Backroads Around Las Vegas, Gold Butte
 Mud Wash at the intersection with Mud Wash Shortcut Road (view W) |
October 2023: the road remains passable in 2WD-HC vehicles. Overview Mud Wash Shortcut Road is located out in Gold Butte, northeast of Las Vegas. This road runs 1.9 miles between Mud Wash Road and Red Bluff Spring Road, both of which are segments of the Gold Butte Backcountry Byway. If driving the Gold Butte Backcountry Byway or the Sand Wash--Mud Wash Loop, this shortcut saves 3.5 miles (1.9 vs. 5.5 miles) from the total drive. Although just a connector, this road offers grand scenery and hosts two small campsites. Westbound, the road leaves Mud Wash Road to the south and climbs steeply out a side canyon to run above cliffs overlooking Mud Wash. Dropping through a gap and crossing a sidewash, the road winds around steep, tight curves and climbs to a saddle with grand views in both directions. Dropping, sometimes steeply, the road runs out to connect with Red Bluff Spring Road. The road is described in detail as Mud Wash Shortcut Road - Eastbound, but here photos are presented for the other direction, east to west. Link to road map. |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road (view S from Mud Wash Road) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road starts up a sandy wash (view SW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road curves right out of wash (view SW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road climbs across hillside (view NE) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road approaching sharp curve left (view N) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road at sharp curve left (view N) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road turning the sharp curve left (view N) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road runs straight and smooth (view NW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road at east campsite (view NW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road approaching west campsite (view NW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road during morning light (view NW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road during afternoon light (view NW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road during morning light (view NW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road during afternoon light (view NW) |
 Looking down into Mud Wash (view NW) |
 Few rocks in the road (view NW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road approaching an edge (view NW) |
 Road beginning to descend through gap (view W) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road descending through gap (view SW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road descending through narrow gap (view SW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road crosses a wash (view SW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road climbing into the hills (view SW) |
 Freshly graded road starts up across hillside (view NW) |
 Freshly graded road runs across hillside (view NW) |
 Freshly graded road turning away from steep hillside (view NW) |
 Freshly graded road climbing into the hills (view S) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road climbing into the hills (view W) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road climbing towards a saddle (view W) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road approaching a saddle (view W) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road crossing a saddle (view W) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road beyond the saddle (view W) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road descending steep hillside (view W) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road on desert flats (view SW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road on desert flats (view W; morning light) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road on desert flats (view W; afternoon light) |
 Approaching triangle intersection (view W) |
 Start of big triangle intersection (view W) |
 More to come ... |
Westbound Mud Wash Shortcut Road South
 Beyond fork, Mud Wash Shortcut Road South curves left (view S) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road South (view S) |
 Approaching Red Bluff Spring Road (view SW) |
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road South at Red Bluff Spring Road (view SW) |
Westbound Mud Wash Shortcut Road North
 Mud Wash Shortcut Road North at Red Bluff Spring Road (view NW) |
more to come ... |
Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
; Last updated 240326
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