(includes 4 days/3 nights camping, park entry fee, turkey, permit, kayak, paddle, vest, shuttle)

 

 

Howdy Folks!! 

 

I’ve spent the better part of this year racking my brain for an idea for a group Thanksgiving outing … I think I’ve found the PERFECT location, with the PERFECT itinerary! Come join me and 15 others for a car camping trip to Valley of Fire state park in Nevada. The highlights of this trip are a potluck Thanksgiving dinner at our campsite (I’ll provide the Turkey!), a full day (11mi) of easy kayaking down Black Canyon … putting-in at the base of the massive Hoover Dam with stops to explore sauna caves and time to sit in hot springs, a full day of hiking and exploring the petroglyphs, petrified trees and unique rock formations preserved in this park, and maybe squeeze in a tour of Hoover Dam. Woohoo!

 

The Valley of Fire State Park was first dedicated in 1935 and it is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park. It’s colorful name derives from the spectacular red, orange and yellow sandstone that are part of an undulating landscape of petrified dunes, strangely-shaped boulders and sheer sandstone cliffs. This truly unique place totals 46,000 acres and is located only 50 miles NE of Las Vegas. VOF is a place of rare beauty to which people have been attracted for thousands of years. This is evidenced by the large number of Petroglyphs found in several places throughout the park. VOF is one of the most photogenic locations in the Southwest, especially at sunset when the rocks glow deep red and do indeed seem to be ablaze when seen from a distance!

                Sights: Arch Rock, Historic Stone Cabins, The Beehives, Petroglyph Canyon, Mouse’s Tank, Atlatl Rock, The Seven Sisters, Elephant Rock, Fire Canyon/Silica Dome, Clark Memorial, Petrified Logs, Rainbow Vista, White Domes, etc etc!

                The Visitor Center and gift shop provide exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory and history of the park. Open daily, 8:30am to 4:30pm

 

Campsite has tent-pads, (some have RV hook-ups for extra $) shaded tables, grills, water, restrooms and showers!!

 

We’ll be kayaking below the Hoover Dam in Black Canyon! We’ll meet at our outfitter at 6:00am which means leaving our campsite before 5:00am (I know, I know … trust me, it’s worth it!!) We’ll spend our day leisurely kayaking down the placid waters of the Colorado River. We’ll stop end enjoy  the sauna caves, the natural hot springs and the hidden waterfalls in secluded slot canyons. We’ll find a nice rock or beach to have lunch on. And at the end of our easy 11mi journey, our outfitter will pick-us-up at Willow Beach and shuttle us back to our cars. AWESOME! (I’m working on getting a guide, as well.)

Provided: Kayak, Paddle, Life Jacket, Permits, Shuttle.

Bring: Water Shoes, Bathing Suit, Fleece, Dry Bag, Sunscreen, Lunch, Snacks, Water

 

There are a couple tours of the Hoover Dam available; the Hoover Dam Power Plant Tour is $11.00 and is about 45minutes, and there’s a self-paced Hoover Dam Discovery Tour presented by the guide staff at a number of locations both within The Center and at the top of the dam (about 2 hours). The Visitor’s Center was completed on June 21, 1995 and cost $87.9 million! In it are several exhibits about its history and the impact it has had on the Southwest. (There is also a fee for parking)

 

Thursday Nov 25, 2010: Arrive early and prepare for Thanksgiving Potluck, followed by campfire.

*Friday, Nov 26, 2010: Kayak through Black Canyon, Dinner at Restaurant?, Campfire

Saturday, Nov 27, 2010: Hike and Explore Valley of Fire State Park, Dinner, Campfire

Sunday, Nov 28, 2010: Sweep camp and tour Hoover Dam on way home

*(depending on permit availability, the Kayaking Day might move to Saturday or Sunday)

 

Winters are mild with temperatures ranging from 32-75F. Average annual rainfall is four inches, coming in the form of light winter showers and summer thunderstorms. Spring and Fall are the preferred seasons for visiting the Valley of Fire. Snow rarely falls. Check the weather forecast before you pack!

  

This trip is being offered to Gay Outdoors members and my personal list of awesome outdoors buddies. Just because there are no sign-ups on the site, doesn’t mean no one is signed-up!

Registration, Waiver and Payment are due before the trip. If you have questions, e-mail me, contact me through Gay Outdoors or sign-up for the trip and I’ll contact YOU.