Sat, May 13
|Gold Butte National Monument
Gold Butte Day of Exploration & Adventure
Come and explore the wild side of Southern Nevada! Off-road, high-clearance, 4x4s required!


Time & Location
May 13, 2023, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Gold Butte National Monument, 6625 Speedway Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89165
About the Event
Come spend the day with us as we explore one of Nevada's newest national monuments! Â If you have not been to Gold Butte, then you are missing out. Â During this full day of adventure, we will meet at the Speedy Mark at 0700. Â This is where we will gas up, get grub, etc. Â There is little or no cell phone reception in and around Gold Butte, no services, etc., so plan accordingly. Â
The Plan
From the meeting place, we will travel to Gold Butte.
First Stop: The Falling Man petroglyph trail. Â This will involve some hiking and a little rock scrambling. Â You will be amazed at the amount of rock art displayed on the walls.
Second Stop: Whitney Pocket. Â Here you will explore a small damn and cistern built in the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps, as well as some interesting rock formations.
Third Stop: The 7 Keyhole Canyon. Â This unique series of keyholes cut into the rock will stimulate your imagination. Â The keyholes are large enough for adults to walk through them. Â You can just imagine the ceremonies that Native Americans must have had here.
Fourth Stop: Little Finland, aka The Hobgoblin's Playground.  This area boasts rock formations not seen anywhere else in the southwest.  It's easy to imagine you are walking on a distant planet in this  otherworldly place
Fifth Stop: The Devils Throat. Â [Time Permitting] Â Devils Throat is an interesting, if somewhat disconcerting, geological feature where the roof of a large cave collapsed in 1907 or 1908, leaving a huge sinkhole in the middle of the open desert.
What You Need
Vehicle: 4x4 high-clearance vehicles are required. Â Most of the driving in and around Gold Butte will be on dirt roads. Â Make sure you have a good spare tire and plenty of gas. Â
Food & Water: There is nothing out there until you bring it. Â So, bring plenty of food, water, snacks, etc.
Clothing: We are leaving early in the morning to beat the heat. Â The Falling Man Trail requires some hiking (not more than 3 miles), the rest of the day is spent driving to locations and then walking around exploring them. Â So, check the weather. Â It can be cool in the morning and possibly very warm by midday. Â Hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc. should be considered.
Safety
Be alert, be aware, and don't become a statistic!
This time of year the snakes will start to become active, so watch your step.
The person leading this event is not a professional or paid guide. Â He's just someone who has spent a lot of time in Gold Butte and knows his way around (and still keeps a map handy).
Feel free to bring any desert survival gear that you feel might be helpful. Â
The roads can get pretty bumpy at times, so if you have back or spinal issues, this might not be the event for you.