Overview

Greasewood Basin West Road is a 1.7-mile spur road off St. Thomas Gap Road that runs north to an old cattle tank that was created by damming the wash. The dam washed out years ago and the road is blocked. Greasewood Basin East Road can be seen across the washout area, but they do not connect.

Greasewood Basin West Road runs across open desert country into an area of deep blow sand, then runs down the sandy slope to firmer ground near Black Wash. The sandy part of the road requires a 4WD vehicle, especially when trying to return up the sandy slope.

This road provides access to no particular destination, other than perhaps a quiet campsite, and there is little reason to drive this road.

Link to map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this road is safe, but it runs through deep blow sand and requires a 4WD vehicle. The road also runs into 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 main roads, but be prepared to survive alone for a day or more on side roads. Cell phones don't work.

I drove this road in my jeep using 2WD, but I bogged down in the blow sand and needed 4WD to get out. Road conditions change; use your own good judgment.

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

Getting to the Roadhead

Greasewood Basin West Road is located out in Gold Butte National Monument northeast of Lake Mead, about 2-1/4 hours northeast of Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas, drive out to Gold Butte. From the end of the pavement at Whitney Pocket, continue south on the unpaved Gold Butte Road for 9.0 miles to a major fork. The intersection is signed, but the southbound sign was knocked down some years ago; only one wooden 4x4 sign post remains. At the fork, the left is St. Thomas Gap Road, which can be confirmed by driving a few yards farther south on Gold Butte Road and looking back at the northbound sign.

From Gold Butte Road, drive southeast on St. Thomas Gap Road. The road forks before a steep ridge, and taking the right (more gentle option), travel a total of 1.9 miles to a minor side road left, which is Greasewood Basin West Road.

The Road

From St. Thomas Gap Road (Table 1, Site 1844), Greasewood Basin West Road forks left to traverse gentle desert flats. The road runs northeast to a small parking area on the left that serves as a not-the-best campsite along the base of a hill.

The road continues across the open hillside towards the next ridge, but in doing so runs into an area of deep blow sand. It might be possible to traverse this area and drive down the sandy hillside to the east in a 2WD vehicle, but the uphill return requires 4WD.

The road descends towards open desert flats and firm ground along Black Wash as it runs southeast to the upstream side of the washed out dam. The dam and road are washed out, so drivers cannot continue across to connect with Greasewood Basin East Road.