Roadside Attraction Whitney Pocket - Gold Butte National Monument

Overview

Fri

78° | 56°

Sat

76° | 59°

Sun

67° | 54°

Mon

75° | 53°

Tue

80° | 56°

( Rated 5.0 / 2 Ratings )

4 Todo Lists / 1 Ticks

RATING: Roadside Attraction

LENGTH: 1+ hours

MAPS: WHITNEY POCKET, NV

SEASON: Any, hot in summers.

WATER: None, bring all you need.

Fri

78° | 56°

Sat

76° | 59°

Sun

67° | 54°

Mon

75° | 53°

Tue

80° | 56°

Camping at Whitney Pocket

Whitney Pocket is likely most people's introduction to Gold Butte National Monument. The sandstone outcropping is on the north end of the monument, and the one of the first places the main road passes by after leaving I-15 about 25 bumpy miles to the north.

The area, with its white, red, and orange sandstone stands out in stark contrast to the Joshua Tree covered craggy grey peaks that surround it. It is a popular jumping off point for campers, ATV, and off-road enthusiasts. The road to Whitney Pocket is a bumpy mix of old pavement and a bit of gravel. All vehicles can make it to Whitney Pocket. Beyond the pocket, however, roads turn to rough and rocky dirt. If planning on continuing into the monument, high clearance required, 4x4 high clearance highly recommended.

Camping Note: There are quite a few primitive campsites around White Pocket. Please pack out everything you pack in and pick up any trash you may find. There is no water or services available for 25 miles. Come prepared, this is a remote place.

History Note: The area has a long human history. A close eye will reveal several petroglyph panels around the base of Whitney Pocket. The Gold Butte gold rush began in 1906, bringing an estimated 2000 or more miners and related people to the area that had likely seen little visitation since the native peoples. Most miners passed by Whitney Pocket on their way to try and strike it rich. The gold rush was short lived, ending in 1909.

George “Luke” Whitney came to the Gold Butte area in 1910. He and his family purchased and developed the Aravada Ranch east of Whitney Pockets. The Whitney's spent summers at the ranch, and soon began hosting guests. The ranch became an oasis and is still open today as a camping destination. Whitney Pocket is named for Luke.

In the 1930’s, the depression brought about the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). The CCC came to Whitney Pocket to establish a camp and build a cistern as well as other improvement projects in the Gold Butte area. It is their mark on the pocket that is most prominent today. The cistern they built is still in place, an immense block and concrete structure complete with stairs to climb up and down both sides. They also walled off several alcoves for storage, with some of the walls still in place.

CCC Camp area at Whitney Pocket

Getting There

Reaching Gold Butte starts by taking exit 112 off Interstate 15. This is about 70 miles east of Las Vegas, or 10 miles west of Mesquite Nevada. From exit 112, head south for 3.1 miles on NV-170 toward Riverside. Just after the road crosses the Virgin River, turn right onto Gold Butte Road.

Reset your odometer as you turn west onto Gold Butte Road. This is an old paved road that is a bit rough and gravel in sections, but passable by all vehicles in most conditions. 11S 748409E 4068726N / 36°43'54"N 114°13'05"W

19.7 miles - Side road on the right This called Black Butte Rd. 11S 754102E 4046527N / 36°31'49"N 114°09'43"W

19.9 miles - Side road on the right to a couple of good primitive camping spots. 11S 754383E 4046395N / 36°31'45"N 114°09'32"W

21.1 miles - Whitney Pocket. Good camping on the right. 11S 756034E 4045904N / 36°31'27"N 114°08'26"W

21.15 miles - Major junction. Large parking/camping area on the right. A good road goes left (east) along the base of Whitney Pocket. This is the Whitney Pass Rd. 11S 756076E 4045807N / 36°31'24"N 114°08'24"W

Sunset along Whitney Pocket

Route Description

Rock Art and Historic Site Etiquette
Rock art and historic sites are fragile, non-renewable cultural resources that, once damaged, can never be replaced. To ensure they are protected, please:

Avoid Touching the Petroglyphs: Look and observe, BUT DO NOT TOUCH!
Stay on the Trails: Stay on the most used trails when visiting sites, and don't create new trails or trample vegetation.
Photography and Sketching is Allowed: Do not introduce any foreign substance to enhance the carved and pecked images for photographic or drawing purposes. Altering, defacing, or damaging the petroglyphs is against the law -- even if the damage is unintentional.
Pets: Keep pets on a leash and clean up after them.
Artifacts: If you happen to come across sherds (broken pottery) or lithics (flakes of stone tools), leave them where you see them. Once they are moved or removed, a piece of the past is forever lost.

When first reaching Whitney Pocket, there is a couple of large parking areas on the right. These can provide good campsites. The road gets rougher from here. If in a very low clearance vehicle, parking at this first stopping point and walking the roads is a good option.

From the major junction on the south side of Whitney Pocket, go left. 0.3 miles from the junction there is a pullout on the left before the road climbs a small wash. This is the parking for the cistern, which is clearly visible to the north from the parking area. It is fascinating and just a couple of minute hike.

The first road on the right just past the cistern pullout visits the old CCC camp area and has a walled in alcove ruin from the camp.

0.4 miles from the main junction is a major camping area with several sites and a porta-a-potty on the left. This is an excellent campsite location. There is a good petroglyph panel just north of the campground on the eastern rock formation.

0.75 miles from the main junction is a final outcropping on the left (north) side of the road. There is a good camping spot here as well.