Ride Spot: Gold Butte National Monument

Posted on March 1, 2025

By Jon Crowley

Gold Butte National Monument Scenic Byway is a breathtaking off-road route that takes adventurers deep into Nevada’s rugged and remote desert landscapes. Located south of Mesquite, this scenic byway offers a mix of stunning red rock formations, ancient petroglyphs, Joshua tree forests, and panoramic desert vistas. The route winds through some of the most pristine and untouched terrain in the Mojave Desert, making it a must-visit for off-road enthusiasts, photographers, and history buffs alike. Whether you’re exploring the Little Finland rock formations, Devil’s Throat sinkhole, or the remnants of historic mining sites, the Gold Butte Scenic Byway provides an unforgettable journey through one of the Southwest’s most scenic and culturally rich landscapes.

Location

Gold Butte National Monument is located in southeastern Nevada, covering nearly 300,000 acres of rugged desert landscape. It lies south of Mesquite and extends toward the northern edge of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Bordered by the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument to the east, this remote and scenic area is part of the Mojave Desert and features dramatic red rock formations, Joshua tree forests, and significant cultural sites. Access to Gold Butte is primarily via Gold Butte Road, a rough and unpaved route that leads adventurers deep into the monument’s most iconic destinations.

Where to Park – Two Options for Trailhead

Gold Butte OHV Staging Area

This parking area is close to Interstate 15. You’ll take the Riverside Road exit and drive across the Virgin River to Gold Butte Road. This parking area can get crowded so park your truck & trailer appropriately.

If you stage here, you certainly don’t have to take Gold Butte Road down to Whitney Pocket. There are a few other trails available that will get you most of the way there with more varied and interesting terrain.

Gold Butte OHV Staging Area GPS Coordinates: 36.73145, -114.21858

Whitney Pocket Day Use Parking

Most everything you’ll explore in the Gold Butte National Monument is reached through Whitney Pocket which is 20 miles in from the Gold Butte OHV Staging Area. The road in is an old asphalt road that does have some stretches of graded dirt road mixed in. Certainly doable for a truck and trailer. The advantage of trailering in to this spot is you’ll save 40+ miles round trip on your UTV fuel tank – saving more fuel for exploring deeper into the area’s vast landscape.

Whitney Pocket Day Use Parking GPS Coordinates: 36.52285, -114.14066

Gold Butte National Monument

Destinations

Whitney Pocket

Whitney Pocket

Whitney Pocket is one of the most accessible and scenic destinations within Gold Butte National Monument, offering a striking mix of rugged red and white sandstone formations, historic rock shelters, and petroglyph-covered cliffs. This area served as a natural refuge for early Native American inhabitants and later became a site of historic water conservation efforts, as evidenced by the 1930s-era CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) dam built into the rocks.

Devil’s Throat

Devil’s Throat

Devil’s Throat is a dramatic and mysterious geological feature within Gold Butte National Monument, characterized by a massive sinkhole that suddenly collapsed in the desert floor. Measuring approximately 120 feet wide and 120 feet deep, this gaping chasm is a stark reminder of the region’s fragile and ever-changing landscape. The cause of its formation is linked to underground limestone erosion, a process known as karst activity, which weakened the ground until it gave way. Located along the main Gold Butte Road, Devil’s Throat is easily accessible and serves as a fascinating stop for off-road explorers, offering a glimpse into the powerful geological forces shaping the Mojave Desert.

Devil’s Throat GPS Coordinates: 36.42772, -114.14907

Gold Butte Townsite

The Gold Butte townsite, ruins, and cemetery offer a fascinating glimpse into the region’s rich mining history within Gold Butte National Monument. Once a bustling mining camp in the early 1900s, Gold Butte was home to prospectors seeking fortune in the rugged Nevada desert. Today, scattered ruins, rusted relics, and crumbling stone foundations tell the story of the town’s short-lived boom. The nearby Gold Butte Cemetery, with its weathered wooden markers and unmarked graves, serves as a solemn reminder of the hardships faced by early settlers. Exploring this historic site provides visitors with a unique connection to Nevada’s past, surrounded by the stunning desert landscape that has reclaimed the once-thriving town.

Gold Butte GPS Coordinates: 36.28072, -114.20060

Little Finland

Little Finland

Little Finland is a stunning and otherworldly landscape known for its intricately eroded red sandstone formations that resemble delicate fins, spires, and arches. Also called Hobgoblin’s Playground, this remote destination showcases some of the most unique and photogenic rock formations in the Mojave Desert. The area’s wind-sculpted sandstone creates a surreal backdrop, making it a favorite among photographers, hikers, and off-road adventurers.

Little Finland GPS Coordinates: 36.45078, -114.21440

Alternate trailhead for hiking at the corral: 36.44177, -114.21180

Seven Keyholes Slot Canyon

Seven Keyholes Slot Canyon

Seven Keyholes Slot Canyon in Gold Butte National Monument is a hidden gem featuring a series of narrow, sculpted sandstone passageways eroded into stunning natural arches and tunnels. This short but visually striking canyon offers a unique hiking and photography experience, with smooth, wind-carved walls that create an almost otherworldly atmosphere.

Seven Keyholes Slot Canyon GPS Coordinates: 36.43098, -114.22139

Falling Man Petroglyph

Falling Man

The Falling Man Petroglyph is an image of a man that appears to be falling.

Falling Man GPS Coordinates: 36.50785, -114.18719

This area is covered with Petroglyphs. Spend some time to explore and you’ll find plenty!

21 GOATs Petroglyph

21 Goats Petroglyph

Newspaper Rock Petroglyphs

Rabbit Ears

Indian Artifacts

Gold Butte National Monument is home to an impressive collection of Indian petroglyphs and pictographs, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural history of the region. These ancient rock carvings and paintings, created by the Ancestral Puebloans and other indigenous peoples, date back hundreds to thousands of years. The petroglyphs, etched into desert varnished sandstone, depict geometric patterns, animals, and human-like figures, while the rarer pictographs are painted with natural pigments. Sites like Newspaper Rock and Whitney Pocket showcase these incredible artifacts, providing a fascinating look at the stories, beliefs, and daily lives of the early inhabitants of the Mojave Desert.