20 Attractions to Explore Near Moapa Valley

Valley of Fire State Park is a remarkable natural wonder located in Churchill County, Nevada, just an hour outside of Las Vegas. The area spans over 40,000 acres of striking red sandstone formations, towering rock formations, and petroglyphs that date back thousands of years.The park offers a wide range of recreational activities such as hiking, camping, picnicking, and wildlife viewing.

Moapa Valley is a rural community located in Clark County, Nevada. It is situated in the southeastern part of the county and covers an area of over 150 square miles. The valley is surrounded by the scenic Moapa Mountains and is known for its breathtaking natural beauty. It is also home to several notable attractions, including the Valley of Fire State Park, the Lost City Museum, and the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

The state park derives its name from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone, which formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago. These features, which are the centerpiece of the park's attractions, often appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun's rays.

Nestled within the rugged terrain of Lincoln County, Nevada stands Moapa Peak, a towering promontory that offers breathtaking views and thrilling adventures. With its rocky outcroppings, winding trails, and stunning vistas, this mountain is a true testament to the endless beauty of the American West. But beyond its natural splendor, Moapa Peak holds a special place in the hearts of outdoor enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike.

Gold Butte National Monument is a stunning natural area located in northeastern Clark County. It covers over 300,000 acres of land and features a range of diverse landscapes, including rugged mountains, colorful sandstone formations, and broad desert basins.The monument is also home to a wide array of wildlife, including desert bighorn sheep, pronghorns, and threatened species like the Mojave desert tortoise and the southwestern willow flycatcher.

Bunkerville is a rural area located in Clark County, Nevada, with a population of around 1,300 people. It is situated in the northeastern part of the county, adjacent to the Arizona state line. The town is known for its cattle ranches and farms, which have been in operation for generations.Bunkerville has a rich history, dating back to the late 19th century when Mormon pioneers settled in the area and established a small farming community.

Mormon Peak stands tall in Lincoln County, Nevada, proudly displaying its impressive elevation of 7,187 feet. This peak is not just any old mountain; it is dominated by rugged rocky terrain that will get your heart pumping and put your climbing skills to the test. If you are brave enough to venture to the top, you will be rewarded with stunning panoramic views that seem to go on forever. Some might say that the view from the peak is worth the climb alone.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway, located in Clark County, Nevada, is a world-renowned racing facility that offers a thrilling experience for motorsports enthusiasts and casual fans alike. The speedway is situated on 1,200 acres of land and features several racing tracks, including a 1.5-mile tri-oval, a 2.4-mile road course, and a 3/8-mile dirt oval.The most notable event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is the NASCAR Cup Series race, which takes place annually in September.

Fortification Hill is a prominence adjacent to Lake Mead in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The mountain prominence is plateau-like, or mesa-like with its highpoint at the southeast terminus, and sloping north and northwestwards toward Lake Mead. It is near a southern section of Lake Mead, and just northeast of Hoover Dam. It can easily be seen eastward across Las Vegas Bay or from the two northern mountain terminuses of Eldorado Mountains, or the Black Mountains.

This remote 37,030-acre wilderness is a 12-mile long stretch of the Grand Wash Cliffs. It encompasses escarpments, canyons, and sandstone buttes that make up the transition zone between the Colorado Plateau and the Basin and Range Province. Vegetation includes an assortment of Mojave Desert shrubs below the cliffs as well as a pinyon-juniper woodland above. Wildlife in the area include gila monsters, desert tortoise, and desert bighorn sheep.

The 87,900 acres of the Paiute Wilderness are in extreme northwest Arizona, surrounding the Virgin Mountains. The wilderness is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. The southern section of the wilderness lies within Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, and is also managed by the BLM. Directly to the north, separated by Interstate Highway 15, lies the Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness.

Las Vegas Lake is a man-made reservoir created in 1955 by the construction of the Hoover Dam. The lake covers an area of 247 square miles with a maximum depth of 532 feet. It is a popular destination for boating, water sports, fishing, and scenic airplane tours.The lake is fed by the Colorado River and provides water for Las Vegas and the surrounding areas. It is also an important source of hydroelectric power, producing 4.2 billion kilowatt-hours annually.

Mount Wilson is a mountain in Mohave County, Arizona, U.S. At 5,456 feet, it is the second highest point of the Black Mountains after Mount Perkins. Mount Wilson Wilderness is a 23,900-acre protected wilderness area centered around the mountain, established in 1990 under the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act and managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This desert wilderness includes eight miles of the Wilson Ridge and is surrounded by the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

A concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. The dam's generators provide power for public and private utilities in Nevada, Arizona, and California. Hoover Dam is a major tourist attraction; nearly a million people tour the dam each year.

The Desert National Wildlife Range in Lincoln County, Nevada is a sprawling natural paradise that left me in awe of its splendor. From its rugged terrain to its vast wildlife, the range is an extraordinary wonder. Hoodoos and rock formations dot the landscape, reinforcing the sense of geologic history that permeates the area. If you're looking for a good laugh, though, don't be fooled by the so-called oasis located in the center of the range.

A beautiful trail located along the Colorado River just south of the Hoover Dam. Tucked away inside a colorful slot canyon, these hot springs offer a beautiful environment to enjoy a nice long soak.

Liberty Bell Arch is located in a very accessible region of the park. It is so named for it's resemblance to the famous Liberty Bell, at Independence National Historic Park in Pennsylvania. It even includes the "clapper", or the round part of the bell that causes it to ring.Over millions of years nature formed this geologic structure that is more commonly found in Arches National Monument.

Clark County Wetlands Park, located in Clark County, Nevada, is a must-visit attraction for anyone interested in outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation. The park spans over 2,900 acres and features several trails that provide visitors with an opportunity to explore the beautiful wetlands and observe the diverse array of flora and fauna that call the park home.

The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park is a treasured landmark in Clark County. It is the site of the first permanent non-native settlement in the Las Vegas Valley, established by Mormon missionaries in 1855 as a trading post for travelers on the Salt Lake City - Los Angeles Road. Today, the park features a restored adobe fort, which houses a museum that showcases the history of the fort, the local area, and the Mormon pioneers who settled there.

The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, is an educational and engaging attraction that offers visitors a unique experience to learn about the natural world. It houses an extensive collection of exhibits and artifacts that explore various fields of natural history, including biology, geology, ecology, and anthropology.The museum's exhibits feature a vast array of displays, from dinosaur skeletons to life-size models of animals, providing visitors with an immersive experience of the natural world.