Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Took some time away from the smoke and hustle of the casino life while down in Las Vegas last week to get out to the Valley of Fire State Park, just an hour north of Las Vegas.

Twisted:

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I especially like the last photo in your post. . Very nicely done!

Is that the place where there are Desert Bighorn sheep sometimes? . You didn't happen to see any, did you?

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Tom Reichner wrote in post #18516746
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I especially like the last photo in your post. . Very nicely done!

Is that the place where there are Desert Bighorn sheep sometimes? . You didn't happen to see any, did you?

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I have never seen anything other than a few lizards and a desert hare, once. It sure would be cool to see sheep on this landscape!

This is a very photogenic place. I've been a couple of times, would like to go back but it's a long mostly boring drive from home.

Tom, I did see several sheep last time I was there. Sadly I was a little excited to see them, and rushed to get a few photos before they disappeared over the top of the ridge, so soft focus.

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dixiedawn wrote in post #18517061
Tom, I did see several sheep last time I was there.

That's awesome!

I've spent a lot of time photographing Rocky Mountain bighorns, but I have never even seen a Desert Bighorn before. . For me, seeing one would be a highlight of any Nevada trip.

dixiedawn wrote in post #18517061
...... I was a little excited to see them . . .

I would be excited too!

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I've spent a lot of time in VOF and hiked way off the beaten path and I've never seen any bighorns. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen any wildlife out there.

Actually, to me, that makes this place that much better. It's surreal.....like being on another planet. Well.....it does when you get away from the other people anyway. The colors in some places are hard to believe they're natural. I walked up the face of one rock that had purple striations running through it.

The sheep are definitely out there. Actually, the ones I saw were near the road, I got a horrible photo of a ewe and lamb taken from the shoulder of the road. The image I linked to earlier, I had a glimpse of "something" as I was driving along, so took the next pullout and followed a use trail that circled around and saw the group as it moved out of view around the top of the hill. I can find the exact spot on google maps aerial view LOL.

To the OP, I checked out the rest of your photos. I really like the road shot down the center of the valley the rocks on either side. I can't believe I completely missed the Cabins.

dixiedawn wrote in post #18517828
The sheep are definitely out there. Actually, the ones I saw were near the road, I got a horrible photo of a ewe and lamb taken from the shoulder of the road. The image I linked to earlier, I had a glimpse of "something" as I was driving along, so took the next pullout and followed a use trail that circled around and saw the group as it moved out of view around the top of the hill. I can find the exact spot on google maps aerial view LOL.

To the OP, I checked out the rest of your photos. I really like the road shot down the center of the valley the rocks on either side. I can't believe I completely missed the Cabins.

The park has so many cool little areas. I haven't even had the chance to go and investigate the little slot canyon that it has!

The slots are really cool. At the end of one are the ruins of a hacienda that was used when they filmed 'The Professionals' there....with Burt Lancaster. I think that was in 1966.

I got this coming out of one of the slots......

Beautiful! Now I have to go fly down to Vegas again! (Hopefully not lose as much while I'm there )

The only thing of value that I lost on that trip was my camera. They don't fare well when they roll out of the back of a car at about 50.......

On the bright side though......Las Vegas has a really nice Canon store.

saea501 wrote in post #18518461
The only thing of value that I lost on that trip was my camera. They don't fare well when they roll out of the back of a car at about 50.......

On the bright side though......Las Vegas has a really nice Canon store.

OUCH.

If you want to see big horn sheep, try hiking the paths and old roads south of Vegas tward Laughlin in the spring time before it is too hot out. I used to live there and would see them occasionally in the distance. Another place you can look is near the dam. I have seen several in the mountains on the Arizona side. One time was riding my motorcycle around there got tied up in traffic; several sheep decided to walk on the road and go site seeing like the two-legged tourists.