Parking
A roadside surface parking point named Arrowhead Arch Trailhead is mapped at the path start. Use only designated roadside parking; the park does not confirm this specific pullout, so verify access before relying on it.
Overview
About Arrowhead Arch Trail
Why go
- A distinctive double opening reached on a very short path.
Heads up
- Minor scrambling on uneven, exposed sandstone.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Valley of Fire map
Full mapElevation1,739–1,752 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Valley of Fire alerts
- ClosureWest Entrance closed Monday–ThursdayThe West Entrance is closed Monday through Thursday; use the East Entrance on those days.Official details
- CautionFire restrictions in effectFire restrictions are in effect throughout Nevada State Parks, including Valley of Fire; follow them to help prevent wildfires and protect lives, property and natural resources.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Valley of Fire Tour Guide
Your drive to Arrowhead Arch Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Valley of Fire State Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Elephant Rock: Find the Silhouette0:00 / 0:25
“Elephant Rock is coming up near the east entrance, a sandstone arch with a long, trunk-like span.”
Plays on the road 0.3 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Valley of Fire Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Natural Arch Trail: Look for the Small Windows
- East Petrified Log: One Trunk, a Short Stop
- The Flowers Waiting Underground
- Historic Cabins: Sandstone Shelters
- 34 audio storiesacross Valley of Fire’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bighorn Sheep, Mojave Desert Tortoise, Sidewinder, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 23 trails, 28 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Arrowhead Arch Trail
A very short arch walkArrowhead Arch Trail is an out-and-back from a roadside parking point to a low, double-opening…
Arrowhead Arch Trail is an out-and-back from a roadside parking point to a low, double-opening sandstone arch. The mapped route is about 0.2 miles round trip, including the short rocky approach to the arch; allow about 15 minutes. This is a quick feature walk with minor scrambling rather than a long hike.
The approachFollow the named path south from Arrowhead Arch Trailhead.
Follow the named path south from Arrowhead Arch Trailhead. It crosses open red sandstone and reaches the arch; the final approach involves minor scrambling over uneven rock. The formation is small and low, with two openings. Treat it as a look-and-turnaround feature: do not climb on the arch or remove any rock.
Check access and heatThe park does not mention this short spur by name in its public trail information.
The park does not mention this short spur by name in its public trail information. Its annual closure notice names “Arrowhead Trail” from May 15 through September 30, but does not clarify whether that includes this arch spur. Confirm access before going and park only in designated roadside places. Pets are allowed on a leash no longer than six feet. The park warns that high heat can make even a short trail dangerous.
The sandstone shapeThe two openings give the rock its arrowhead-like outline.
The two openings give the rock its arrowhead-like outline. Valley of Fire’s red sandstone began as ancient dune deposits more than 150 million years ago, and wind and water continue to shape the formations.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Valley of Fire
638 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
11 sightingsMojave Desert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
23 sightingsSidewinderMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
18 sightingsBlack-tailed JackrabbitMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
11 sightingsRingtailMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
19 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 10 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Valley of Fire. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
