- Fire Cave
- Thunderstorm Arch
- Crazy Hill
- Kaolin Wash
- Striped Rock
- Pastel Canyon
- Fire Wave
Similar to the Fire Wave Trailhead, the 7 Wonders Trail is 8.5 miles from the west park entrance on Valley of Fire highway. At Mouse’s Tank Rd, turn left. You will pass the Visitor Center and Balancing Rock on the right which is constructed on the Moenave & Kayenta formation, of the Triassic period, before the road climbs up past the Aztec Cliffs. Parking lot #3 has parking on both sides of the road. 7 Wonders Loop Trail has seven significant geologic wonders on this trail. This trail can be started or finished with Fire Wave Trail.
Deb and I left the parking lot and followed a marked trail to the left and down along a ridge toward Crazy Hill. We discovered later that Fire Cave and Thunderstorm Arch is in this area but not on this branch of the trail.
Crazy Hill gets its name honestly.. the shapes, color patterns and mixtures of pastels defy your logical perceptions of what rocks should look like. The morning shadows cast off the high cliffs above provided some utterly awesome landscapes. Further down the trail, we reached the Kaolin Wash.
Here, if you go upstream you will connect with White Domes Trail, downstream will take you through some amazing slot canyons and some more spectacular displays of rock faces that have weathered the abuse of Mother Nature & Father Time.
Upon reaching the road, a short detour off the trail will take you to the colorful Striped Rock. Its visible from the road, but parking is not allowed on the roadside. The parfait-like colors are breathtaking.
Going back down to the trail, you will enter the Pastel Canyon. This part of the trail will take you through a narrow canyon which at times has water pockets which could force you to do some rock hopping. The pink, yellow and orange waves of color splash along the rockside and cliffs as your proceed down the wash. The wash broadens and soon you will be upon the Fire Wave! This geologic phenomenon is covered in the Fire Wave Hiking Travelogue.
Like other visits here at Valley of Fire State Park, the parking lot was quite full and we encountered hikers of all ages heading down the trail.. This day’s adventure was 2.71 miles.
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