Gold Butte Back Country Byway

00:00     Title
00:18     Virgin River
03:18     Wildflowers
09:08     Gold Butte Back Country Byway
23:36     Fin

​Taking a tour of the Gold Butte National Monument Back Country Byway offers a good overview of what this park is about. There are several side roads that go to unique points of interest, but the mileage can add up quickly so fuel management will be necessary. Touring the lengthy Gold Butte Road is rewarding, since Gold Butte Ghost Town is located at the end of the line. The roads do go further south, but a 4x4 high ground clearance vehicle will be needed for those rough trails. A high ground clearance vehicle is good for Gold Butte Road, since the endless washboard ripples are a bit too much for an average passenger car. 

The Gold Butte National Monument access point is located about one hour north of Las Vegas at the Interstate Highway 15 Riverside exit ramp. From the offramp, Gold Butte Road is located on the east side of the Virgin River. The town of Mesquite, Nevada is the closest place to fuel up, so it actually is the starting point for most Gold Butte adventures. The extra mileage from Mesquite adds up to about 35 miles just to get to the border of the national monument. Gold Butte Ghost Town is about 30 miles further, so an out and back to the ghost town will be over 100 miles. Tackling the side trails will run up the mileage even more, so be sure to top off the tank to prevent being stranded.

The reason why a bit of forethought is mentioned is because Gold Butte National Monument is a very remote area in a vast desolate desert expanse. Getting stranded can result in a survival situation. It will take more than one tank of gas to explore every site in this park, so be sure to plan each excursion. Most importantly, the vehicle has to be reliable, because the towing charges from a remote location like this can break the bank.

Sticking with the main road through the length of Gold Butte National Monument is as easy as following the National Back Country Byway signs. The scenery changes in interesting ways along Gold Butte Road, so be sure to pack a camera. Some of the most dramatic colorful desert landscapes that can be imagined can be found along this lengthy stretch of dirt road, especially during the wildflower season. After a wet winter, super bloom pockets regularly occur along Gold Butte Road, especially in the dry washes near Whitney Pockets. Photos of prolific wildflower season blooms are featured in this video.