Valley of Fire Series: Sandstone High Point (Raven's Nest)

When you RSVP, 4 separate answers are required:
Q1. What is your cell number?
Q2. Are you willing to drive and take 3 passengers; it is 50 miles one way all paved roads?
Q3. Where will you meet the group: near Aliante Casino or at the old VOF Visitor Center?
Q4. Do you understand that tailgating after the hike is a required part of this Event?

Please read the entire description. New participants will be required to sign a Waiver at the meetup location similar to the Disclaimer below.

Questions, text Jim at 702-515-9824.

All participants are expected to stay and socialize at the tailgate after the hike. If you have to be back before 3:00pm, do not sign up!

Carpooling is mandatory. The main group will meetup somewhere near Aliante Casino. The location will be sent by text to the number you provide when you RSVP. We leave at 7:30am so arrive by 7:20am. Each rider must pay $10 to their driver for gas.

This hike is in the VOF State Park so if you have a Nevada State Park Pass, please bring it along with photo ID. Otherwise the cost is $10 per car.

If you live in Henderson or Boulder City and wish to meetup with the group at 8:30am at the old VOF Visitor Center lower lot, let Jim know when you RSVP. On your way, you will go thru both a National Park and a State Park fee booth so be prepared.

IMO, this is the best hike in the Valley of Fire. We will start and finish at the old VOF Visitor Center lower parking lot. This loop route took Brian Dodd 3 years to develop and takes us to the highest sandstone point in the park (aka, Raven's Nest) with incredible views.

It has class 1 hiking, and class 2, 3 and 3+ scrambling with what I consider to be tolerable exposure (adrenaline rush). Hikers must be comfortable ascending steep sandstone slabs and descending a long steep crack.

HIKE QUICK STATS:
Trailhead: Valley of Fire old Visitor Center lower lot
Distance: 5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,900 feet
Elevation of Summit: 3,000 feet
Difficulty: 3, very strenuous
Class: 1 (40%), 2 (30%), 3 (25%), 3+ (5%)
Exposure: some
Time: 7.5 hours (4.5 hrs hiking, 1 hr tailgating, 2 hrs driving)
Pace: moderate
Gear:
approach shoes - yes
trekking poles - no
gloves - recommended

No pets or children. You must be on the Going list to attend.
All attendees must be members of VegasHikers. It only takes a couple of minutes to sign up & it's FREE.

Tailgate: after hike potluck; informal social gathering with food and drink; a link to the signup sheet will be posted in the Comments; bring a camp chair

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Tentative Schedule Lake Mead Series:
1/3 - Hamblin Mtn
1/17 - Anniversary Narrows & Peak plus Rainbow Canyon
1/24 - Seven Dry Falls, Cholla Forest & Bacon Canyon
2/7 - White Owl Canyons & Twilight Zone Tunnels
2/14 - Red & Black Mountains (Boulder City)
2/28 - Frenchman Mtn

Tentative Schedule Valley of Fire Series:
1/10 - Sandstone High Point (Raven’s Nest)
1/31 - Africa Loop (if no rain for 7-10 days)
2/21 - Yellow Spire or China Ranch (Tecopa, CA)

Tentative Schedule Red Rock Series:
3/14 - White Rock Springs Peak
3/21 - Terrace Canyon or Gunsight Canyon
3/28 - Indecision Peak or Black Velvet Peak
4/4 - Goodman Peak
4/11 - Crabby Appleton Peak
4/18 - Imagination Trench – Jim’s birthday 4/20
4/25 – Shark Fin or LBMR

Tentative Schedule Charleston Series 2026:
5/2 to 8/9 – due to popularity, there may be 2 groups: an earlier start/slower pace group plus a later start/faster pace group

Tentative Schedule Southern California & Southern Utah 2026:
8/15 - Ashdown Gorge (UT)
8/29 - Taylor Creek (UT)
9/18-20 - Big Pine Lakes (CA) – already posted
10/3 – Candy Cliffs/Yant Flats (UT)

Disclaimer:
Please be aware that your Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would take if you were hiking alone. You are solely responsible for your own safety and well-being. By signing up for and/or attending this Meetup event, you acknowledge, understand, accept, and agree that hiking and other outdoor activities can be dangerous and can cause serious bodily injury and possibly death. The organizers of this group and current and former members cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for the actions of any participant - including you - at any event. All attendees participate at an event at their own risk and are solely responsible for any damage to their property, and/or any injury to themselves or their guests. By signing up for this event, you affirm that you understand this disclaimer, and that you knowingly and voluntarily agree not to bring any type of claim arising out of or related to this Meetup event against the organizers of this Meetup group.