Valley of Fire State Park is every bit as stunning as its National counterparts. So named for its dramatic red sandstone formations, it is nirvana for fans of western landscapes. Diverse hikes reveal sweeping scenery, zoomorphic rock formations, CCC cabins, and 3000 year old petroglyphs. Plus, its only an hour outside Las Vegas, so you can finish off your day with some debauchery and a show. Formed over 150 million years ago from great shifting sand dunes, uplift and extensive erosion created today’s landscape. Iron oxide provides the intense red color, which is occasionally overlain by a black desert varnish, composed of manganese. Frequently when you see the desert varnish,…