Tami’s Travels: Full article to follow
Gold Butte is 300,000 acres and 300 miles of designated road. In 2016, Gold Butte became a National Monument. Natural and cultural resources abound, from geology to petroglyphs and ghost towns. Portions of the park are remote and require 4-wheel drive, but many sites, like those below, are accessible by passenger vehicles.
Ghost Towning
Gold Butte has been high on my list to visit. I thought it was super remote and challenging and was intimidated to attempt the ghost town.
After a day exploring Valley of Fire, my son wanted to sleep in and relax. Nevada Expeditions and I didn’t even have to ask the other; we knew Gold Butte would be our morning destination. Never fear, we returned to Mesquite mid-afternoon and stuffed my son with Indian food in St. George.
We didn’t get to see everything we wanted, but we hit many of the highlights: the ghost towns of Gold Butte and Key West, an 8-foot granite arrastra, the Falling Man petroglyph, the CCC Dam and wall, and beautiful geological features.
Gold Butte Ghost Town
Prospectors discovered gold at Gold Butte in 1905. A town grew, including stores and a hotel, a brothel, and a post office opened in 1906. Supplies and services were from St. Thomas. Approximately 2,000 people lived in tents around Gold Butte.
(Photo credit: BLM informational sign)
By 1910, most mining ceased and the post office closed in 1911. Two prospectors, Bill Garrett and Art Coleman, continued to work the mines. The duo lived in a wooden cabin at Gold Butte for 40 years. They were known as hard-working and honest, inviting travelers in for a home-cooked meal and maybe a sip from of their moonshine still.
(Photo credit: BLM informational sign)
Bill and Art are buried at Gold Butte, close to where their cabin once welcomed visitors.
Gibbs Camp
Gibbs Camp was a neighborhood half a mile east of Gold Butte.
The granite arrastra remains, the first I have seen built from one stone. Arrastras are primitive mills for grinding ore.
Devil’s Throat
Devil’s Throat is a huge sinkhole that opened in the early 1900s. Miners and cowboys in the area were surprised when a huge dust cloud rose in the sky.
Devil’s Throat is 110-120 feet across. The sinkhole is fenced from a significant distance as it grows. The only decent way to get perspective and photos is from the sky; thankfully, I brought my drone for other sites.
Mud Wash
We drove through Mud Wash to reach Little Finland. We didn’t get to hike to the famous geological feature but found petroglyphs and markings in wagon great left by travelers from Gold Butte to St. Thomas.
Whitney Pocket
Whitney Pocket is made of Aztec sandstone. A pocket is a geological name for a large section of exposed rock. The area is mostly camping, but the CCC constructed a dam, cistern and storage in the 1930s.
Damn, it was scary climbing onto the top of the dam! I was good till the last two steps, which were tiny angles and tilted. I opted to take pictures from below after that, while Nevada Expeditions went to the top.
Falling Man
The famous petroglyph takes a bit more determination to reach. Locating the fallen figure follows a hike and crawling on rocks. There is a wide ledge Falling Man, but a long drop-off beyond.
Key West
Miners worked Key West for copper in the 1890s. Small-scale mining occurred, and in the early 1900s, they worked the mine for nickel and platinum.
Was the visit to Gold Butte National Monument wasted time?
A sign before the entrance to Gold Butte reads, “The most exciting thing I have seen out here was a flat tire and a hot radiator.” The reverse side leaves visitors asking, “Wasted time, what a shame.” Sadly, vandals damaged the sign.
So, was the trip worth it? Absolutely! I’ll be back down south for Easter, and I have a feeling we might head back out to explore the areas we missed, including Little Finland. A few of the more remote sites will require a Honey Badger trip.
Rich Kerri says
Thanks for the great info!
Tami says
Welcome, glad you enjoyed the article.
Tom Barnett says
Very interesting, thanks for sharing
Tami says
Welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Don Seibel says
As always, fantastic Story Tami!
Tami says
Thanks Don, Gold Butte is a cool place to visit.
ALBERT SCHIOPPI says
SORRY ABOUT ALL OF THE TYPOS IN MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS. I EDITED THAT TEXT AND REPOSTED BELOW.
WE VISITED DEVILS THROAT AND GOLD BUTTE IN 2018. THIS AFTER READING A VERY INTERESTING BOOK ALL ABOUT THE HISTORY AND SITES OF THE ARIZONA STRIP. I PURCHASED THIS BOOK WHILE VISITING THE HISTORICAL MUSEUM IN MESQUITE NEVADA. IF I HAD KNOWN THE DISTANCE TO GOLD BUTTE WAS 50 MILES FROM I-15 I WOULD HAVE GOT AN EARLIER START, AS I WOULD HAVE ENJOYED SEEING MT. TRUMBULL AND SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS IN THE ARIZONA STRIP. THE HARD COVER BOOK ABOUT THE ARIZONA STRIP REFERENCED IN THE SECOND SENTENCE ABOVE IS 351 PAGES AND TITLED “THE ARIZONA STRIP-A HARSHLAND AND PROUD” THE AUTHOR IS NELLIE COX COPYRIGHT 1982. IT IS AN EXCELLENT REFERENCE TO MANY HISTORICAL SITES OF THE STRIP. WITH LUCK I WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT THAT AREA AND BE ABLE EXPLORE LITTLE FINLAND AND THE AREA OF THE ARIZONA STRIP EAST OF GOLD BUTTE. I AM AN AMETEUR DESERT HISTORIAN. I HAVE DEDICATED MANY-MANY HOURS OF RESEARCH AND MANY DAYS OF EXPLORATION OF THE DESERT AREAS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA, WESTERN ARIZONA, BUT MAINLY THE VAST EAST MOJAVE DESERT OF CALIFORNIA. MY YEARS SPENT EXPLORING THE ABANDONED SITES IN THOSE REMOTE DESERT AREAS PLEASANTLY MEMORABLE AND IS A PERIOD OF TIME IN MY LIFE THAT I CONSIDER TO BE VERY REWARDING. MY DESERT JOURNAL IS OVER 500 PAGES, BUT SADLY, I HAVE CURTAILED MY MONTHLY EXPLORITORY TRIPS INTO THE THOSE DESERT REGIONS. NOW IF I AM LUCKY I MAY BE ABLE TO SCHEDULE MAYBE 5, OR 6 TRIPS A YEAR INTO OUR WONDERFUL DESERT AREAS. I GUESS EVEN A FEW TRIPS IS BETTER THAN NONE AT ALL. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPLORE THE BACK COUNTRY REGIONS OF OUR MAJESTIC DESERTS. HOPEFULLY, IF I EVER GET AROUND TO PUBLISHING MY DESERT JOURNAL, OTHERS WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO ROAM OUR DESERT WITH BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT I EXPERIENCED BY READING THE DESCRIPTION OF MY DESERT TRAVELS.
HAPPY TRAILS,
ALBERT SCHIOPPI
Tami says
Thank you for the recommendation, I want to explore the Arizona strip more. I’m looking for the book, hopefully I can find it online or at an online book store.
It sounds like you have some amazing travels. Are the back issues of your Desert Journal available online?
I’m with you, even a few trips are better than none!
Bill Curtiss says
Looks like a great place to visit thank you for all you do
Tami says
Thank you, I’m glad you have enjoyed Nevada Ghost Towns & Beyond!
bob says
Very interesting!
Thank you!
Tami says
Glad you liked the article!
Anonymous says
We went down with the Jumping Jack and the quads about 5 years ago. Ride all the way into Arizona, saw Little Finland and had a great time.
You found even more cool stuff!
Thanks Tami
Tami says
You could probably spend a week at Gold Butte and still not see it all.
RICHARD MCGREW says
Looks like a very interesting area. Could spend a few days exploring it all.
Tami says
I think it would take that to see most of the stuff at Gold Butte.
James Edmonds says
The image of the falling man is cool as a very early example of A picture symbol indicating caution or notice or simply, “pay attention” I enjoyed all of the photos and story very much.
Thank you!
Tami says
One does wonder the story behind Falling Man.
Leonard Ancona says
Way, way, way cool.
Imagination runs wild
Stay strong
Tami says
Absolutely, and there is so much more to explore in the park.