Hiking to Mouse’s Tank on the Petroglyph Canyon Trail

We’ve been to the Valley of Fire multiple times. On this visit, we wanted to check out Mouse’s Tank which is found along the Petroglyph Canyon trail.

In this guide:

• Mouse’s Tank at a glance
• What to expect on the Petroglyph Canyon Trail
• Is the hike worth it?
• Practical Information for your trip
• More information for your trip to the Valley of Fire

Mouse’s Tank at a Glance

Trail Description	Out and back
Location	Mouse’s Tank, Valley of Fire, Overton, NV 89040
Parking Lot	Petroglyph Canyon Parking Lot, Overton, NV 89040
Round Trip Mileage	0.75 miles
Difficulty	Easy
Elevation Gain	~16 feet
Best time to visit	October through April
Amenities at trailhead	Parking, information board including trail map, primitive bathrooms, trash receptacle
Entrance Fee	$10 per vehicle ($15 for non-NV vehicles)
Rating	3.5

What to expect on the Petroglyph Canyon Trail

We arrived early at the trailhead to try and beat the crowds for this popular route.

Below is an interactive map of our journey which includes photos along the route.

The parking area is fairly small, but we grabbed a spot and started towards the trailhead. You’ll be met with an information sign board which provides history about where Mouse’s Tank got its name and be shown a trail map. There’s also a heat warning for the summer months.

Where did Mouse’s Tank get its name?

“Mouse’s Tank is named after Mouse, an outlaw, who used the natural water basin as a refuge for drinking water; the collected water gave him relief as he spent days, and even months hiding out.”

When you reach the end of the trail, you can see where Mouse hid out.

The trail starts out going down a paved sidewalk and immediately enters the first of many rock formations.

After the concrete ends, you’ll walk on soft reddish sand that persists throughout the entirety of the trail.

Since this is a short trail, it won’t take long until you can view the first petroglyphs. Keep your eyes out for a large blackened area on the rocks to the left-hand side of trail. This is where you’ll find the first petroglyphs.

We stopped to explore this area and found this neat slot canyon right off the trail.

After exploring a bit, we got back on the trail and continued towards the tank area.

Along the trail, we were treated to some lovely yellow wildflowers. It’s always surprising to see such delicate flowers live in such a harsh climate but perhaps they aren’t so delicate after all.

We’ve heard some hikers see lizards on this trail, but none were out when we visited. Valley of Fire Park also has a family of big horn sheep that meander around. If you’re lucky, you might spy one of these incredible creatures.

Continuing down the trail, keep examining the rocks to your left, as you’ll find many more petroglyphs carved in the walls.

Continue down the trail to reach the Mouse’s Tank.

If you’re lucky, you’ll see some water in the tanks. We’ve heard some people climb around in the tanks area, but we didn’t the day we were there as there was a small amount of water in the tanks. It also looked difficult to climb back up.

Below is the view from the end of the trail.

Is Mouse’s Tank hike worth it?

Rating: 3.5 Mooses

Practical Information for you trip

Current trail conditions

• Check Alltrails for recent trail conditions.
• Check Valley of Fire’s website for any closures.
• Check the weather for temperature forecasts.

What to bring

Be sure to check the weather conditions and pack appropriately.  This is what we brought for this hike:

Standard Gear:

• The 10 Essentials.  These are a must for us on every hike. 

Special Items of note:

• Hiking Boots or closed toe shoes – This trail is filled with soft reddish sand. The sand in the Valley of Fire has stained people’s shoes and clothing before, but we’ve never experienced it ourselves. Sandals would not be recommended on this trail.
• Clothing – Be sure to bring appropriate clothing for rapidly changing conditions.  Weather can change extremely fast, especially during monsoon season. In the hot summer months, be sure to bring sunglasses, a hat and wear sun protection.
• Water / Snacks – There is no running water available at the trailhead. Bring plenty of water (especially in the hot summer months) and extra snacks. While this trail is only 0.75 miles, it takes longer than expected to navigate due to the soft sand. Water is a must.
• Navigation – We use Alltrails (no affiliation) on all our hikes. The trail was well marked and we didn’t need it, but you should always have a form of navigation on any hike you take. This is especially true if you plan to go off trail and explore the multitude of canyons and side trails in the area.

Parking

Parking is free once you’ve entered the park. There are two lots to access this trail. The one directly in front of the trail and an overflow lot across the road.

Be careful crossing the street if you end up in the overflow lot. The speed limit is low, but park visitors are often gawking at the amazing rock formations in the area and paying less attention to their driving.

Aerial view of parking area here.

Entrance Fees

Valley of Fire is a Nevada State Park and requires an entry for access. Once in the park, you can park for free in any designated parking area (including Mouse’s Tank trailhead).

The entrance fee is currently $10 per vehicle. ($15 non-NV vehicles). While a reservation isn’t currently required, it is coming sometime in 2023. Current information about fees can be found here.

All pricing is subject to change.

Trail Map

Trailhead Amenities

You won’t find a lot of trailhead amenities at Mouse’s Tank, but luckily there are a few.

• Primitive restrooms
• Trash receptacles
• Trail information
• Parking on gravel lot
• Overflow parking and picnic tables across the street

More information about your trip to the Valley of Fire

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