Vegas - gambling, the rat pack, buffets. And hiking. Yes, hiking. The deserts and mountains around Las Vegas hold excellent backcountry hiking opportunities. Our favorite spot is the Valley of Fire, a jumbled landscape of multi-colored rock fins and sandstone domes.

At over 42,000 acres, the Valley of Fire is Nevada's largest state park. It is approximately 40 miles north of Las Vegas off I-15 and route 169. While close to Vegas, crowds aren't a problem. In fact, most visitors rarely even make it out of their rental cars. This leaves most of the park untouched by visitors. Just pick a sandstone fin and start climbing. A couple of fins in, you'll feel like you're on another planet.

The amazing sights are almost endless - the best views are just north of the visitor center at Rainbow Vista. There are hikes for all levels of hikers. Many hikers like the short jaunt through Petroglyph Canyon to Mouse's Tank, which is named after a nineteenth century outlaw. Here there are some nice Anasazi rock carvings and a plesant canyon with orange sand. Backcountry hikers go through the arches and fins of the White Domes, Fire Canyon and the Muddy Mountains.

We like the area around Fire Canyon. Here, there are no real trails. Most hiking is on the sandstone fins and the canyons between them.

The colors in the Valley of Fire are amazing - white, red and orange sandstone and the deep green of the distant Virgin mountains. At dusk, you'll know why this place is named the Valley of Fire.

If you miss the bright lights of Las Vegas, you can always stop at the nearby Moapa Tribal Enterprises and gamble, pick up snacks, drinks and fireworks and cool off away from the desert sun.

So, the next time you're in Vegas, don't spend your whole day stuck in a windowless casino. After hiking in the Valley of Fire, you'll come to appreciate its national park quality landscape and its unique take on Vegas - hike and climb all day and gamble all night. Selah.

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