Overview

The Gentry Ranch area is an interesting place to hike along the banks of the Virgin River, parts of which were underwater when Lake Mead was higher. There is some history here, but it isn't the most exciting place to hike. However, in southern Nevada, we seldom get to hike along a flowing river on our home turf, so that makes this hike a treat. The early spring wildflowers can be great at this low elevation.

Since leaving the pavement on Gold Butte Road, hikers have been following the Arrowhead Trail Highway, the first motor road connecting Los Angeles with Salt Lake City.

Here, at about 0.4 miles out, the route arrives at an old trailer-type road grader (Wpt. 02) that must have spent some years beneath the surface of the lake.

It is likely that the grader was used to maintain the Arrowhead Trail Highway. In 1938, St. Thomas flooded, and this area would have flooded soon after, probably by 1940.