 Issue #113 - Secrets of the Nevada Desert Many strange red sandstone formations cover a landscape called Little Finland, also known as Hobgoblins’ Playground or Devil’s Fire. These little-known formations are located fourteen miles east of the eastern entrance into Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park on the other side of Lake Mead in a remote part of the Nevada desert. The nearest large town is Mesquite, Nevada. Four-wheel-drive is recommended but a high-clearance vehicle will take you there. If you love photographing the deserts of the Southwest, you must add this place to your list.
A day with broken clouds will give you a variety of lighting conditions. A clear blue sky is boring and contrasty and a solid overcast sky means flat and dull lighting on the formations. Bring a sleeping bag to be ready for early morning and late afternoon explorations giving you warm colors and long, dramatic shadows. Avoid the months of August and September. They bring monsoon rains up from the Gulf of Mexico and flash floods down desert washes. Since much of the route follows a dry wash, do not attempt this trip on a rainy day. Winds over 15 mph will blow sand into your camera gear and high summer temperatures can be unhealthy. Late autumn and early spring will give you the best weather for this kind of desert travel. Comments are closed.
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