Join Frank Golden and the Friends of Gold Butte as we hike through the Mud Wash Narrows. This easy hike takes us to an ancient alluvial field carved out by countless flash floods over thousands of years. Marvel at the many layers of mud cemented rocks and ask yourself what is keeping them up. The round trip distance is about 4 miles and 300 feet of very gradual elevation change. We will hike at a comfortable pace with occasional breaks for pictures and focused discussions on related topics. Frank might even tell a story or two. The hiking surface (Mud Wash) at that location is mostly gravel with a few larger rocks mixed in. Some will find trekking poles helpful, but for many, it will be just more stuff to carry. Sturdy boots with ankle support is recommended. Please remember to bring lunch/snacks and fluids. We will break for our lunch at the turn around point.

We will meet at the junction of Gold Butte Road and Riverside Road aka Hwy 170 at 8:00 am (Pacific Time) and expect to return no later than 4:00 pm. Mush Wash Road can be sandy at times so high clearance 4×4 is recommended, though I’ve seen AWD Subarus make it. If you do not have an appropriate vehicle, please let us know and we may be able to arrange for you to ride with someone. If you do ride with someone, a gesture of offering gas money for your driver would be nice.

All of our hikes are free and open to the public. As this hike passes through an area that doesn’t allow egress during flash floods, this hike will be cancelled or changed to a different hike (most likely “Transit Black Ridge”) if there is a probability of precipitation. Please stay tuned for updates and keep an eye on the weather as we approach the meet up date.

For all hikes, please wear sturdy shoes, breathable clothes, and a hat. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, water, lunch, and snacks. There are no stores or facilities in Gold Butte; be prepared to pee in the bushes. We practice Leave No Trace ethics so be prepared to carry out everything you bring in.

If you register for this hike and find you are unable to attend, please be courteous and remove yourself from the “going” list. If you are unable to do this, please email or call to let us know, so someone from the waitlist is able to attend. When signing up, please provide your phone number and if you are driving a 4×4.

Gold Butte National Monument is primitive and has no services of any kind. Event participants must bring and carry their own water, food, sunscreen, basic first-aid items, any medications (e.g., EpiPen or asthma inhalers, etc.) a participant may need, and any other supplies they may want or need while participating in the event. Participants must wear appropriate footwear for the event (for example, for trash-clean-up events, sturdy, closed-toe shoes or boots would be appropriate). Participants are strongly encouraged to wear broad-brimmed hats and dress in weather-appropriate clothing when participating outdoors. Participants are reminded to be plant and animal aware at all times. Finally, if the event necessitates, participants are strongly encouraged to provide their medical information (pre-existing conditions, medications, etc.) and their Emergency Contact information (name and phone number) on a card or piece of paper in a sealed envelope with their name on the outside. The volunteer organizer will collect and hold the envelopes during the event and return them, unopened, at the conclusion of the event if they are not needed; and the assumption of risk statement found at In-person Assumption of Risk