Having left Eureka Sand Dunes late, I spent a night in Beatty, and continued my drive toward Las Vegas the next morning. Hwy 95 passes the famous Area 51. I stopped at a highway stop that uses this theme to catch tourists traveling between Las Vegas and Death Valley. I wonder how many buy more than souvenirs and visit the adjacent brothel - only in Nevada...

I set up my tent in a nice spot in Arch Rock campground, which of the two campgrounds in the park is more primitive and has more secluded campsites, and went on to explore the scenery of the park.

This formation of striped sand stone is reached from a parking lot next to the White Domes highway on a 0.7 mile trail. I set out there for a sunset. There is a lot of interesting desert scenery along the way. When I reached the wave, I had a lot of company. I stayed until I could enjoy it all by myself, and trekked back in the dark.

I got up early to drive across the park and experience a sunrise at another iconic place, the Elephant Rock. Whether the formation looks like an elephant or a giant mosquito, the early start was worth it.

I stopped at the Fire Canyon lookout, and got into a chat with "a snowbird", a lady from British Columbia. Her husband and she drive their RV to Arizona to spend some part of winter there. Although she was clearly not as excited as I was by the scenery, I think she understood my passion, and offered me apples from their apple farm up north. They were delicious.

I continued to the parking lot that serves as a trailhead for a walk to the Fire Wave. From there, I followed a wash which eventually crossed the road and I ended up circled back to the Wave.

This area features a one mile loop that includes a walk among towering sand stone formation and a narrow slot canyon. The sun was high and after completing the loop. I returned to the camp to pack up. I checked out petroglyphs on Atlatl Rock nearby.

I could not get enough of the colorful rocks and decided to stay until the sunset. I went back to Elephant Rock and later admired a winding road through the most colorful and varied sandstone area on the way to White Domes. I drove back to Las Vegas along Lake Mead, and from Las Vegas continued all the way back to the Bay Area...