Exploring the Valley of Fire and Lake Mead in an RV [SPONTANEOUS TRIP!]

What’s Up, Hungry People

A few weeks ago, my husband and I decided to take a spontaneous trip out west. It was something we had always wanted to do, and after spending a year indoors, the great outdoors was calling our names. So, we bought our plane tickets and rented an RV for a relatively COVID-safe vacation (peep that 2021 post date).

Our Roat Trip Original Plan

For the trip, our original plan was to do a loop around the Grand Canyon, boondocking along the route to Mt. Zion, and then finally ending with a night in Vegas!

If you want to see what we ate in the neon capital of the world, don’t forget to follow The Starving Chef on all the social things so you can be the first to know when a new video is posted.

First Night in Kingman, AZ

On our first night, we picked up our RV and drove over 100 miles to HipCamp in Kingman, AZ, and for the first meal on our first night in the RV, we opted for… In & Out.

Honestly, I was too tired to think to film any of this experience. It’s just a hamburger, people; the sauce is just ketchup, mayo, and relish.

In the end, sleep won out, and we quickly passed out, ready to take on the next day.

Snowy Surprise at the Grand Canyon

In the morning, we grabbed a quick cup of coffee and then hit the road. The first destination on our road trip was the Grand Canyon, but as it was still March at the time of our trip, the weather had different plans for us.

When we had booked our trip, the weather had promised desert temps in the mid-70s, but as we drove towards the Grand Canyon, the clouds got darker, and snow began to accumulate. By the time we got to the Grand Canyon, there were easily six inches of snow down—and less-than-stellar views.

Yes, we traveled nearly 2000 miles for THIS view:

Let me tell you, the disappointment was palpable. After spending a frustrating hour or two rerouting our entire trip to avoid a massive snowstorm, we found that the great thing about a spontaneous trip is that nothing was set in stone anyway! So, we altered our path to look a little something like this:

Lunch at El Tovar

While we were planning our new route, we were fortunate enough that the clouds finally cleared to give us a spectacular view.

With all of the snow on the ground, we decided to skip the treacherous hiking and opted to get a quick lunch at the El Tovar restaurant on the edge of the Grand Canyon while we planned the details of the rest of our new trip route.

To drink away our woes, we started lunch with a prickly pear margarita, which is not as sweet as it sounds, but it was still delicious. For my main course, I had a mediocre filet of trout and unremarkable soup (I’ll blame the pandemic for the quality of the meal), and my husband channeled his inner Joe Rogan with an elk burger.

After that we decided to hit the road as we were FREEZING. It was literally colder in Arizona than it was in our home state of Ohio!

Truck Stop Indian Cuisine

A few hours into our new journey, we decided to stop for a bite to eat at the only place we could find along the road: truck stop Indian cuisine.

Honestly, this was pretty good Indian food. Either that, or nothing else could’ve disappointed us as much as the start of the day had, so we would have eaten anything. I don’t remember specifically what we got as the menu only had a few items on it, but it was enough to sustain us for the final few hours of the long drive back.

Night at Hoover Dam Lodge

That night we boondocked in the parking lot of the Hoover Dam Lodge casino because we weren’t sure where else to go—and awoke to a spectacular view of Lake Mead.

We went into the hotel just for a hot breakfast before we started the actual meat of our RV adventure. Breakfast was just breakfast, but it is always fun to look up and see some fake strippers spinning above your head while you eat.

Morning at Hoover Dam

After breakfast, we were amongst the first to arrive at the Hoover Dam, which I felt was a unique experience to see the entire thing practically empty. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to go on any tours due to the pandemic, so our trip was quick but still a lot of fun to see.

Exploring the Valley of Fire

But now, it was time to disappear into the wild for a bit—like we had been wanting to do since day one. The Valley of Fire is about an hour northwest of Vegas, and its name lives up to the hype with red rocks all around.

The Valley of Fire is Nevada’s oldest and largest state park, renowned for its stunning red sandstone formations and dramatic desert landscapes. Covering over 40,000 acres, it is located approximately 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, near the town of Overton. The park’s vibrant rock formations, which glow red, particularly during sunrise and sunset, give it the name “Valley of Fire.”

The park’s unique geology results from complex processes over millions of years. The red sandstone formations, known as Aztec Sandstone, date back about 150 million years and were formed from shifting sand dunes during the age of the dinosaurs.

Over time, these dunes solidified into stone and were uplifted by geological forces. Erosion from wind and water sculpted the current shapes, including arches, domes, and ridges, creating the park’s characteristic otherworldly landscape.

The Valley of Fire is rich in cultural history and has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Basketmaker culture and the Ancestral Puebloans (also known as the Anasazi) lived in the area as early as 300 BCE. These ancient peoples left behind numerous petroglyphs, which can be seen throughout the park, offering a glimpse into their lives and spiritual beliefs.

For lunch, we decided to stop at the Seven Sisters and fry up some brats on the stovetop of the RV. Toppings included this prickly pear cactus hot sauce, leftover pickled onions that came with our Indian food, some ketchup and mustard, salsa, and some cheese.

We had also made breakfast burritos with scrambled eggs in the morning, which I also forgot to document—but the extra ingredients made for great brat toppings. If you’ve never enjoyed brats with curried onions and cheese in the middle of the desert, I actually highly recommend it.

Despite the harsh desert environment, the park is home to a variety of plant and animal species. We encountered bighorn sheep (my favorite!), lizards, and a variety of birds! Vegetation includes creosote bush, burro bush, and cactus, which have adapted to survive in the arid climate.

Attractions and Activities

Today, the Valley of Fire is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers (such as myself!), offering a range of activities such as hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Some of the park’s notable landmarks include:

Fire Wave: A striking rock formation with wave-like patterns of red and white sandstone.
White Domes: Known for its scenic beauty and diversity of rock formations.
Elephant Rock: A natural rock formation resembling an elephant.
Atlatl Rock: Features some of the most accessible petroglyphs in the park.

We spent the rest of our time exploring the Valley of Fire, spotting ancient drawings dotted amongst the red rocks and hiking until our feet hurt. Finding the Pastel Canyons was a highlight of our trip, and we were actually happy that a snowstorm ruined our original plans.

UFO Sighting at Lake Mead

We slept under the stars on the very edge of Lake Mead – we drove all the way to Perry’s Point for the most spectactular stars we’d ever seen.

…and we might have even seen a UFO as we were packing up to head back to Vegas. We had no idea the area was actually a ‘hot spot for activity’ …as they say.

Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, was created by the construction of the Hoover Dam in the 1930s. Nestled between Nevada and Arizona, and not too far from the bright lights of Las Vegas, this area is known for its stunning natural beauty and outdoor activities. However, Lake Mead has also developed a reputation for mysterious sightings and unexplained phenomena, particularly when it comes to UFOs.

One of the intriguing aspects of these sightings is Lake Mead’s proximity to Area 51. If you’re familiar with UFO lore, you know that Area 51 is a top-secret military base shrouded in mystery and conspiracy theories. The close distance between these two locations has sparked plenty of speculation about UFO activity around Lake Mead.

Over the years, a variety of people, from locals to curious tourists, have reported seeing unexplained lights and objects in the sky above Lake Mead. The reports often describe bright lights moving erratically, hovering mysteriously, or suddenly disappearing. Some of these accounts have even come from former military personnel, adding a layer of credibility to the stories.

And now I get to have my very own UFO story to add to the lore.

Final Stop: Las Vegas

Our next stop is Vegas—and let’s just say, the food in Las Vegas is a little bit better than the food you can find in the middle of the desert.

After our unexpected detour through the snowy landscapes of Arizona, we found the beauty of the Valley of Fire and Lake Mead made it all worthwhile. The vibrant red rocks and ancient petroglyphs at the Valley of Fire were just the beginning of our adventures. Despite the chilly weather, our spontaneous brats and prickly pear cactus hot sauce were a highlight, proving that even unplanned meals can hit the spot when you’re surrounded by incredible views. Camping under the stars and waking up to the stunning desert landscape was an experience we won’t soon forget. Our journey taught us to embrace the unexpected and look for hidden gems along the way. We’re already looking forward to our next RV camping trip, armed with more recipes and ready for new adventures. Stay tuned for our Vegas food escapades!