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Virgin Mountains
Clark
County, Nevada
Southern Nevada is a wonderful place to escape old man winter. In addition to the cheap rooms and great buffets in Mesquite, plenty of undisturbed scenery is available in every direction.
The Virgin Mountains lie between Nevada's Virgin Valley and the Arizona Strip of extreme northwestern Arizona. From Mesquite, they appear to rise to spectacular heights and, in fact, they do, when you consider that Mesquite's elevation is only about 1,900 ft. above sea level. In and around this range are a number of interesting sites unique to the landscape of southern Nevada. Among them, the Whitney Pockets, Gold Butte, Devil's Throat, and the Arizona Strip Monument.
On this December road trip, we visited a number of sites in Clark County, hoping to escape the cold of Utah and hike on ground that was not buried under several inches of snow.
The flora in this range differs sharply from what is found further north. Cacti and Joshua trees are the dominating species of plant. Quite amazing to observe the many different types.
The Virgin Mountains are basically dry, although winter does bring snow to the higher areas of the range. We found ourselves in several inches of snow whenever we were in shady areas.
Devil's Throat
Devil's Throat is a large sinkhole that began developing only within the last twenty years or so. It is found in the middle of a flat basin southwest of the Whitney Pocket area. Sinkholes are more common in wetter parts of the country. Some believe that nearby Lake Mead may be playing a role in the development of this sinkhole. It is about 100 feet deep. The bottom of the hole is dry. The edge is fenced off to prevent idiots (see below) from trying to enter the hole.
Devil's Throat
Whitney Pocket is a series of unusual rock formations and outcroppings at the western terminus of the Virgin Mountains. We arrived at Whitney at first light and had a beautiful view of the sunlight stretching across the valley below. We were not informed until later that the site contains dwellings built in rock overhangs and caves. Native American petroglyphs are also found in the area.
Whitney Pocket
Whitney Pocket
Whitney Pocket
Whitney Pocket
Very little remains of the ghost town, Gold Butte. We found it a good spot for lunch, and took a look around. Ryan played with his metal detector for a while while I climbed a rock and took a nap.
Gold Butte Cemetery
Be advised: Do not venture to southern Nevada in the winter months expecting balmy weather. Shorts and flip-flops are not ideal attire for hiking these hills. Ryan and I remained layered the entire day and, at higher elevations, encountered considerable depths of snow. Shady areas of this range were just as cold and snow-laden as the mountains in southern Utah. In summer months, though freezing may not be a risk; snakes, isolation, heat and dryness are. Travel prepared.
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