Even though Atlatl Rock is only a quick stop in the Valley of Fire State Park, it is a very unique spot. It lets you get close and personal to thousands of years old petroglyphs. According to an information panel at the rock: “An atlatl is a throwing stick or a dart thrower used by ancient tribes to give more force to their darts or spears. It was usually a wooden stick about two feet long with a handhold on one end and a hook on the other end. A slot cut in the tail end of the dart was set against the hook, allowing the dart to lie along the atlatl so that both could be grasped midway of the dart by the user.” If you have some time to spend, we definitely recommend giving this place a visit.
STATS:
Where:
Atlatl Rock: Valley of Fire Hwy, Overton, NV 89040
Coordinates: 36°25’25.7″N 114°33’02.2″W
Parking:
Good size, paved parking lot
Fees:
The daily entrance fee for Valley of Fire State Park is $10 per vehicle. Check out their website for more info.
Restrooms:
Yes. There are vault toilets.
Distance:
About 250ft short walk to the platform. Most of it is stairs.
Elevation: 60 ft
Level: Easy
Estimated Completion Time:
15 – 30 minutes
Ideal Weather:
Winters and Springs are the best time to go.
Ideal Time:
Anytime really. This is a quick stop.
Dog-friendly: NO
THE ADVENTURE:
If you’re coming from Las Vegas, Atlatl Rock is located towards the beginning of the entrance into the Valley of Fire State Park. It is along the Campground Road loop. Initially, we didn’t know about Atlatl Rock. We drove by it on the way to see Arch Rock. When we drove by the big parking lot with what looked like stairs going up a platform, we decided to stop in.
It is a quick walk to the bottom of the staircase. From there, it’s about 60, 70 steps to get to the platform. Please don’t walk or climb on the rocks. It was pretty cool to be able to look closely at these ancient drawings. These petroglyphs here are at least over 4,000 years old. They reflect the past and the lifestyles of the Native American cultures. At this point, we still don’t know the exact meaning of these petroglyphs. It was amazing to see as these drawings are very high up on the flat boulders. Without the stairs, it was fascinating to imagine how the Native Americans were able to draw them on there. In addition to the petroglyphs, the view on top of the platform is also beautiful.
PLEASE, do not walk on, touch or deface the rock. This is a very important cultural treasure. It was very upsetting to see people carving their names next to these precious petroglyphs. When we were there, a few people next to us started to touch the petroglyphs despite the signs that say you can’t. Please don’t be those people. Respect the park so our future generations can enjoy our beautiful earth.
You can hear Dustin’s interview about the Valley of Fire State Park on the Between The Mountains Travel Podcast here
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RECOMMEND GEAR:
Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
• Snacks/Lunch
You don’t need anything since it’s a quick stop but you do need to bring food with you if you’re visiting Valley of Fire. There’s no food here.
• Sunscreen:
PLEASE bring sunscreen. We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter – Zinc Oxide – Coral Reef Safe and All Good Sport Sunscreen Lotion – Coral Reef Safe (3 oz)(2-Pack) or Stream2Sea SPF 30 Reef Safe Sport Tinted Sunscreen.
• Water
Same as snacks or lunch, you don’t need it here but you’ll need it if you’re spending time at the park.
CAMERA GEAR:
• Camera:
Sony a7 III
Gopro Hero 7 Black
• Lenses:
Sony 24 -70mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T Zoom Lens
• Accessories:
GoPro The Handler Floating Hand Grip – Official GoPro Mount
Aluminum GoPro protection frame
