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| Fins in Little Finland |
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| Outlined by Minerals seeping through Sandstone |
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| Red Wash and Baby Butte |
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| The Subway |
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| Starting Out on a Cool Morning |
Love Gold Butte!! So, twenty-two hikers with 6 ... no wait ... 7 HCVs (so sorry), drove up I-15 to Exit #112 and turned onto Gold Butte Road just after crossing the Virgin River bridge. We weren't in caravan and there was a forgotten vehicle who miraculously found the rest of the group in Little Finland! (My stomach was in knots!) But, the three occupants seemed to take it all in stride. Wonderful people!
The remaining group had parked at the Wall Petroglyph Trailhead and hiked through the opening to its right. Using as direct a route as possible, we hiked through the redstone and over to the top of the Little Finland grand entrance. If you always use the easiest approach from the corral, you miss this nugget of pageantry!
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| To the left of a Landmark Arch |
As our large group began exploring Little Finland and all its nooks and crannies, someone spotted the three hikers on the cliffs above the entrance. Suddenly, all was well with the world!
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| Beautiful Desert of Gold Butte |
We had more time to explore Little Finland than we usually do; around 45 minutes. Some hikers used the time for photography. Others did some scrambling. Still others just rested!
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| Top of Grand Entrance / Little Finland / Bitter Ridge / Valley of Fire |
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| First Drop in Grand Entrance |
Eventually, everyone sauntered over to the other end of Little Finland where the fence hiker gate was located. When all were accounted for, we hiked down to the base of the Little Finland wall and across to the Red Bluff Spring fenced enclosure. The fences here are to keep free range cattle from dirtying the water. We continued straight through the bright red muddy canyon, up around the fencing and on to the corral that is located on Mud Wash Road, not far from where our cars were parked around the corner to the left. We inspected the corral and saw that it seemed to be in very good condition. Some fencing around it has been replaced and the rubber around the inside seemed new or cleaner somehow. Hmm.
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| Last Drop in Grand Entrance |
We crossed the road to a dry wash flowing down onto it and followed a trail up the wash to the next level of desert terrain. Here we crossed the other fork of Mud Wash Road.
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| "Red Carpet" of Grand Entrance |
The target from here is the left end of a small ridge across from us. A cow path soon became apparent and we followed the path all the way over and around the ridge.
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| Large Area of Little Finland |
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| Seeping Minerals appear as Snow |
At the end of the ridge, the cow trail leads toward the right side of Baby Butte, the fat monolith rising in the near distance. The trail merges with an old road and we followed it to the edge of a very large wash. Here, we sat among the rocks to have a break near the base of Baby Butte. Enjoying the views, I noticed that Baby Butte has a crack down the middle from top to bottom. Was this here before? Anyway, hmm. After our break, we found the trail that leads down into the large wash and climbed out on a trail at the other side. Between the wash and the slot we headed toward, there didn't seem to be a solid cow path. Our aim is to always avoid disturbing pristine terrain.
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| Red Bluff Spring |
We entered the slot and were amazed at very bright green moss on the ground. Then we climbed up the other end of the slot where rocks are very loose. We were careful not to dislodge any as we climbed.
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| Ancient Petroglyphs |
Those hikers that preferred not to climb the loose stuff, simply went to the easily climbed embankment on the left side of the slot.
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| Exploring Little Finland |
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| Hikers Everywhere! |
At this next level of desert terrain and redstone, we hiked around a corner to the right and found another hidden small slot. This slot has petroglyph treasures etched on the dark walls. This ancient art is very different than other panels in the area as seen in the archived 2012 photo several photos below. We allowed everyone to examine the slot. All were very respectful of the native American sacred place. Then, we headed out a different canyon and around the right corner to come to the cliff above The Subway entrance. There is a way to scramble down this cliff just for fun, and about half the group did so. The other hikers followed me down a much easier route. We watched the last of the hikers finish their drop then headed across to The Subway entrance.
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| Nessie Fins |
The hikers explored The Subway, another sacred place, very quietly. They gravitated up to the end of the slot where petroglyphs are etched into the black walls.
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| Exiting through Red Bluff Wash |
After our short visit, we exited out the side canyon. This trail has improved over the years with a much better way to deal with the obstacles at the end.
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| Hiking to Corral |
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| Inside Corral |
Next, we went on a search for the very old petroglyphs found around the end of the rock ridge. We didn't find many because they are very difficult to see. Nevertheless, we did find a few then dropped back down the hill and circled around and back to The Subway entrance. On the way, we noted the many petroglyphs written on the walls outside The Subway. When we were all together again, we started back up the trail that leads under the Walk Through Arch. Across the small mesa, we began dropping down a beautiful red wash with Baby Butte in the distance. See the third photo of this entry. At the bottom of this, we had to deal with crossing that large wash again.
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| Following Cow Paths to Baby Butte |
Next, we made as direct a route as possible back to the cars. This required crossing the mesa and dipping down into a small wash to the left.
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| Baby Butte Snack Area |
Next, we followed a use trail up the embankment on the right and made a sharp left turn "at the Joshua Tree!"
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| Slot Climb - Just for Fun |
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| Archived Photo |
A vague trail led us on up to the plateau above a campsite at the base of a wall. We found our way down the hill and passed by the campsite then headed out along the wash below us to the right. A trail leads down the embankment to the wash then we followed the road/wash out to the junction with the main thoroughfare of Mud Wash Road. The most direct route then takes a right turn on the road, climbs up the embankment in a wash to the left then follows a trail straight across the mesa. In the distance, you can see two black marker posts across the desert terrain. These posts mark the direction of the trailhead.
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| Danuta Examines the Small Slot |
We reached the top of another embankment and used the trail to drop down to the redstone wall to our left.
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| The Cliff Drop |
One more petroglyph awaited us high on this wall before we reached our cars. How did they get up there to make them?
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| Entering The Subway |
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| Exiting the Subway from the Side |
If this hike is done the most efficient way, it is no longer than 6.5 miles. Today, we were a little off in the beginning and ended up with 7 miles that also included a little more exploring in Little Finland. Regardless, there are many photos to be taken on this hike and many ins and outs to explore. Love Gold Butte! And, thank you to a wonderful group of hikers!
7 miles; 900 feet elevation gain; 4.5 hours; average speed 1.5 mph
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| Some of Many |
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| Walk Through Arch |
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| Taking the Most Direct Route back to the Trailhead |
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