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White Domes Loop

Rating: 
Round Trip Distance: 1.2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 1865 - 1995 feet
Cellphone: 0 bars
Time: 1 hr.
Trailhead: White Domes
Fee: $10/vehicle
Attractions: Fun narrows




The White Domes trail is located in the Valley of Fire State Park near Overton, Nevada. The trail makes a loop that takes it through a short but very scenic set of narrows. Towering white fins and sandstone domes stand in contrast to reddish-orange rocky outcrops for a delightful mixture of colorful geology. Enroute the trail even passes the remains of a Mexican hacienda that was part of a set for the movie "The Professionals."


The trailhead is at the very end of the White Domes Road.


All trails in the park are closed between sunset and sunrise and as the sign mentions violators will be considered to be trespassing during that time. There is also a sign here that says 'Heat Warning - Hiking is not recommended...' We took the photos for this post in February when it was just warm enough to forgo a jacket making it hard to take the sign too literally. That said, in the summer time the heat radiating off of the rock can easily surpass the ambient temperature by 20 to 30 degrees fahrenheit.


Going in the clockwise direction the trail starts out between two giant fins of rock where loose sand has built up to form the base of the trail.


This photo is looking back at a constructed stairway of rocks at one of the steeper sections of trail.


As the trail levels off it passes a wall that is all that remains of the Mexican hacienda from the movie set.


After the hacienda the trail crosses a short outcrop of sandstone and lands in a wash that then becomes the route for the trail.


The sides of the wash close in as the walls become higher and higher until a short but fun section of narrows develops.


As the trail emerges from the narrow passage it is connected to by the 4.6 mile long Prospect trail.


From there the trail begins climbing up the west side of the loop but on a gentler slope than that by which it had descended. Here some of the rock takes on a purple hue.


The trail finishes up by passing through a gap that leads it along the access road and back to the trailhead.


The White Domes Loop is one of the premier hikes in the Valley of Fire State Park and a must see for those that can handle the steeper parts of the east side of the loop. It should be fine for families with small children given a little assistance from the grown ups. If you would like to see it for yourself then all you have to do is 'Take a hike'.