Gold Butte National Monument area

Gold Butte National Monument covers nearly 300,000 acres of remote and rugged desert landscape in southeastern Nevada.

The brightly hued sandstone provides a stunning canvas for the area’s beautiful rock art.

Little Finland (also known as Hobgoblin's Playground and Devil's Fire) is an area of uniquely shaped sandstone formations.

Making our way back down to the Jeeps

Looks like you used to be able to drive right to where we want to go.  Now you have to park up on the hill and walk down.

Seven Keyhole Slot Canyon

The walls have eyes

Relaxing at the end of the day

Old watering trough

An old Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) dam from the early 1900’s.  With stairs that take you up and over to the backside.

Behind the taller stone dam is an even older shorter dam

Standing on the edge of the shorter original dam

Behind the original dam

Looking at the back side of the "newer" stone dam

Stairs on the backside

Historic small dam projects were intended to create water reserves for cattle ranching way back in those days. The little dams were wedged into narrow dry wash canyon gaps in an effort to trap rainwater.

CCC storage room and camp area

We're headed for the "Poop Panel". Not sure what to expect.

Looks like it gets it's name because of the large bird's nest from above

There are petroglyphs up on the two highest blocks

Here you climb up to the tunnel that provides an adventurous route through to the Falling Man petroglyph.

Petroglyphs all around the tunnel

You coming Mary?

According to my GPS there are lots more petroglyphs in this general area. Dave thinks they might be over there.  We'll have to come back on another day to climb around looking for them.

Falling Man

Elbow Canyon

This historic property was part of the Frehner Haven Ranch, officially known as the Cold Springs Ranch. Situated at 6,400 feet in the Virgin Mountains and nestled in the upper Elbow Canyon Trail, the ranch was a cherished family property passed down through the Frehner family.

A dispute over a land lease led to the destruction of most of the structures when the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument was designated, leaving only the foundations and the lone cabin on the upper mountain. Despite this loss, the site remains a special spot for many, preserving the memory of its historical significance. It is accessible by 4 wheel drive vehicles via Elbow Canyon Road which features a challenging and scenic route.

Under ground storage

Tall enough to stand up in after crawling through the outer door

From the inside looking out.  Very secure with the double door system.

Outhouse

Pond

Welcome to Cougar Springs or Ferhner Cabin

Built in 1940, and used as a ranching line cabin while working cattle on the range.

When this was in use there were 2 double bunk beds, 3 single beds, cots, plus a cook woodstove, tables, cupboards, and piped water for the cowboys staying here.

The sandstone was quarried from a spot 2 miles away and the mortar was mixed onsite.

Prisma version picture, thanks to Mary

We chose to turn right and return via Lime Kiln Road

This was beautiful!

We decided this is the Grinch's winter home

Tonight, we say goodbye to Gary & Mary as they head for home tomorrow.

Over looking Littlefield, Arizona

Gunsite Arch

Short hike to a slot waterfall.  No water at this time.

A guzzler,  these structures are often installed in wilderness environments to help wildlife by providing reliable access to water, especially in arid regions or places with extreme dry seasons.

Headed out to the Gold Butte townsite

We must be close to the townsite. See all the old cans?

The Gold Butte mining townsite was established in 1906 when a post office opened.  By 1908, it had stores, hotels, saloons, and a brothel, with a population estimated at 2,000 people who lived in canvas walled tents.  However, by 1910 as the mining boom had ended, the miners had packed up and drifted away, and the Gold Butte post office closed.

A Golden Friendship

In 1910, an unlikely duo formed, Bill Garrett and Art Coleman.  They would remain at Gold Butte for the next 40 years.  They lived in a wooden house with a moonshine still out back.

The granite cliffs that lie in front you is where the gold was discovered.

The primary extractions from Gold Butte were copper, gold, lead and zinc.

The 62-mile scenic byway offers opportunities to see desert wildlife, red and white sandstone, sinkholes, petroglyphs, the Muddy Mountains, Lake Mead, and the historic mining town of Gold Butte.

Juanita Springs Ranch and Oasis is a 160 acre parcel that is available for purchase for the first time in forty five years.  It could be yours for $4,7000,000.00.

Some years ago, Keith Nay, a former rancher in the area got tired of people wandering out into the desert and getting lost or stuck or fearful and ending up on his porch asking for help. Not wanting to deal with unprepared tourists, Nay erected this two-sided sign on this friend's private property along Gold Butte Road hoping to discourage people from venturing out into the wilds of Gold Butte.  

His message, "there is no reason to come out here," was so wrong.

Front of the sign: "The most exciting thing I have seen out here was a flat tire and a hot radiator.

Back of the sign: Wasted time? What a 'shame'. In loving memory of Keith Nay."

Pocket Arches

Hiking to the 21 Goat panel

The top row has 21 goats/sheep.

Ever wonder what happens to your helium balloons when you release them?  They litter the back country.  We retrieve a lot of them, but this is the first one we found inflated.

Woody on one side and Bo Peep on the other side

We set out to hike to the Khota Circus panel.  Reaching Khota Circus requires a hike of about 3.6 miles round-trip through various terrain, including very sandy sections, washes, and rocky outcrops. The trail is considered long and rugged.

Only a half mile into the hike we came to these petroglyphs.

At this point we decided to turn around.  It was a hot day and hiking in mostly sand, the distance felt longer.  We will have to save the panel for another visit.

We returned to the "Falling Man" area to search out more petroglyphs.  We found lots of nice panels.

Newspaper Rock

Petroglyphs and faint pictographs.  These were the only pictographs we saw in the Gold Butte National Monument.

The Virgin Valley Heritage Museum sits as a tribute to the early pioneer settlers of this great valley. Headquartered in the community of Mesquite, The Virgin Valley Heritage Museum not only tells the history of the area, but is housed in a piece of history itself.  The authentic pueblo-style building is one of only two in Nevada, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Built thanks to the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Though they were unable to finish the structure before this nation-wide program disbanded, local ranchers stepped in to see the building’s completion. By 1940, the building opened for business as a library for about a year.  The town then made the decision that a medical facility was needed more than a library. With the $35 donation from each family in town, Dr. Gilbert and Bertha Howe, a registered nurse, went to Las Vegas and bought the medical supplies necessary to open the hospital. The library building was then converted and used as the hospital and only medical facility in town until 1977. After being closed for a few years, it was used as a Boy Scout meeting hall. In 1984, the newly incorporated City of Mesquite reclaimed it and designated it a museum to house the historical treasures of the Virgin Valley.

The Virgin Valley Heritage Museum houses a variety of interesting collections, which are dedicated to preserving the region’s rich cultural heritage while sharing the stories of the area’s first American Indian inhabitants and early settling pioneers. Exhibits and displays feature artifacts ranging from 1875 to 1935, which include the valley’s first slot machine, early telephones, movie projectors, a 1949 television, and a 1920's working Victrola. In which the docent played for us. You will also find Art Coleman & Bill Garrett's moonshine still from the Gold Butte townsite here. 

Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue's mission is to provide a safe and loving environment to all donkeys that have been abused, neglected or abandoned and wild burros under threat of destruction. While I love and appreciate their mission, the museum was mostly knick knacks and a video. 

Did the Jeep really make the need for the donkey obsolete?

In the hills above Mesquite, NV, there is a unique roadside attraction. A local artist and sculptor, has carved a miniature Mount Rushmore into the sandstone along Lower Flat Top Drive. This impressive artistry includes 17 carvings.

Castle

Olympic rings

Peanut characters

Statue of Liberty

Sphinx

Stonehenge

Easter Island Heads