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Black Butte Road (southwest bound)
Backroads Around Las Vegas, Gold Butte National Monument
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road
Southbound Gold Butte Road approaching Black Butte Road (view S)

Overview

Black Butte Road is a 5.3-mile side road off Gold Butte Road that provides 2WD-HC vehicle access to wild and rugged parts of Gold Butte National Monument west of Whitney Pocket. From the pavement, Black Butte Road runs southwest to the Falling Man Petroglyph Site. Past the trailhead, the road gets rougher and is better suited for 4WD vehicles, but still usually is passable in 2WD-HC vehicles. The road continues southwest, crosses a sandy wash (access to Twenty-one Goats), climbs over a low ridge, crosses another wash, passes the Black Butte and Sand Wash trailheads, and eventually climbs high onto the south side of Bitter Ridge. From there, the road drops steeply into a wash, then follows the wash uphill until climbing onto a ridge overlooking the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. The last section is suitable to ATV-type vehicles

For photos of the return back up Black Butte Road to the pavement, see Black Butte Road (northeast bound).

Link to road map or regional road map.

Black Butte Road
Southbound Gold Butte Road at Black Butte Road (view SW)

Watch Out

Note (March 2022): this road was recently graded.

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... except for the last section, this road is fairly safe without any unusual hazards. I nearly rolled a jeep on the last section.

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. 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. Some cell phones might work in this area, but don't count on them. The very end of the road should have cell service.

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.

Black Butte RoadBlack Butte Road (view SW from Gold Butte Road)

Getting to the Road

Black Butte Road is located out in Gold Butte National Monument northeast of Lake Mead, about 1.75 hours northeast of Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas, drive out to Gold Butte National Monument. Drive south on the paved Gold Butte Road for 19.7 miles to the unmarked intersection with Black Butte Road, on the right.

Alternatively, from Whitney Pocket, drive north on the paved Gold Butte Road for 1.5 miles to just past the last big sandstone crag on the left. An unmarked dirt road leaves the pavement to the left: this is Black Butte Road.

Black Butte Road
Northbound Gold Butte Road approaching Black Butte Road (view N)

The Road

From the pavement (Table 1, Site 1004), Black Butte Road angles away from the pavement and passes along the north side of a large sandstone crag with a number of informal campsites around the base. A spur road (Site 1662) to the left leads to campsites on the backside of the crag and loops back out to Gold Butte Road.

Farther along Black Butte Road, two more side roads branch off to the left, but both obviously are not the main road. These roads lead back to Gold Butte Road and Whitney Pocket, but they are not better than Black Butte Road and are not a shortcut to either place.

This first mile of Black Butte Road is the roughest section until the end of the road. The bumpy road runs straight southwest across the open valley, crosses a wash that frequently washes out, and eventually bends sharply more to the west. Beyond the curve, the road becomes much smoother.

Black Butte Road
Northbound Gold Butte Road at Black Butte Road (view W)

At 1.2 miles from the pavement, the road forks equally (Site 1005). Black Butte Road stays left, while Falling Man Bypass Road forks right. The two roads rejoin about 1.1 mile ahead, but the left (south) fork leads to the Falling Man petroglyph site and is the much better road. The right road, Falling Man Bypass Road, seems long, slow, and bumpy. Other than for something different, there is no real reason to use this alternate road.

Staying left at the fork, the road continues with some rocky sections, but generally is a good road. There is one blind curve where sometimes folks on ATVs drive too fast, although none have hit me head-on yet.

At 1.9 miles out, the road arrives at a wooden-fence corral that delineates trailhead parking for the Falling Man Petroglyph Site (Site 1006). The walk is short and the area is interesting, so be sure to stop and take the walk into the sandstone crags.

Black Butte Road continues southwest, passing out the other side of the trailhead parking corral. The road generally is less well maintained after the trailhead. At 2.4 miles out, Falling Man Bypass Road rejoins from the right, and Black Butte Road continues southwest.

Black Butte Road
Sign at start of Black Butte Road (view SW)

At about 2.7 miles out, the road crosses a wash, and shortly post-and-cable fencing appears along the left side of the road. The fencing is intended to keep vehicles off the gypsum-rich soils that serve as rare habitat for the protected Las Vegas Bearpoppy.

The fencing blocks a closed road across the Bearpoppy habitat to the Twenty-one Goats petroglyph site. Unfortunately, some people illegally drive around the end of the fence onto the closed road. For people wanting to see 21 Goats, continue southwest on the main road. The road turns a sharp corner and drops into a broad wash (Site 1664; 3.2 miles out). In the wash, Twenty-one Goats Road branches left and runs up the wash for 0.4 miles to 21 Goats Trailhead. From there, it is a short walk to 21 Goats and to Black Butte Dam.

Black Butte Road
Often removed or vandalized, this sign still is true

From Twenty-one Goats Road, Black Butte Road crosses the wash and climbs steeply over the ridge directly ahead. The road runs up a steep, fairly narrow gully where 4WD often is useful. The road winds through interesting mud hills, then drops into the broad and sandy Sand Wash (Site 1666; 3.5 miles out).

Here, Black Butte Road continues straight across, Black Butte Peak Trailhead is the wash on the upstream side, and Sand Wash Road goes down the wash. Sand Wash Road can be used to connect with Fisherman Cove Road to the north to make a loop back to Whitney Pocket using the paved Gold Butte Road, or connect with Mud Wash Road to the south to make a loop back to Whitney Pocket using the unpaved Gold Butte Road.

Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road (view SW from the pavement)

Continuing, Black Butte Road runs southeast running above Sand Wash to another post-and-cable fence that delineates the Sand Wash Trailhead (Site 1667; 3.8 miles out). The Sand Wash area is a great place to hike around the colorful sandstone crags below Bitter Ridge.

From there, the road deteriorates considerably as it climbs, steeply at times, up onto the flanks of Bitter Ridge. At about 4.5 miles out, a wide spot on the right serves at the Bitter Ridge Peak Trailhead (Site 1668).

Beyond the trailhead, the road runs over a side-ridge and starts steeply down into the canyon below. The road drops steeply through an S-curve, then drops into the wash at the bottom. Heading upstream in the wash, at about 4.9 miles out, the now difficult road steeply exits the wash to climb onto a ridgeline (Site 1669; 5.3 miles out) with a grand view of the Overton Arm of Lake Mead. This last part of the road is most suitable for ATV-type vehicles.

The road dead-end at the overlook, so when ready, turn around and make another adventure on the way out.

Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road (view SW not far from the pavement)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road approaching First Rock campsites road (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road at First Rock campsites access road (view SW)
Black Butte Road
First Rock campsites road (view S)
Black Butte Road
First Rock campsites access road (view S)
Black Butte Road
Water puddle adjacent to the road after a storm (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road departing First Rock campsites area (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road at a wide spot (view SW)
Black Butte Road
One of few parking pullouts (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Water puddle on the road after a storm (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Approaching a wash, often a problem for sedans (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road approaching first road to Raven Rock (view SW)
Black Butte Road
First road to Raven Rock (view SE from Black Butte Road)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road approaching second road to Raven Rock (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Second road to Raven Rock (view E from Black Butte Road)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road transitions onto less rocky soils (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road curves right (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road bends more to the west (view WSW)
Black Butte Road
After the turn, the road generally is much smoother (view WSW)
Black Butte Road
Road bypasses an old washout (view W)
Black Butte Road
Watch for oncoming traffic on blind curve (view W)
Black Butte Road
Big, open views (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road at Falling Man Bypass Road (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Occasional "designated road" marker (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Eastern Joshua Tree along Black Butte Road (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Interesting destinations ahead (view SW)
Black Butte Road
This spot is tilted, steeper than it looks, and can washout
Black Butte Road
Descending towards the Falling Man area (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Approaching sandstone crags in the Falling Man area (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Approaching Falling Man trailhead parking area (quiet day; view SW)
Black Butte Road
Approaching Falling Man trailhead parking area (busy day; view SW)
Black Butte Road
Falling Man trailhead parking area (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Falling Man Site trailhead parking (view S)
Black Butte Road
More to come ...
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road continues through trailhead parking area (view W)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road exiting Falling Man trailhead parking (view W)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road passing the Falling Man area (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Entering the gypsum soils area (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Another of a few pullouts (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Approaching the other end of fork passed before Falling Man
Black Butte Road
From previous fork, alternate road rejoins main road (view W)
Black Butte Road
Looking back at alternate road rejoining the main road (view NE)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte and Bitter Ridge ahead (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road traverses broad valley (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road traverses broad valley (view SW)
black butte road
Black Butte Road approaching post-and-cable fence
black butte road
Black Butte Road at post-and-cable fence
Black Butte Road
Information sign: Las Vegas Bearpoppy restoration area
Black Butte Road
Information sign: Las Vegas Bearpoppy restoration area
California Bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica)
Las Vegas Bearpoppies with yellow flowers
Black Butte Road
Post-and-cable fence protects Las Vegas Bearpoppy
Black Butte Road
Several steep dips in the road that can wash out (view SW)
Black Butte Road
End of post-and-cable fence protecting Las Vegas Bearpoppy
Black Butte Road
Approaching a turn-around loop; not sure why (view SW)
Black Butte Road
The road dips through another wash (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road climbing over another low ridge (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road descending into another wash (view S)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road approaching Twenty-one Goats Road (view S)
Black Butte Road
Twenty-one Goats Road (view E from Black Butte Road)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road climbs steeply over the next ridge (view S)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road cresting the steep ridge (view S)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Rd traverses rolling country towards next ridge (view S)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road descending into the next wash (view S)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road winding up towards the next ridge (view S)
Black Butte Road
Cresting the last ridge and approaching Sand Wash (view S)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road approaching Sand Wash (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Trailhead Parking (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Trailhead Parking (view E)
Black Butte Road
Start of Sand Wash Road (view S from Black Butte Road)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road continues across Sand Wash Road (view S)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road approaching Designated Road sign (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Designated Road sign just past Sand Wash (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road continues past Sand Wash (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Rd traversing rolling terrain and steep dips (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road, approaching Sand Wash Trailhead (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road at Sand Wash Trailhead (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Entering Sand Wash Trailhead (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Sand Wash Trailhead parking (view E)
Black Butte Road
Trail into Sand Wash departs parking area (view E)
Black Butte Road
Additional Sand Wash Trailhead parking (view S)
Black Butte Road
Beyond Sand Wash Trailhead, the road is not maintained (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road begins to climb towards the ridgeline (view SW)
Black Butte Road
The road begins to get rough (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road passing a tight turn-around (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road approaching the steepest part (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Steep, narrow road (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Road conditions improve, but remain fairly steep and narrow
Black Butte Road
Passing a narrow side road, best in a narrow vehicle (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Climbing onto the ridgeline (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Passing other end of the narrow road (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Steep climb up the ridgeline towards Bitter Ridge (view W)
Black Butte Road
Steep climb up the ridgeline towards Bitter Ridge (view W)
Black Butte Road
Steep climb up the ridgeline towards Bitter Ridge (view W)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road approaching Bitter Ridge Trailhead (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Vehicle parked at Bitter Ridge Trailhead (view W)
Black Butte Road
Bitter Ridge Trailhead (view W)
Black Butte Road
Passing trailhead, Black Butte Road continues down over ridge
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Rd passes Bitter Ridge Trailhead and climbs to overlook

Trailhead Scenery

Black Butte Road
Bitter Ridge hiking route (view NW)
Black Butte Road
Black Butte Road and Bitter Ridge false summit (view W)
Black Butte Road
End of Black Butte Road at overlook (view W)
Black Butte Road
Lime Ridge and high peaks in southwest Gold Butte (view SW)
Black Butte Road
Grand Wash Cliffs and Grand Canyon (view SE)
Black Butte Road
Billy Goat Peak and white sandstone domes (view ESE)
Black Butte Road
Virgin Peak, Black Butte, and the white sandstone domes (view ENE)
Black Butte Road
Virgin Peak and Fisherman Flats (view NNE)
Black Butte Road
Virgin Peak and the white sandstone domes (view E)
Black Butte Road
Virgin Ridge plus red and white sandstone (zoom, view E)

Table 1. Highway Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Wpt. Location Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi) Verified
1004 Gold Butte Rd at Black Butte Rd 36.53039 114.16102 2,776 0.00 0.00 Yes
1662 Black Butte Rd at Campsites Rd 36.52822 114.16210 2,699 0.16 0.16 Yes
1005 Black Butte Rd at Black Butte Alt Rd East 36.51797 114.17499 2,530 1.07 1.23 Yes
1006 Black Butte Rd at Falling Man Trailhead 36.51165 114.18454 2,393 0.70 1.93 Yes
1663 Black Butte Rd at Black Butte Alt Rd West 36.51045 114.19195 2,326 0.43 2.36 Yes
1664 Black Butte Rd at 21 Goats Rd 36.50146 114.20113 2,234 0.88 3.24 Yes
1666 Black Butte Rd at Sand Wash Rd 36.49791 114.20377 2,219 0.30 3.54 Yes
1667 Black Butte Rd at Sand Wash Trailhead 36.49483 114.20189 2,289 0.24 3.78 Yes
1668 Black Butte Rd at Bitter Ridge Trailhead 36.48825 114.20952 2,566 0.69 4.47 Yes
1669 Black Butte Rd End 36.48408 114.21952 2,877 0.79 5.26 Yes

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240326

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