Pastel Canyon Hike (Pink Canyon Hike) - Valley of Fire State Park, NV

One of the best things about adventuring is when you stumble upon hidden gems. Pastel Canyon Hike, also called Pink Canyon at Valley of Fire State Park is one of those awesome hidden gems. This place seems almost unreal as you walk between the walls of the breathtaking geological display of the pastel pink sandstone canyon. Surprisingly, Pastel Canyon Hike is not an official trail. This means there isn’t any signage nor it is being listed in any maps or brochures. Because of this, this place is a heaven for those who want some solitude from the crowds.

Special Note:
Pastel Canyon Hike is a public spot, where anyone can come and explore. We’re sharing directions because we believe everyone deserves equal access to information about the outdoor public space. However, we recognize that posts like these make lesser-known spots a lot more accessible, increasing the risk of trail misuse and overcrowding. This is why we’re hoping to educate others about responsible recreation practices along with sharing tips on how they can access the area and participate in the activity safely.

Please make sure to pack out all your trash and DO NOT carve on the rocks. Only take photos, but not rocks home!

STATS:

Where:
Pastel Canyon Trailhead – Mouse’s Tank Rd, Moapa Valley, NV 89040
Coordinates: 36°28’46.4″N 114°31’35.7″W

Parking:
Street parking, only enough space for a few cars.

Fees:
The entrance fee for Valley of Fire State Park is $10 per vehicle. Check out their website for more info.

Restrooms:
There are no restrooms.

Distance:
At least 0.4 miles but you can go as far as you want.

Elevation: 50 ft or less

Level: Easy

Estimated Completion Time:
30 minutes

Ideal Weather:
Winter and Spring is the best seasons to go. It gets very warm in the summer. Overcast days are the best. They bring out the gorgeous colors of the rocks.

Ideal Time:
Go there early morning or late afternoon, when the temperature is cooler. The lighting is better for pictures too.

Dog-friendly: NO

THE ADVENTURE:

Dustin and I came across the Pastel Canyon Hike (Pink Canyon) by sheer luck. We were stopping to admire the colorful hills from the distance as I noticed a little footpath leading inside the canyon. We decided to follow it to see where it took us. Needless to say, it was our favorite hike on our entire trip.

The trailhead for Pastel Canyon Hike is on Mouse’s Tank Road, between Fire Canyon Road and Fire Wave parking lot (parking #3). It is 2.1 miles from Fire Canyon Road and about 0.7 miles from the Fire Wave. The coordinates above should take you right in front of the trailhead. If you’re coming from the Visitor Center, the trailhead is on the right-hand side. There is no signage in front of or along the trail. However, you can see the clear spots on the side of the road where you can park your car. If you look close enough, you can see the footpath leading into the canyon.

Once you start going in, you’ll know right away if you’re in the right place. The canyon walls began to rise up as soon as we made our way down into it. The walls are made from polished sandstone with stripes of pink, orange, brown, white and green. The most prominent colors there are orange and pink. Depending on what time of the day, the colors can get more or less vibrant. Early mornings and toward sunsets are the best time because the light helps to enriched the colorful stripes. Noon sun washes out most of the colors.

Walking through this canyon really made me feel like walking through another world. The walls curve and swirl into what reminds me of scoops of Neapolitan ice cream. This canyon goes on for miles. Since there is no actual trail or markings, you can go as far as you want. However, if you decided to go further and explore, please make sure to keep track of where you are. It is very easy to get lost in this maze. If you continue on for about 0.5 miles, you can actually get to Fire Wave from here.

Once you’re done exploring the canyon, just head back the way you come from. Don’t forget to check out Fire Wave Hike. It’s practically next door and you don’t want to miss it! Another neat stop is Atlatl Rock, a 4000-year-old petroglyph rock that is on top of a 60 ft platform.

You can hear Dustin’s interview about the Valley of Fire State Park on the Between The Mountains Travel Podcast here

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