We traveled to Nevada in late April, hoping to avoid some of the desert heat. We were right on the end of the "cool" season, but it was in the 90's at our first stop in Valley of Fire State Park. Although it was hot, we had some great photo opportunities. Our next stop was Cathedral Gorge State Park where the temperatures were much cooler. The bentonite formations were amazing and there were very few people at the park. A stop in Las Vegas to see some Cirque du Soleil shows allowed us to see some burrowing owls before we headed to Death Valley.
Valley of Fire State Park is located about an hour east of Las Vegas and is quite a contrast with the Vegas strip. The colors of the rock formations were amazing, although it was getting hot. We were fortunate to have the Fire Wave to ourselves one morning after sunrise after struggling to take photos the previous afternoon with all of the people around.
Mouse's Tank Road
Mouse's Tank Road
Mouse's Tank Road
Fire Canyon
Red Rock Light
Pink/Pastel Slot Canyon
Pink/Pastel Slot Canyon
White Dome Slot Canyon
Hey!
Arch Rock
Piano Rock
Fire Wave
Fire Wave
Fire Wave
Stretched Selfie
Above the Fire Wave
Fire Wave
Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert Bighorn Lamb
Desert Bighorn Sheep
Sculpted
Elephant Rock
Wind and Rain
Approaching Storm
Desert Storm
Petroglyphs
Petroglyphs
Spooky
Our next stop was Cathedral Gorge State Park located in the northeast part of Nevada. It was considerably cooler due to the elevation and there were very few people in the park.
Bentonite Spires
Moon Cave Slot Entrance
Cathedral Gorge Sunstar
Cathedral Spires
No One Else There
Window in the Spire
Cathedral Gorge
Cracks
Bentonite Flow
Late Afternoon Light
Water Tower
Inside the Moon Caves
Slot
Slipped Slot
Looking Up
Sky View
Sunlight in the Slolt
View from the Slot
Milky Way Over the Spire
Cathedral Gorge Milky Way
Milky Way Window
Water Tower Milky Way
A friend told us about an owl preserve located in the Las Vegas suburbs. Although it was located in the middle of neighborhoods, we were able to see and photograph owls on several mornings. We also did a drive through of Red Rock Canyon west of Las Vegas.
Dilated
Sleepy Owl
Sunrise Light
Red Rock Canyon
Bitterbrush
