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Doodlebug Canyon -- Amber Cat Canyon Loop Route
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Gold Butte National Monument
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Whitney Pocket Day-Use Trailhead Parking (view W)

Overview

The Doodlebug--Amber Cat Loop is an interesting, 4.3-mile hike through the wild and scenic red-and-white sandstone country of Gold Butte. The route runs down an old road and then hops over a low ridge into Doodlebug Canyon. Doodlebug Arch is towards the end of the canyon, and from there, the route continues down Doodlebug Wash to the confluence with Amber Cat Wash, which is followed upstream through Amber Cat Canyon and back over the ridge to the trailhead.

For details of the route from the trailhead to Doodlebug Arch, see Doodlebug Arch Route. For details of the route from the free-standing Amber Cat back to the trailhead, see Amber Cat Canyon - Return.

This hike is easily accessible from Whitney Pocket, a popular camping and picnic area in Gold Butte National Monument that is accessible in 2WD vehicles. All of this, plus hikers may even find doodlebugs in the soft sand under the arch. Amber Cat Canyon is not appropriate for horsemen because of slickrock narrows that are dangerous for horses.

Link to map.

whitney pocket
The route departs trailhead on campsite road (view W)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this is a relatively safe hike for those who stay in the bottom of the washes. There is one pour-over low in Doodlebug Wash that can be bypassed using a horse trail on the east (left) side, but Amber Cat Canyon is not appropriate for horsemen because of slickrock narrows that are dangerous for horses.

There is a lot of biological soil crust in this area. Please stay on the use-trails, in the washes, or on solid rock to avoid busting the crust.

This is, however, 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 route, but be prepared to survive alone for a day or two. Some cell phones work at points along the ridgeline above the canyon.

While visiting Gold Butte, 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.

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The route stays left past a primitive campsite (view W)

Getting to the Trailhead

Doodlebug Arch and the Amber Cat are located south of Mesquite, Nevada, in the Whitney Pocket area of Gold Butte National Monument, about 2 hours northeast of Las Vegas in a wild, remote, and scenic area.

From town, drive out to Gold Butte National Monument. Drive east on Interstate-15 to Highway 170. Take Exit 112 south towards Riverside and Bunkerville. Drive south and cross the Virgin River, then quickly turn right onto the paved Gold Butte Road. Follow the pavement (there are no paved side roads) for 21 miles until it ends at Whitney Pocket.

Continue south on the unpaved Gold Butte Road for about 120 yards to a large day-use parking area on the right. Pull in towards the information kiosk signs on the right, or continue a short way farther west to the first campsite area. Either way, park here; this is the trailhead.

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The road forks; the route stays left onto the jeep trail (view W)

The Hike

From the Whitney Pocket Day-Use Trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the route heads west on a dirt road that leads to two primitive campsites. Staying left at the first campsite (an alternative 2WD trailhead), the road continues west and forks. The route stays left at the fork and follows the jeep trail down towards the wash.

The road crosses the wash to the south side, and in about 20 yards, a faint use-trail (Wpt. 02) departs the road to the left -- this is the return route from Amber Cat Canyon.

The jeep road continues down the canyon, and at about 0.6 miles out, a saddle on the southern horizon is clearly visible: this is Amber Cat Pass, which is on the return route. In this area, another saddle on the ridge to the left begins to come into view: this is Doodlebug Pass. The route will cross the ridge using this pass.

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Jeep trail crosses the wash (view W)

While Doodlebug Pass is still ahead in the distance, the route approaches a fractured red-and-white sandstone outcrop on the hillside above the wash on the left. At a nondescript spot before the outcrop (Wpt. 03), the jeep trail bends right, and the route exits the road to the left. Crossing the wash, a faint use-trail can be seen climbing onto the hillside. This use-trail eventually runs across the top edge of the fractured sandstone outcrop.

The sometimes-faint use-trail continues west traversing the hillside, climbing at a gentle grade to Doodlebug Pass (Wpt. 04). The route continues over the saddle and descends southwest into Doodlebug Canyon (Wpt. 05) and continues down the canyon.

Heading down Doodlebug Canyon, the route passes sandy areas, red sandstone slickrock, white sandstone slickrock, tinajas, and even mini-narrows. Horsemen will find helpful details here.

After scrambling over the slickrock and through narrow spots, the wash runs due south for about 120 yards to a confluence of washes (Wpt. 07). Here, a well-used use-trail can be seen crossing the wash just before the confluence.

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Jeep trail passes the return route

Staying right onto the use-trail, the trail climbs out of the wash and heads due west above the wash-bottom. Shortly, the use-trail approaches the last of the sandstone crags on the right side of the canyon. Crossing the toe of the sandstone crag, the use-trail bends right, climbs the hillside several yards, and suddenly arrives at Doodlebug Arch (Wpt. 08).

Doodlebug Arch is quite large, but it lies on the west side of the sandstone outcrop, so it is not visible when coming down the canyon.

Doodlebug Arch is a shady place for lunch. From the arch, hikers can return back up the canyon and head back out over Doodlebug Pass (Wpt. 04) to the trailhead (Wpt. 01), or they can continue the loop by hiking farther down Doodlebug Canyon and returning via Amber Cat Canyon or one of several other loops (see map for ideas).

Departing Doodlebug Arch (Wpt. 08), a use-trail runs more-or-less straight down the hillside and returns to Doodlebug Wash (Wpt. 09).

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The return route: Amber Cat Pass (view SW)

Back in Doodlebug Wash (Wpt. 09), the route continues southwest down the canyon. Before long, a pour-over (Wpt. 10) is passed either directly (look for hidden footholds) or bypassed on the east side. Horsemen use a trail on the bench above the canyon on the left.

About 0.5 miles beyond the pour-over, the ridges fade away and the wash opens onto a broad desert valley. Not seen from eye level, another major wash, Amber Cat Wash, comes down the valley from the east. Hikers should continue a bit farther down Doodlebug Wash, past eroding colorful dirt banks on the right, to the confluence with Amber Cat Wash (Wpt. 11).

Hikers can cut across the desert flats here, shortcutting the walk to the confluence by about 100 yards, but this area is thickly covered with biological soil crust, and we'all should avoid busting the crust.

In Amber Cat Wash (Wpt. 11), the route turns left and begins the return side of the loop. Heading upstream, Amber Cat Wash runs east to the right edge of a white sandstone outcrop that can be seen ahead in the distance.

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Doodlebug Pass, in the distance, comes into view (view W)

The route runs up the wash, always staying in the main channel, for about 1/3-miles until reaching the right (south) edge of the white sandstone outcrop (Wpt. 12). The wash forks here, and the route stays left following the base of the white sandstone crag.

Continuing up Amber Cat Wash, which now is a narrow ribbon of gray gravel between red-and-white sandstone walls, the route returns to a more scenic landscape.

In about 0.3 miles, the wash forks (Wpt. 13) again (although it might not be noticed) in an area of dark-red sandstone, and here the route stays left in the main channel following the high ridge to the left that separates Amber Cat Canyon from Doodlebug Canyon. Hikers can turn into the right fork for an alternate route back to the trailhead.

The canyon begins to wind about and even curves back around to the southeast. Coming out of this big S-curve, hikers will notice the free-standing Amber Cat (Wpt. 14) crouching on the right side of the wash. The cat has no ears, but the humped back, head, and folded arms are striking.

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Doodlebug Pass starts to come into view (view W)

From the free-standing Amber Cat (Wpt. 14), the route continues winding up Amber Cat Canyon where the sandstone crags get higher and more interesting. For details of the remaining hike, see Amber Cat - Return.

When passing a curious detached sandstone mesa (Amber Cat Mesa; Wpt. 15) on the right, hikers can look back and see Amber Cat Wall where some hikers imagine seeing a red cat leaping across the amber-colored wall.

Continuing up the wash, the route eventually climbs out the top of the canyon onto the ridgeline to the right, crossing the ridgeline at Amber Cat Pass (Wpt. 16).

A use-trail continues over the pass heading northeast towards Whitney Pocket. The use-trail eventually hits the jeep trail (Wpt. 02), which is followed back to the Whitney Pocket trailhead (Wpt. 01).

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Before the sandstone outcrop, use-trail exits old road (view W)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail runs across the top of the sandstone outcrop (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail continues across the hillside (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Doodlebug Pass (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Trail descends over Doodlebug Pass (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The route crosses red and white sandstone (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Jumbled red sandstone and knob ready to tumble into the wash
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Little-used horse route exits the wash onto the hillside (view S)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Horsemen and hiker routes diverge (view S)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
More to come ...

Hiker Route Down the Canyon

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hiker route continues down the wash (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The route pinches between white slickrock sandstone
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hiker route rejoins with horse route at confluence of washes (view S)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
More to come ...

Horse Bypass

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Horse route exits the wash to the left (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Well used use-trail runs down between sandstone fins (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail stays right around the end of the sandstone (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Horse and hiker routes converge (view W)

Routes Converge to Doodlebug Arch

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
At confluence, use-trail climbs onto north hillside (view W)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat LoopWell defined use-trail continues above wash (view W)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail approaching toe of last sandstone crag (view W)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail crossing toe of last sandstone crag (view W)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Intersection of use-trails just past toe of last sandstone crag
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Doodlebug Arch comes into view (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers under Doodlebug Arch (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop Loop
Doodlebug, or Antlion, sand traps
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop Loop
Doodling of a doodlebug as it looks for a good sand-trap site
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers departing Doodlebug Arch (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers descending hillside below Doodlebug Arch (view S)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Up-canyon and down-canyon routes fork (view S)

Hiker Route Down Doodlebug Canyon

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Down-canyon use-trail drops onto slickrock and into wash (view S)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The hiker-route continues down the wash (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Water sculpted pour-over (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The hiker-route continues down the wash (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hiker-route approaches a higher pour-over (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hiker-route atop the higher pour-over (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Pour-overs always seem higher looking down (view down)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hiker below pour-over in Doodlebug Wash (view down)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers can bypass the pour-over to the east side (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Looking back: lots of foot-holds and hand-holds hidden from above
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Base of the pour-over: continuing downstream (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The horse route returns to the main wash (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Horsemen and hikers routes converge again (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
More to come ...

Horse Bypass Route

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Up-canyon and down-canyon routes fork (view S)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Horsemen cross to the south side of the wash (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Well established route traverses gentle hillside (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Well established route traverses gentle hillside (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The horsemen route descends somewhat steeply into the wash
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
More to come ...

Routes Converge Down Doodlebug Canyon

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Last of the red outcrops (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Parts of the canyon are well vegetated (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The wash cuts through a layer of conglomerate rock (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The wash cuts through a layer of conglomerate rock (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Wash crosses an interesting layer of conglomerate rock (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Interesting conglomerate rock (view down)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Details of conglomerate rock (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Horse route parallels the wash to the left (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Wash cuts through another layer of conglomerate rock (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Layer of conglomerate rock (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Layer of conglomerate rock (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Passing the conglomerate rock layer (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The walls of the canyon begin to fall away (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
First opportunity to turn east from the wash -- don't do it.
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Soils in this area are heavily covered with biological soil crust
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Don't bust the crust: stay right in the wash (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The wash curves right to pass under colorful eroding cliff (view W)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The wash runs under a colorful eroding cliff (view W)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
End of the colorful eroding cliffs (view SW)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Doodlebug Wash approaching confluence with Amber Cat Wash
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Doodlebug Wash at confluence with Amber Cat Wash (view SE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Route cuts over to Amber Cat Wash (view SE)

Returning up Amber Cat Canyon

Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Entering Amber Cat Wash (view ESE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash runs towards white sandstone crag (view ESE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Joshua trees along Amber Cat Wash (view ESE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash approaching the white sandstone crag (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash at the first bit of white sandstone (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash at the white sandstone crag (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers passing the white sandstone crag (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Cross-bedded sandstone -- historical geology written in the rocks
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hiker in the shallow narrows (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Water sculpted sandstone in the wash
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash forks; stay left in main wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hiker staying left at the fork (view NNE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NNE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NNE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view N)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view N)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view SE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view N)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash at detour to the Amber Cat (view NNE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The freestanding Amber Cat comes into view (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat LoopFreestanding Amber Cat (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Freestanding Amber Cat (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
The Amber Cat with a face (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Back in Amber Cat Wash, looking back at the Amber Cat (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hiker continuing up Amber Cat Canyon (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Mesa (view E from Amber Cat Wash)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Mesa (view SE from Amber Cat Wash)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Mesa (view S from Amber Cat Wash)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat LoopAmber Cat Mesa (view S from Amber Cat Wash)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers heading up Amber Cat Canyon (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view N)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Limestone boulders with fossils (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view N)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Limestone boulders with fossils (view N)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Limestone boulders with fossils (view N)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Limestone boulders with fossils (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Amber Cat Wash (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers climbing out of Amber Cat Canyon (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers climbing towards Amber Cat Pass (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Climbing out of Amber Cat Canyon (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Approaching Amber Cat Pass (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Hikers crossing over Amber Cat Pass (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail traversing the hillside (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail traversing the hillside (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail approaching last sandstone crag (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail traversing the hillside (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail approaching the jeep road (view NE)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Use-trail merging into the jeep road (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Jeep road merging into the campground road (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Approaching a campsite (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Jeep trail passes the large campsite (view E)
Doodlebug-Amber Cat Loop
Jeep trail arriving at Whitney Pocket trailhead parking (view E)

Table 1. Hiking Coordinates and Distances based on GPS Data (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Hiking GPS Waypoints (gpx) file.

Wpt. Location UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (ft) Point-to-Point Distance (mi) Cumulative Distance (mi)
01 Trailhead 756119 4045566 3,102 0.00 0.00
02 Amber Cat route at Jeep Road 755730 4045487 3,059 0.25 0.25
03 Doodlebug Route at Jeep Road 754941 4045446 2,893 0.51 0.76
04 Doodlebug Pass 754494 4045242 2,976 0.34 1.10
05 Wash Forks 754372 4045124 2,778 0.11 1.21
06 Horse Route at Wash 754222 4045068 2,736 0.12 1.33
07 Trail Junction 754104 4044940 2,692 0.15 1.48
08 Doodlebug Arch 754040 4044968 2,838 0.06 1.54
09 Wash Below Doodlebug Arch 754030 4044910 2,814 0.04 1.58
10 Pour-Over 753963 4044848 2,799 0.07 1.65
11 Doodlebug Wash at Amber Cat Wash 753640 4044290 2,734 0.49 2.14
12 Confluence of Washes 754137 4044253 2,796 0.33 2.47
13 Confluence of Washes 754542 4044452 2,690 0.32 2.79
14 Free Standing Amber Cat 754636 4044703 2,726 0.22 3.01
15 Amber Cat Mesa 754925 4045064 2,808 0.37 3.38
16 Amber Cat Pass 755128 4045286 3,071 0.23 3.61
01 Trailhead 756119 4045566 3,102 0.40 4.27

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

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