7 Winter Essentials for Valley of Fire State Park - Travel Pockets (2024)

This post contains affiliate links, which means that at no additional cost to you if you click on one of the product links, we may earn a commission.

We visited Valley of Fire State Park in early January and learned some key essentials we needed to wear during this time when the weather is generally cold in the mornings from 30 - 40 degrees Fahrenheit and the afternoons rising in temperatures to 60 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

The key is to dress in layers and these are the 7 essentials you need to pack for winter when visiting Valley of Fire State Park.

1. Base Layers

To keep your layering to a minimum, we highly recommend Uniqlo's heat-tech inner-wear. It truly makes a difference and it's very affordable. The fabric is revolutionary as it works with your body to generate and retain body heat and it also features anti-odor properties.

The anti-odor really works! I can wear these tops for 2-3 days before having to wash them. These layers are a staple in my winter wardrobe and I have been wearing them for years now.

2. Insulated Jacket

Wearing a heavy coat is a must for us since we start the majority of our hikes in the wee hours. Layering is definitely key in any cold climate, but you don't have to layer as much if you invest in a down jacket.

UNIQLO Ultra Light Down Hooded Coat

Crystal wanted to wear a packable down jacket so she could stuff the coat in her backpack when the temperatures began to rise during our hikes. This was an excellent choice since it was chilly during the start of our hikes and then midway through, it would be warm enough to take it off.

The UNIQLO Ultra Light Down Hooded Coat has a ton of amazing features for being under $100. It has an anti-static lining (much needed!), a shaped waist to create a sleek silhouette, a removable hoodie, and a carrying pouch (if you don’t want to stuff it in your backpack).

Point Zero Cordelia Quilted Park

Candy wanted to pack something a bit heavier than UNIQLO’s coat and wore her Point Zero Cordelia Quilted Park. This is truly a winter coat as its insulation can beat temperatures down to -40 degrees Celsius. The ribbed cuffs provide better protection from the cold and the built-in hood has a removable faux-fur ruff.

This coat definitely kept Candy warm, but it got a little too hot at times, so it was best to wear this only on the brisk morning hikes. For the afternoon hikes, she switched to her Amazon Cocoon Puffer Coat.

Amazon Essentials Cocoon Puffer Coat

The warmth of the Amazon Cocoon Puffer coat is in-between the UNIQLO and Point Zero’s jackets. Candy preferred this coat for most of the hikes as it was lightweight, water-resistant, and had cozy sherpa-lined front pockets.

The length can be a little tricky to hike in when it’s buttoned all the way, but the temperatures were warm enough that it was unbuttoned most of the time.

3. Hiking Boots

You will definitely want to avoid wearing normal sneakers for the trails at Valley of Fire State Park. All the trails we went on involved a trek through a ton of sand. It’s no fun when you have sand in your shoes, so we both made sure to wear boots that were both warm and kept the sand from creeping in.

Crystal wore her Ugg Kesey Boots for the first time on these hikes and it was a perfect choice. These boots can handle rough terrain and are waterproof as well.

4. Wool, Merino Wool & Cashmere Sweaters

To keep our layering to a minimum, our three-layer system was: heat-tech inner-wear, sweater, and a down coat. We always make it a point to pack wool, merino wool, or cashmere sweaters instead of polyester.

Polyester doesn’t have nearly as much warmth and it’s a lot heavier. It’s definitely a good idea to invest in a sweater with quality fabrics.

5. Fingerless Gloves

If you like to take pictures, we highly recommend wearing fingerless gloves. We’ve tried the high-tech gloves since we take a lot of photos on our phone, but they don’t work that well and we often find ourselves removing them anyway. The fingerless gloves have been our go-to for all of our winter travels.

6. Beanie / Hat

This isn’t necessarily a must-have item, but wearing a hat or beanie did make a huge difference in warmth especially in the mornings when there was wind gust. Also, a beanie or hat can add a bit of flair to your outfit.

7. Pacsafe Anti-Theft Backpack

We tend to pack more items than your average tourist, but that’s because we carry a camera, multiple camera lenses, dog treats, and water with us.

Our go-to for years now has been Pacsafe’s anti-theft backpack. Their bags have a ton of great features that we have not been able to find in another bag that can beat this one.

We hope our suggestions help you pack for your trip to Valley of Fire State Park in the winter. It’s a breathtaking dog-friendly park that we would gladly revisit.

Where To Stay

Most people make a day trip to this park from Las Vegas as it’s only an hour away. However, we wanted to explore multiple hikes and stayed nearby in a town called Moapa Valley near Overton. We booked our hotel at North Shore Inn at Lake Mead for the weekend as it was only a 20-minute drive to the park.

Valley of Fire State Park
29450 Valley of Fire Hwy, Overton, NV 89040
Open Daily from sunrise to sunset.
Admission Fee - $10.00