Just Outside Nevada's Valley Of Fire Is A Unique Desert Community Full Of Canyons And Scenic Trails

Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park is known for its incredible red rock formations, but there's more worth exploring in this area beyond the state park. Just north of the Valley of Fire and less than an hour from Las Vegas is the Moapa Valley. It's a collection of delightful small communities along the 32-mile long Muddy River as it runs through the Mojave Desert and into the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. Along with its easy access to the fantastic Valley of Fire State Park, the area's got a rich history, fun outdoor adventure, and great down home restaurants.

Mormons came to the area in the 1860s, but long before that, the Moapa Valley was home to Ancestral Puebloans for hundreds of years. To learn more about the history and culture of the area, visit the Lost City Museum in Overton. It's on the site of a former Puebloan community, and you can see parts of the archeological dig inside the museum. It also has exhibits with Native American artifacts that were saved from flooding with the construction of the Hoover Dam. Outside, there's a pit house along with pueblos modeled after those that were originally on the site.

Near the headwaters of the Muddy River at the northern end of the Moapa Valley are the Warm Springs Natural Area and Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge. They provide a real-life desert oasis, complete with palm trees. Take a leisurely streamside walk at the Warm Springs Natural Area and learn about the flora and fauna in this unique spot — it's home to the Moapa dace, an endangered fish that can only be found here. The Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge also has some short trails along with some picnic areas. Both spots are only active between Labor Day and Memorial Day — you can visit the refuge Friday through Sunday, and the natural area is open every day but Monday.

The Logandale Trails area has over 200 miles of trails through red rock canyons and dramatic desert landscapes. There are options for off-roading, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep here. You can rent mountain bikes and e-bikes from Bike Access, and they can even bring the bikes to you. For more power, you can rent UTVs from Ultimate Desert Adventures; they can also arrange shuttle service to and from Las Vegas out to the Logandale Trails.

The Moapa Valley restaurant scene is small but mighty, with a number of locally owned spots serving yummy food and drinks. Kuppa Joe is a beloved local coffee shop where you can get something quick or take the time to relax and watch the world go by. Along with coffee, boba, smoothies, and tea, it has sandwiches, waffles, and crepes. Salts with a Touch of Sugar in Overton serves classic comfort food, like burgers, lasagna, and barbecue favorites. The Muddy River Bar and Grill in Moapa is a popular spot for breakfast and lunch, and Pirates Landing in Logandale serves mouthwatering pizza and wings. 

The Moapa Valley can be a good day trip from Vegas or a fantastic stop if you're on a Southwestern road trip from Las Vegas to Zion National Park. It's less than 15 minutes off of I-15, but you might also want to spend a few nights to really get a feel for the place. The North Shore Inn at Lake Mead in Overton is a good choice; it's got an outdoor pool and clean, comfy rooms. For those with RVs or camping equipment, you can spend the night out at the Logandale Trails. The star gazing in the area is incredible since it's so far away from major cities.

As a desert destination, Nevada's Moapa Valley is best visited from fall through spring since the average summer highs can get to up to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. It rarely (if ever) gets below freezing, even at night during winter. A particularly fun time to visit is in April for the annual Clark County Fair and Rodeo in Logandale.

From the Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas, it's about a 70-mile drive to the heart of the Moapa Valley. You'll definitely need to have a car to get around. While it doesn't have to be a high-clearance, four-wheel drive vehicle, if you do have one, it makes it easier to check out some of the area's more remote attractions, like "Double Negative," a land art installation in a desert canyon featuring two trenches dug into the sandstone by Michael Heizer in 1969. There are also some parts of the Logandale Trails area that require a rugged, all-terrain vehicle.

While you're in Southern Nevada, another small town worth checking out is the historic and charming Boulder City just outside Las Vegas. It's about a 90-minute drive from the Moapa Valley along Highway 167, which takes you through the ruggedly scenic desert landscape near the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.