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Mockingbird Spring and Corral
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Gold Butte National Monument
Mockingbird
Mockingbird Spring
Loading chute at Mockingbird Spring (view S)

Overview

Mockingbird Spring and Corral are located out at the far south end of Gold Butte National Monument, about 5 miles west of Gold Butte Townsite out towards the Overton Arm of Lake Mead.

This historic spring area was developed by ranchers years ago, and water from the spring still flows to an old cement trough. The springbox is grown over with Honey Mesquite, and water overflowing from the trough supports another large clump of mesquite. The mesquite is full of Mesquite Mistletoe, which feeds fair populations of Phainopepla (a bird species that eats mistletoe berries [note: poisonous to humans]). Northern Mockingbirds and Loggerhead Shrikes also rely on the spring. Phainopepla and Loggerhead Shrikes are bird species of concern in Nevada.

This point of interest makes for a place to stop while driving the Catclaw Wash area and contemplate the lives of people who once worked these hills while listening to the songs of desert birds coming in for water.

Link to map.

Mockingbird Spring
Cement watering trough at Mockingbird Spring (view SE)

Getting to Mockingbird Spring

Mockingbird Spring is located out in Gold Butte National Monument at the northeast end of Lake Mead, about 4 hours northeast of Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas, drive out Gold Butte Road 21 miles to Whitney Pocket at the end of the pavement. Continue south on the unpaved Gold Butte Road 20 miles to Gold Butte Townsite.

From the townsite, the main road that continues straight (southwest) is Scanlon Road. Drive south on Scanlon Road 2.7 miles to Quail Wash South Road (Table 1, Site 1796), on the right.

Drive west on Quail Wash South Road for 1.5 miles to a 4-way intersection (Site 1797). Stay left on Quail Wash South Road for another 0.8 miles (2.3 miles total) to Quail Wash Crossover Road (Site 1799) and stay right, crossing over 50 feet, to Quail Wash Road (Site 1800). Drive west on Quail Wash Road for 1.0 miles to Mockingbird Spring (Site 1802).

Mockingbird Spring
Quail Wash Road approaching Mockingbird Spring and Corral (view N)
Mockingbird Spring
West side of Mockingbird Spring Corral (view NE)
Mockingbird Spring
Inside the corral area (view NW)
Mockingbird Spring
Inside the corral area (view W)
Mockingbird Spring
Inside the corral area (view SW)
Mockingbird Spring
Inside the corral area (view SW)
Mockingbird Spring
Inside the corral
Mockingbird Spring
Inside the corral (view NE)
Mockingbird Spring
West side of the corral (view SW)
Mockingbird Spring
West side of the corral (view SW)
Mockingbird Spring
West side of the corral (view S)
Mockingbird Spring
West side of the corral (view SW)
Mockingbird Spring Mockingbird Spring
Mockingbird Spring
Mockingbird Spring; spring 2018
Mockingbird Spring
Mockingbird Spring; summer 2022
Mockingbird Spring
Mockingbird Spring; spring 2018
Mockingbird Spring
Mockingbird Spring; summer 2022
Mockingbird Spring
Trickle of water falling into the trough
Mockingbird Spring
Effects of grazing
Mockingbird Spring
Effects of grazing
Mockingbird Spring
Effects of grazing
Mockingbird Spring
Effects of grazing and several salt blocks
more to come
More to come ...

Table 1. Highway Coordinates Based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Elevation (ft)
1796 Scanlon Road at Quail Wash South Road 748246 4016211 36.26075 114.23688 3,156
1797 Quail Wash Road at Quail Wash South Road 745998 4016253 36.26170 114.26187 3,100
1799 Quail Wash South Road at Connector Road 744711 4015962 36.25941 114.27626 2,747
1800 Quail Wash Road at Connector Road 744685 4015989 36.25966 114.27655 2,761
1802 Mockingbird Spring 743295 4016298 36.26280 114.29190 2,769

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

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