Hike Mica Peak and Gold Butte Gold Butte National Monument, NV

Mar 23, 2024 — Gold Butte, Nevada, became a mining district in the early 1900s after discoveries of mica and gold. However, despite a brief rush of activity, no significant deposits were found, leading to the abandonment of the town. Now only a few remnants serve as reminders of its past, but of course the summit of Gold Butte still exists. After doing Jumbo Peak we decided to snag Mica Peak and Gold Butte before an incoming storm reached us. The day before Lindsey and Tyler had done Gold Butte from the Gold Butte Townsite and said it was brushy, so we were down to try from a different direction. The most efficient way to reach them both seemed to be from the saddle separating them since a road leads here.

The extremely long drive into Gold Butte National Monument can be done by a passenger car if driving slowly, and any vehicle can likely reach here (36.26473512, -114.2268337) and possibly further under good weather conditions. I recommend not being way out here alone and make sure you've got a reliable car with decent tires. To reach our trailhead, head north here (36.25315, -114.19215) along a spur road from Qual Springs Wash, then make a sharp turn right here (36.26066, -114.18142). The spur road has some encroaching brush, but a Crossover SUV can make it the whole way to the saddle where we parked, but I had to push it a bit for the last few hundred feet to the saddle when it gets more steep. The road continues north from the saddle and reaches the main Gold Butte Road more directly, but we didn't go that way so I can't speak to its quality.

First up was Mica Peak, a peak with over 1000 prominence and nearly the same elevation as Jumbo Peak to the south. The hike to reach this summit is generally straightforward since it just follows the western ridge crest. However, it does get progressively more steep, brushy, and rocky along the way. A couple of Class 2/2+ sections along the crest served as the only obstacles, nothing significant enough to make us want to drop down to the slopes. At around 5400' the slope becomes more loose and introduces some small cliff bands that are best avoided. We reached a false summit that hosted some radio equipment, then continued the short distance to the high point.

Now back at the trailhead, Petey and I set out up the steep southeast ridge to Gold Butte. Although there's an old road that switchbacks a bit from the saddle, we chose to ignore it. This was another straightforward hike along the crest with some Class 2/2+ around granitic boulders near the top. As the namesake peak of the area,

Rather than stay out here in Gold Butte alone to get more peaks, I left the area with my friends. I'm glad I'm not to the point in my peakbagging career where I choose peaks over company. The addiction isn't quite all-encompassing, I suppose. Plus as always, I was excited to have a real dinner rather than a dehydrated meal. Tyler and Lindsey, who had left early while we did Gold Butte, assured us they'd find a restaurant where we could rendezvous. My excitement dropped when I learned the best they could muster was fast food. Unbelievable.