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.

Historically, the Gentry family ran thousands of head of cattle in the Gold Butte area, and this area is marked on some old maps as "Gentry Ranch." However, there do not seem to be any old buildings or remains of other structures that one might expect to find at a spot marked "ranch" on an old map.

Continuing north, the old road runs closer to the river and the edge of the mud cliff. At about 1.0 miles out, the old road ends at an old USGS water gauging station (Wpt. 05). A gauging station is an installation used to measure the height of the water, presumably in the old river channel, which can be used to determine stream flow. All of the equipment is gone, but the instrument boxes and walkways remain.

The station was placed at the site of a water pumping station. The well pipe and mechanical equipment to pump the water remains, and by looking at the rubber belts, it seems that this is where are the diesel engine was used before the area flooded.

it is interesting to note the heavy wooden boards and pilings at the base of the pump mechanism, which have been burned. The Arrowhead Trail Highway crossed the Virgin River on a wooden bridge somewhere near this point, but the bridge burned in 1925 and was not rebuilt. It is possible that these burned boards are all that remain of the old bridge. In 2015, possible bridge abutment structures were visible across the river, but they were not seen in 2022.