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Gold Butte National Monument photo BLM Nevada
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Little Finland Area photo Bob Wick BLM
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Whitney Pockets Area photo Bob Wick BLM Nevada
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Wildflowers Silverleaf Sunray photo John Asselin Nevada BLM
Words by Megg Mueller
There’s a spot in Gold Butte National Monument where if you stretch your arms out wide, reaching your fingertips to their furthest extent, it seems as if you can almost touch Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon at the same time. It’s the southern apex of a landscape that encompasses the wealth of southern Nevada’s beauty and its arid, teeming desert.
This is no mirage, however. Gold Butte is anything but fleeting or imaginary. It is nearly 300,000 acres of spectacular sandstone structures; surprising pockets of juniper, oak, and pinyon woodlands where you’d least expect them; granitic mountains rising high into azure skies; and miles and miles of dirt roads. Or it could be described as it was on a recent outing—something akin to heaven.
Depending on the season you choose to visit (skip mid summer if you’re smart) bighorn sheep or wildflowers may greet you. Roadrunners are plentiful, as are reptiles of all sizes and shapes, including Nevada’s state reptile the desert tortoise. Keep an eye out for this slowpoke on roadways; he always has the right of way.
With so much space to explore, where does one begin? Thankfully, the Backcountry Byway—a roughly 90-mile loop from State Route 170 near Bunkerville—offers the easiest way to see some incredible geologic features in the span of a day. A couple of caveats: One day is barely enough to skim the surface of the Backcountry Byway, let alone Gold Butte. Grab a camper or tent, load up the ATV, and take your time uncovering this remote treasure. And, “easiest way” is a relative term; this is Nevada after all. The loop is a mix of sort-of paved, maintained dirt, river washes, and the like, so this trip is for high-clearance 4WD vehicles only. A Chevy Tahoe served admirably, but always prepare to stay the night when you least expect it by having water, food, warm clothing, gas, spare tires, etc. It’s the Nevada way.
See more photos and the full article at http://nevadamagazine.com/home/inside-the-magazine/wide-open/gold-butte-national-monument/