Gold Butte National Monument

Spanning nearly 300,000 acres into the enchanting Mojave Desert, visiting Gold Butte National Monument should be top of the list for anyone exploring the region’s concentration of National Parks. As one of America’s newest dedicated National Monuments, Gold Butte encompasses striking and rugged landscapes of red rock in an extremely remote section of southeastern Nevada. Here, visitors can expect to find alone-in-nature experiences, among dramatic red sandstone, ancient rock art and appreciate unique perspectives of nearby Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Valley of Fire State Park.

Aside from the endlessly interesting vibrant landscapes found within the National Monument, the area is known for impressively large and famously beautiful petroglyph panels, and is a critical habitat for a variety of important wildlife. Be sure to keep an eye out for tons of unique plant life and animals that live in the area, like the Nevada State Mammal—the Desert Bighorn Sheep. Furthermore, Gold Butte National Monument is home to Nevada’s first designated Backcountry Byway and hosts an array of intriguing history and prehistory, all while divvying up satisfying outdoor recreation opps amid timeless solitude.

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Whitney Pocket

Once you’ve officially entered Gold Butte National Monument, the first point of interest you’ll likely cross paths with is stunning Whitney Pocket. Here, visitors can access primitive campgrounds, or set up a staging area to unload OHV’s and explore into the rest of the monument. Before hitting the road, be sure to check out remnants of an original prehistoric roasting pit, panels of ancient Gold Butte National Monument petroglyphs, and the Dam and Storage Cave constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s.

• Coordinates: 36.523005, -114.140595

Little Finland

Though you’ll find it totally effortless to spend hours (if not days) exploring this otherworldly National Monument with what feels like infinite points of interest, Little Finland in Gold Butte manages to steal the show. As one of Gold Butte National Monument’s most visually striking attractions, Little Finland is noteworthy because of the gnarly wind-swept red rock formations and ancient petroglyphs. Here, you can wander through can’t-believe-it’s-real landscapes, accented by forests of Joshua Trees.  And if you’re here, it means you’ve logged a few hours of travel and time and braved the legitimate possibility of a flat tire (or two) making Little Finland feel like the reward it truly is. 

• Coordinates: 36.451703, 114.216935

Devil’s Throat, Nevada

A site you should be sure to check out before hitting the road is Devil’s Throat, otherwise known as a 110-foot-deep sinkhole on the outskirts of Gold Butte National Monument. Cloaked by sagebrush and Yucca plants, this humongous sinkhole is almost hidden in plain sight. While you’re there, be sure to pay attention to the chain link fence surrounding this massive drop. Though you may be tempted to jump the fence for a closer look, don’t. The fence is there for a reason: the area leading up to the sinkhole is extremely unstable and unsafe to walk on. But, this uncommon National Monument feature is equally stunning from afar, and provides for some incredible photo opps, especially during early morning or at sunset.

• Coordinates: 36.427759, -114.149011

Gold Butte Historic Townsite

Is there anything better than a mind-blowing nature experience paired with some solid Silver State history? When exploring Gold Butte National Monument you can tick all those Nevada boxes with a visit to the resident ghost town at the Gold Butte Historic Townsite. As you might suspect, the National Monument was named after the Gold Butte Mining District that was responsible for pumping out gold in the early 1900s. Here, mining was active from about 1905-1910, and remnants from these enterprises can still be appreciated here today. Though extreme southern Nevada temperatures have eroded this extremely remote historic site, several foundations, historic gravesites, and old mine shafts can still be seen here. 

• Coordinates: 36.280236, -114,200180

Virgin Peak

For hiking lovers, be sure to zero in on the Monument’s highest summit at Virgin Peak. Situated at a little over 8,000 feet, the views from Virgin Peak are tough to beat. Accessing the trailhead is a bit of a challenge, as the road leading up to it washed out in late 2017. For the most up-to-date information on summiting Virgin Peak and participating in this 10 mile ascent, call Friends of Gold Butte at (702) 208-8377.

• Coordinates: 36.602831, -114,112272

Gold Butte National Monument Petroglyphs Etiquette: Know Before You Go

Gold Butte National Monument was inhabited by Nevada’s first people thousands of years ago, who left their mark on this stunning landscape in a variety of ways. One of them was through the remarkable petroglyph panels Gold Butte is known for. We can’t spell out exactly where these ancient carvings are located because many of the sites are of spiritual importance to local tribes today. That being said, rest assured that spotting these impressive petroglyph panels is easy work—just be sure to keep your eyes peeled when exploring this dynamic place.  And if you come across them, do not touch them, as the natural oils on your fingers can damage the petroglyphs. 

Services and Getting to Gold Butte National Monument

Gold Butte is beautiful beyond description, but boy is it remote. You’ve gotta work a bit to get here, but when you do, the payoff is big. The National Monument is located about ten miles from the southeastern Nevada community of Mesquite. Beyond Mesquite’s city limits, there are no services in Gold Butte National Monument. This means that there are no toilets, and camping is extremely primitive with no designated campsites. Trailheads are minimally marked, and cell service is extremely limited if available at all. Lastly, the road to Gold Butte was last maintained decades ago, and is extremely rough. Though it sounds dramatic, it’s not uncommon to get one or two flat tires while exploring the National Monument. High clearance, four wheel drive rigs are crucial, as are two full-sized spares. Also, be sure to carry plenty of food and water to adequately prepare for an unforeseen emergency situation.

From Las Vegas, take Interstate 15 toward Mesquite. Take exit 112 toward Riverside/Bunkerville. Drive south for three miles. Once you cross the bridge over the Virgin River, turn immediately right onto Gold Butte Road. Keep following this paved, potholed road. Once you pass the Gold Butte National Monument sign, then you’ve entered the monument and adventure is yours for the taking!