
challenging
9 hours (full day)
Moderate fitness required—able to handle several hours of bumpy, physically engaging riding and occasional short hikes.
Trade the Strip for sand and sandstone on a full-day ATV and dune buggy combo that takes you from the otherworldly red rock of Valley of Fire to a hair-raising chase across the Vegas Dunes. Expect dramatic vistas, a one-hour dune-buggy sprint, and practical, safety-first guiding.
The morning wind off the desert lifts dust into long ribbons as a convoy of ATVs files past rust-red sandstone, the machines humming like impatient insects. You cut a line through dried washes and crushed quartz, the Valley of Fire unfolding in layers of ochre and vermilion, and the geology seems to lean in, watching. Later, at the Vegas Dunes, a dune buggy charges a crest and the world drops away: Lake Mead glints to the east, the Las Vegas Strip lights a distant promise to the west.

Drivers are required to show a valid license to operate dune buggies; passengers should carry ID as well.
Use broad-spectrum sunscreen, wear a brimmed hat and UV sunglasses—shade is scarce and reflected light off sand intensifies exposure.
Expect loose sand and rocky approaches; sturdy footwear reduces the risk of slipping and protects from hot surfaces.
Bring water and drink steadily—operators provide bottled water but desert heat can dehydrate quickly, especially during high-adrenaline sections.
Valley of Fire was used by Ancestral Puebloan peoples and later became a favorite film location; its formations are remnants of an ancient sand sea turned to rock.
The area is fragile—stay on designated tracks, avoid disturbing petroglyphs, and pack out all trash; responsible operators follow Leave No Trace and limit off-trail driving.
Required to operate dune buggies and many ATVs.
Protects feet from hot sand and provides traction on rocky terrain.
Direct desert sun and reflective sand make high SPF and coverage essential.
summer specific
Mornings can be cool and winds pick up at higher vantage points.
spring specific