Our second and final visit to Valley of Fire State Park yielded Two For The Price of One. The hike was supposed to be longer - a total of 3.1 miles but turned out to be a 1 mile loop, leaving us the time and energy to do another. Total mileage for the day was 2.5 hiking White Domes Trail –and- Mouse Tanks Trail.

First up was White Domes Trail, starting out well, with only two vehicles in the parking lot when we arrived. Being the more strenuous of the two trails, we were glad to have done it first. Heat weenies like us need all the help we can get. Early in the day is very very good for hiking in this area at this time of year. After learning that the trail was used (and still is) for numerous movie sets and other venues, we had watched a western filmed here -The Professionals- prior to the hike, making it a bit of a hoot. All signs of dynamite and blood were long gone, but beyond that our lips are sealed.

By the time we arrived at the Mouse Traps trail-head it was quite a bit warmer. But the intrepid heat weenies (not to point fingers but that is us) were not to be denied more exploring. After all, this hike was only .70 miles one way. It was rewarding right from the start. We got to see a mother Chukwalla and her offspring who was munching away in a bush. Not only that but our steps were covering the same ground as a famous murderer who hid out in this canyon. And Native Americans who left their stories on these canyon walls. See where we went and what we saw....