Overview

Connoly Corral is an unusual historic wooden corral in that it was constructed as a narrow triangle rather than using the more common rectangular or round shapes. The corral is weathering, and the watering troughs and tanks are rusting away, but this site makes for an interesting place to visit and gain a glimpse into the ranching history in the region.

Like so many others in this area, this corral was built here because a spring provided water that could be piped to cattle. Since settlement, however, this land has been drying out, and over the decades, most of the little springs in the area have dried up. With the current drought, the effects of drying climate are even more obvious, but it is important to understand that for decades ranchers in the southern deserts have been forced off the land by changing rainfall patterns.

Please tread lightly on this historic site. With climate change, it is unlikely we will ever see the spring come back or the corral rebuilt.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this area is fairly safe, but keep an eye out for wire on the ground that presents a tripping hazard and watch for rusty nails in old boards.

This is a wild and remote area without services of any kind (no restrooms, no water, no gas, no food). Bring what you need to survive. Be prepared and be self-reliant. Someone will find you eventually if you stay on a main road, but be prepared to survive alone for a day or two. Cell phones only work along parts of the paved road.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, this is a very remote hike, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials.

If you pick up trash, be sure to only pick up new trash. There are lots of bits of old junk lying about, but this is what makes the site interesting.

Getting to Connoly Corral

Connoly Corral is located out in Gold Butte National Monument at the northeast end of Lake Mead, about 3 hours northeast of Las Vegas in a wild, remote, and scenic area.

From town, drive out to Gold Butte National Monument. From Whitney Pocket, continue south on the unpaved Gold Butte Road for 16.5 miles to a fork. Stay left onto Devils Cove Road and continue south then east 7.7 miles to Connoly Corral Access Road (Table 1, Site 1746), on the right.

Turn onto Connoly Corral Access Road and drive west about 100 yards the corral (Site 1747).