomorrow I move on a little farther north and to some higher elevations that hopefully won't be so hot.
