Mouse’s Tank Trail in Valley of Fire State Park has two points of interest: petroglyphs and a small water hole. This is a short, easy hike and worth the walk to see Petroglyph Canyon.
Hike Info:
- Fee: Valley of Fire State Park Fee ($10.00 for NV residents and $15.00 for Non-NV Vehicles)
Mouse was an outlaw, and he had a great spot to hide out in the desert of Valley of Fire. It was a great spot because there was a large cut in the rock that held water for a long time. Since nobody seemed to know about it, Mouse could stay there until things cleared up a little, and then get on his way. Nobody knows how many times Mouse used his tank, but you can still visit it today.
Mouse’s Tank Trail is nice for its destination, but it also has some really cool petroglyphs. In fact, there are hundreds of petroglyphs along the walls of the small arroyo leading to Mouse’s tank. Within fifty yards of the trailhead, look to the left side of the trail on the black rock. You may spot some of the most beautiful petroglyphs we’ve seen. The prettiest ones had a line of three or four people holding hands. This area of Valley of Fire is named Petroglyph Canyon because of the amount of petroglyphs in this part of the park.
As you continue up Petroglyph Canyon, you can see even more petroglyphs. Look for the same black walls with the petroglyphs standing out starkly because of their lighter color. We saw one panel that was around 75 feet long and 25 feet high. There were so many figures on this one rock. You don’t have to do far to get to any of these petroglyphs, and the trail was flat and sandy the entire way.
Mouse’s Tank is less than a half mile from the parking lot, making this hike a mere 0.8 miles. Like all the trails in Valley of Fire, there is no shade and lots of sand. The tank was dry when we visited in April, but the petroglyphs were the most interesting part of the hike. Mouse’s Tank Trail in Valley of Fire State Park is definitely worth the distance! Check out our post on Valley of Fire State Park for other hike and activity suggestions.
Valley of Fire is so great, it’s shocking that it’s not a national park. Mouse’s Tank is such a great and short trail that for our family it’s a must each time we visit.
It really is a great place to visit!