Sample Itineraries

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Native American Passage

Tour No. 11: Valley of Fire/Lake Mead Loop

The 36,800-acre Valley of Fire State Park is famous for its brilliantly colored sandstone formations that date back 150 million years. The park's west entrance, via Interstate 15 and State Route 169, opens suddenly on an impressive area of flaming-red sandstone. In spring, the desert wildflowers add even more color to the area's palette.

The visitor center is a fascinating stop for visitors interested in the park's history and geology. There is information on other stops such as Mouse's Tank, which is a 45-minute walk in sandy conditions (moderate difficulty) to see the Indian rock art that is so prevalent in Valley of Fire.

Leaving the park, there are two options: Return to Las Vegas via State Route 147, which travels south along Lake Mead, or continue north on State Route 169 to the Lost City Museum in Overton (see Tour No. 12). On the Lake Mead route, Echo Bay Resort is a natural rest stop after exiting Valley of Fire. As the coach nears Las Vegas, it will drive through a cut in the mountains that affords the first view of the city. On the left, look for a sightseeing marker dedicated to the Great Unconformity, another of Mother Nature's geological mysteries.

Mileage: 107. Time: Four hours not counting lunch

Tour No. 12: Valley of Fire/Lost City Museum Loop

After leaving Valley of Fire State Park, instead of turning south, continue north on State Route 169 to Overton. There, the Lost City Museum houses artifacts from the Lost City, a series of ancient Pueblo villages in the Moapa Valley. The museum has one of the best collections of artifacts of the early Pueblo Indians, who disappeared from the area under mysterious circumstances. Adobe dwellings have been reconstructed on the museum grounds. State Route 169 intersects with Interstate 15 and the return to Las Vegas.

Mileage: 127. Time: Five hours.

Tour No. 13: Mesquite

Established as a farming community in 1894, Mesquite today is booming as a resort destination with numerous tour options. The small town's amenities would serve well as an overnight stay or as a pass-through to Zion National Park.

Mesquite has four hotel-casinos and five golf courses. A sixth course is scheduled to open in fall 2001. Other than golf, options include skeet shooting, hayrides, and barbecues at Si Redd's Oasis, or visits to CasaBlanca's spa to be pampered and spoiled. (Interstate 15 North.)

Mileage: 127. Time: Three hours for travel time.