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Hike the Bowl of Fire in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness

Clark County, Nevada

Details

Distance

8 miles

Elevation Gain

500 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Josiah Roe

An all but forgotten valley of otherworldly red, orange, and pink Aztec sandstone dominated by purple and white peaks of mudstone and gypsum, all less than an hour away from Las Vegas and perfect for hiking, climbing, and backpacking.

The Bowl of Fire, tucked away in the Muddy Mountains Wilderness, is made up of the same dramatic conglomerate as that of the Valley of Fire, only almost no-one stops to visit as they blitz by on Northshore Road in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

To get there take the Northshore Road 16 miles from the turnoff from Lakeshore Road just inside the west entrance to the Recreation Area. You can either go left on the dirt Callville Washington N. Road (called the "Road to Bowl of Fire Trailhead" on some maps) for 1.7 miles to trailhead, or proceed for another 1.25 miles to the pull off on the left where a marked (with cairns) use trail proceeds north to the more official trailhead.

Note that the Callville Washington N. Road is actually a wash, so in times of rain it can be unusable without a strong 4WD vehicle.

The trail heads in a generally northwesterly directions into the obvious Bowl of Fire, which is filled with redrock formations and several trails that scramble throughout the Bowl.

The main trail follows the valley north and takes a long loop to the east and then south for 5.7 miles till it connects back with Northshore Road at a Scenic Viewing Area about 1.25 miles from the original pullout.

Maps
USGS 7.5 Quadrangle Maps: Dry Lake SE, Muddy Peak, Bitter Spring, Government Wash, Callville Bay. 

Muddy Mountain Wilderness Rules

  • No camping allowed within sight of trials and half a mile from National Park Service designated roads.
  • No camping allowed within 300 feet of water sources.
  • Maximum group size: 12 members.
  • Camping is limited to a total of 14 days in one location and no more than 90 days total within any consecutive 12-month period.
  • Stock cannot be restrained within 200 feet of water.
  • Campfires are allowed, except during regional fire restrictions, with use of a fire pan or blanket. Visitors are encouraged to only use camp stoves. 
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Features

Fitness
Rock Climbing
Chillin
Camping
Photography
Running
Backpacking
Hiking
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Groups
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

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Hike the Sunset View Trail

Boulder Beach

Camp at Arch Rock Campground in Valley of Fire State Park

PWC Beach in Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Hike the Pinnacle Loop in the Valley of Fire