Overview

Mud Wash Corral is an unusual double-circular corral that was built long ago by ranchers. Circular corrals are uncommon in general, but this one is two circular corrals linked together by a gate, forming a figure-8 (or as some say, a snowman with a hat; see aerial photo).

The corral has fencing on the southeast end that forms a wide funnel and was used to direct livestock into the larger circular corral. Once inside the larger circular corral, specific livestock could be directed into the smaller circular corral. From there, an inclined loading chute was used to load the livestock onto trucks for shipment to market or other pastures.

While the details of history probably are lost, this corral makes for an interesting stop while visiting Gold Butte National Monument (e.g., driving to Little Finland) or driving the Gold Butte Backcountry Byway.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about driving in the desert, ... this site is pretty safe, but watch for wire that could be a tripping hazard, and watch for rusty nails in boards.

This is wild and remote country without services of any kind (no restrooms, no water, no gas, no food). Bring what you need to survive. Be prepared and be self-reliant. Law enforcement occasionally patrols the area. It is a big place, but someone will eventually find you if you stay on a main road, but be prepared to survive alone for a day or two, or even longer on side roads.

While out, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, this is a remote area, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials.

Please be careful with the corral. This is the only one like this most of us will ever get to visit.

Getting to Mud Wash Corral

Mud Wash Corral is located out in Gold Butte National Monument at the northeast end of Lake Mead, about 3 hours northeast of Las Vegas in a wild, remote, and scenic area.

From town, drive out to Gold Butte National Monument. From Whitney Pocket, continue south on the unpaved Gold Butte Road for 3.9 miles to Mud Wash North Road on the right. Turn onto Mud Wash North Road and drive southwest 3.2 miles to Mud Wash Road. Stay right onto Mud Wash Road and continue west down the wash for 1.7 miles to Mud Wash Corral (Table 1, Site 1679), on the right.