Exploring the Earth and Sky of the West

Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada

  • Bright pink and yellow cactus spines
    Bright pink spines of a California Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus)
  • Joshua Trees and red sandstone rock formations
    Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada
  • Late afternoon sunlight on sandstone rock formations and desert mountains
    Late-afternoon view from a ridge overlooking Whitney Pocket, Gold Butte National Monument.
  • Fossil brachiopods in a limestone boulder with sunlit Joshua Trees in the background.
    Many of the ridges and mountains in the Gold Butte area consist of Paleozoic limestones. Fossils, such as the brachiopods seen here, are a dime a dozen.
  • Joshua Trees and red sandstone rock formations
    Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada
  • Sunset light on rock formations, Joshua Trees, and desert mountains.
    A beautiful view from our camp just after sunset, looking north towards the Virgin Mountains
  • Sunrise light illuminates Joshua Trees and colorful sandstone boulders.
    Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada
  • A notch in a sandstone boulder frames a view of a desert landscape.
    Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada
  • A small fishhook cactus growing in rocks.
    A tiny fishhook cactus (Mammillaria tetrancistra) growing in rocks
  • Red, pink, and yellow swirls in sandstone.
    The Aztec Sandstone in this area is without a doubt the most colorful rock formation I’ve ever seen.
  • Petroglyph of a man that appears to be falling through space.
    One of the reasons for the creation of Gold Butte National Monument was the abundance of petroglyphs and rock art throughout the region, such as the “Falling Man” seen here.
  • Several yuccas grow in sandy soil surrounded by sandstone rock formations.
    Utah Yuccas thrive in the thin sandy soils formed in alcvoes within the Aztec Sandstone.
  • A large sandstone boulder containing numerous petroglyphs.
    Petrogylphs, Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada.
  • Petroglyphs in the shape of Desert Tortoises.
    More petroglyphs, Desert Tortoises perhaps?
  • Swirls of color on slickrock sandstone.
    Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada
  • Large Joshua Tree with person for scale.
    Joshua Tree, Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada
  • A raptor perches atop a Joshua Tree
    Gold Butte National Monument, Nevada