Gibraltar Rock and Fire Wave Trail in Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Hike Gibraltar Rock and Fire Wave Trail Valley of Fire State Park, NV

Class 3 3.1 miles 900 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Apr 9, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Gibraltar Rock and Fire Wave Trail GPX Track

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Although Gibraltar Rock is a short hike, the route-finding is fun and the views are great from the top. From the same trailhead, you can easily access Fire Wave, a popular trail to a cool sandstone feature.

We started out toward Gibraltar Rock first. From the Fire Wave Trailhead, Austin and I headed to the base of the obvious rock face in front of us. A wash leads north. After taking this wash for a few hundred feet, you can either take the gully that curves south/southeast for easy access to the summit, or continue north until you can gain a slab on the northern end of Gibraltar Rock and head south as you gain elevation up the peak's north ridge. The traverse is worth the extra effort. A narrow section along the ridge leads down into a grassy gully. This gully ends and you need to cut back north and drop into the main gully (the same gully I mentioned earlier – see map to see what I'm talking about). From the gully, a steep Class 3 slab leads up out of the gully and to the summit, a few Class 2/3 moves to the high point as you navigate rocky obstacles.

After returning to the trailhead, a quick excursion to Fire Wave is a worthwhile minor effort. Fire Wave is probably Valley of Fire's favorite destination to promote and it appears all over the Internet. It's a very pretty feature with similar characteristics to Arizona's The Wave. Starting from the trailhead, the trail leads around the southern base of Gibraltar Rock, then through the desert on a sandy trail to some wide-open slickrock, and then to the popular rock formation.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Gibraltar Rock
2172 ft
n/a rise

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Gibraltar Rock ahead, seen from the Fire Wave Trailhead.
Gibraltar Rock ahead, seen from the Fire Wave Trailhead.
The wash at the base of Gibraltar Rock.
The wash at the base of Gibraltar Rock.
Working our way up the northern slabs. You could have used our descent route as an ascent, but taking the full ridge was a great little adventure.
Working our way up the northern slabs. You could have used our descent route as an ascent, but taking the full ridge was a great little adventure.
Traversing south along Gibraltar Rock's ridge.
Traversing south along Gibraltar Rock's ridge.
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Entering a narrow gully, which eventually merges with the gully you can see on the right. The gully on the right is the main gully, the standard route up Gibraltar Rock and the one we used to descend.
Entering a narrow gully, which eventually merges with the gully you can see on the right. The gully on the right is the main gully, the standard route up Gibraltar Rock and the one we used to descend.
Working through the higher gully.
Working through the higher gully.
Gully opens up for a bit, grassy and pretty.
Gully opens up for a bit, grassy and pretty.
Our gully merges with the main gully. We had to descend slightly and work back north for a moment to get on a viable ascent route.
Our gully merges with the main gully. We had to descend slightly and work back north for a moment to get on a viable ascent route.
Shortly after entering the main gully, we noticed this slab - the Class 3 approach to get to the high point.
Shortly after entering the main gully, we noticed this slab - the Class 3 approach to get to the high point.
Looking down into the main gully from the top of the Class 3 slab. The ridge we came in on is visible on the top.
Looking down into the main gully from the top of the Class 3 slab. The ridge we came in on is visible on the top.
Last bits of scrambling to get to the top of Gibraltar Rock.
Last bits of scrambling to get to the top of Gibraltar Rock.
Working our way up from the slab and to higher ground.
Working our way up from the slab and to higher ground.
Looking south out toward Fire Wave.
Looking south out toward Fire Wave.
Austin looking out, White Domes visible in the center.
Austin looking out, White Domes visible in the center.
Austin working his way back down the Class 3 slab.
Austin working his way back down the Class 3 slab.
Heading out the standard main gully.
Heading out the standard main gully.
It was really windy - you can see the windy haze.
It was really windy - you can see the windy haze.
Heading back along the wash after exiting the main gully.
Heading back along the wash after exiting the main gully.
Back at the Fire Wave Trailhead, now onto Fire Wave. This would be a much more popular undertaking. Gibraltar Rock is visible ahead.
Back at the Fire Wave Trailhead, now onto Fire Wave. This would be a much more popular undertaking. Gibraltar Rock is visible ahead.
The trail wraps around Gibraltar Rock's south side and heads south.
The trail wraps around Gibraltar Rock's south side and heads south.
The trail enters a minor drainage.
The trail enters a minor drainage.
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Continuing through the desert.
Continuing through the desert.
Looking back toward Gibraltar Rock.
Looking back toward Gibraltar Rock.
Some fun rock formations along the side of the trail.
Some fun rock formations along the side of the trail.
The Fire Wave Trail follows some slickrock.
The Fire Wave Trail follows some slickrock.
Looking back the way I came, Gibraltar Rock on the left.
Looking back the way I came, Gibraltar Rock on the left.
Approaching Fire Wave.
Approaching Fire Wave.
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The Fire Wave.
The Fire Wave.
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Image 36 from gallery

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!