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Black Butte Dam Direct Route -- Return to Trailhead
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Gold Butte National Monument
Black Butte Dam Direct Route
Black Butte Dam
Black Butte Reservoir (view SE)

Overview

Black Butte Dam was built decades ago by ranchers to hold rainwater that was then piped to watering troughs for use by cattle. Back in the old days when it rained regularly, the system probably worked well, but with the land drying out in the modern age, the dam holds back sand and the occasional pond after a summer thunderstorm. When the pond is full, be sure to look for fairy shrimp and other tiny creatures in the water.

The troughs are gone, and the pond usually is dry, but this remains an historic site worth visiting. The trail from the west is only 0.44 miles round trip, so it is more of a stroll than a hike, but it can be combined with a hike to the Twenty-one Goats petroglyph site (add 0.50 miles round trip), or it can be a destination when starting from Falling Man (about 3 miles round trip).

Presented here are photos of the return. For a detailed description of the route, including directions, maps, and GPS coordinates, see Black Butte Dam Direct Route.

Black Butte Dam
Above the dam, looking towards the trailhead (view NW)
Black Butte Dam
Hikers can depart via the cave or the cleft (view SW)
   
Black Butte Dam
Old road exits the turn-around loop (view NW)
Black Butte Dam
Old road runs out between the crags (view N)
Black Butte Dam
Old road continues out of the canyon (view NW)
Black Butte Dam
Old road continues (view NW)
Black Butte Dam
Old road approaching the wash (view NW)
Black Butte Dam
Old road drops into wash and continues downstream (view NW)
Black Butte Dam
Route runs down the wash towards the trailhead (view W)
Black Butte Dam
Route arriving at the trailhead (view W)

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240325

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