Devil’s Throat To Mud Wash ~ Gold Butte National Monument

There are plenty of good Jeep trails to explore in Gold Butte National Monument. Some of the trails are maintained BLM dirt roads, while others are rough old mining roads that see very little traffic. Some of the dirt roads run downhill to the Virgin River and Lake Mead, where secluded bays and beaches await those who really want to get away from it all. The old gold rush era roads simply meander from one hidden desert spring to the next.  Some of the Gold Butte dirt roads run uphill into the mountains where lush pine forests can be found and a few of these roads also roll through narrow mountain passes into the neighboring Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument, which is an extremely remote wilderness area where few people dare to go. There are dirt roads that run abandoned mines and ghost ranches too, so as can be imagined, Gold Butte National Monument is 4x4 adventurist’s dream come true! 

The Mud Wash Jeep Trail is one of the most popular touring routes in Gold Butte. There is more than one way to get to the Mud Wash and the dirt road that runs from Devil’s Throat is a nice choice. This alternate route starts at Devil’s Throat and ends just east of the red rock area in the Mud Wash, which is where the ancient petroglyphs can be found. The Devil’s Throat route goes through some picturesque Mojave Desert scenery as it follows the shallow dry wash ravines downhill to the big Mud Wash. 

A previous article focused on the Mud Wash Trail in its entirety and the Little finland area is featured too. The alternate shortcut from Devil's Throat to the Mud Wash is a nice option that saves some gas when doing a roundabout tour to Gold Butte Ghost Town. Gold Butte National Monument is a very remote area, so you will be responsible for your own well being in this place. For this reason, it is best to take precautionary measures and pack a few days of supplies even for a day trip, just in case the unexpected occurs. For those who simply want to get away from it all, Gold Butte is the place to go!