Want to explore an otherworldly landscape in Utah that is hardly ever visited by tourists? Look no further than Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook!
The Factory Butte Recreation Area is a BLM-owned OHV site named after the flat-topped mountain dubbed Factory Butte.
This area looks nothing like the rest of Utah. It’s characterized by pale yellow, purple, and grey clay moonscape, unlike the famous red and orange colors you’ll see in other parts of Utah. The flat topped buttes with steep slopes on all sides are very unique formations!
My husband and I visited Factory Butte while visiting Capitol Reef National Park and we were blown away by how remote and different it was compared to everything else we saw in Utah!
So how do you get to Factory Butte? Where is it located? Is it worth visiting Factory Butte in Utah? I’ll dig into all of these questions and more in this post!
Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook Overview
Factory Butte is a 6300-foot, flat-topped plateau of sandstone that stands alone in southern Utah near Capitol Reef National Park.
The Moonscape Overlook is located 3 miles from Factory Butte and overlooks Utah’s Blue Valley and (you guessed it!) looks like the surface of the moon.
The Mars Desert Research Station is also located in this area, because the landscape and soil are so similar to the moon!
The Bureau of Land Management owns this land and has designated the Factory Butte area as a 2600-acre OHV recreation area. OHV jumping and motorcycle riding are popular activities, but you can also drive your car here and explore on foot!
If you’re not into off-roading, there isn’t much to do here besides photograph the gorgeous landscape! There aren’t any established hiking trails or amenities to explore.
However, this area is so unique, relatively unknown, and super convenient to visit if you’re anywhere near Capitol Reef (plus the photos are freaking fantastic), so I decided to write a blog post on it!
Related: The 5 Best Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
Where is Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook?
Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook are located in Wayne County, Utah, 14 miles east of Capitol Reef National Park and 12 miles west of Hankville. The Moonscape Overlook is located about 3 miles east of Factory Butte.
The Caineville Mesa and Henry Mountains lie to the south and add some more scenic beauty to the surrounding area.
The small towns of Caineville and Swingarm City are located in between Hankville and Capitol Reef. Swingarm City is another OHV and recreation area, but it is only open to ATVs and OHVs.
You will be able to see Factory Butte from the main Highway 24 (just look to the left if you’re heading east from Capitol Reef), but you will need to drive up the dirt road to see the otherworldly Moonscape Overlook.
We decided to visit Factory Butte on a whim during our trip and we completely missed the Moonscape Overlook. I was so bummed about this, so don’t make the same mistake as us and make sure to get to both places!
Related: 15 Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
How to Get to Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook
To get to Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook, turn onto Factory Butte Road off of Highway 24 between Capitol Reef National Park and Hankville. This is a dirt road that is best done in a high-clearance vehicle (we had a 2WD truck and were totally fine, but a sedan would have been challenging).
You’ll know you’re in the right place when you see the Factory Butte Recreation Area sign shortly after turning.
You’ll travel for about 5.5 miles along this road until you get to the Coal Mine Road junction. If you’re comfortable going off-road, you can drive right up to Factory Butte, but there isn’t an official trail. We just enjoyed the view from the road!
To get to the Moonscape Overlook, turn right onto Coal Mine road and follow it for 3 miles until it turns into Moon Overlook Road and dead-ends at the scenic viewpoint.
Helpful Tips for Visiting Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook
Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook are located in a very remote part of Utah and it can be challenging to navigate the dirt roads. Here are a few tips to help you on your visit:
- You won’t have cell signal, so download the map ahead of time. We didn’t do this and got lost a couple of times before we found the right spot! Google Maps has both Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook (it’s called “Moon Overlook” though) listed in the correct place.
- Factory Butte is located at 38.4369° N, 110.9135° W and the Moonscape Overlook is located at 38° 27 ‘08.0″N 110° 50’ 17.0″W. It might be easier to plug the coordinates into a GPS if your map can’t find it!
- Factory Butte Road and the surrounding roads are very rough, unpaved roads. You’ll want a high-clearance vehicle, but 4×4 isn’t necessary if the roads are dry. We were in a 2WD pickup truck and it was fine!
- If you’d feel more comfortable in a 4×4 or don’t have a suitable car, Capitol Reef Jeep Rentals has Jeep Wranglers you can rent for a day.
- There are no restrooms, water, or amenities of any kind out here!
- The weather at Factory Butte can change quickly. It was very windy and dusty when we came, so be prepared for that!
The Best Time to Visit Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook
The best time to visit Factory Butte and the surrounding area is in the spring or fall when the temperatures and crowd levels are lower. March – June and September – November are great times to visit for hiking and exploring.
In the early spring, you will see desert wildflowers and cacti!
Any time of day is fine to visit Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook, but sunrise and sunset make the best lighting for photos!
Related: How to See Bryce Canyon in a Day
Where to Stay Near Factory Butte
The closest town with amenities is Torrey, Utah. It’s a cute town located just 36 miles from Factory Butte Road and has a general store with a restaurant, some gift shops, and a few other restaurants.
Torrey is super close to Capitol Reef National Park, which I assume you’ll plan to visit along with your Factory Butte/Moonscape Overlook adventure!
We actually stayed in an Airbnb in the neighboring town of Teasdale (there is literally nothing there, so we did all of our eating and shopping in Torrey).
Here are some good lodging options in Torrey:
- Capitol Reef Resort: You can stay in a luxury room, a glamping teepee, or a wagon with an amazing view of the red rock cliffs. There is also a restaurant, pool, and hot tub.
- Chuck Wagon Lodge: This is a great budget option with a convenient location above the general store with a bakery and deli.
- Broken Spur Inn: Simple, affordable accommodations 5 minutes from the park. They also have wagons you can stay in.
If you want to stay somewhere a little more remote, the Cathedral Valley Inn is a motel in Caineville that has good reviews. It’s only 7 miles from the Highway 24/Factory Butte Road junction.
Camping Near Factory Butte
There are no developed campsites in Factory Butte Recreation Area, but you can camp in “already disturbed” areas for free. There are lots of flat places to park an RV or trailer overnight, but there are no facilities.
Other Nearby Attractions
Utah is a state full of outdoor adventures, so there is a lot you can do in the area within a few hours of Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook!
Capitol Reef National Park
The most underrated of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks, in my opinion. There is amazing scenery, 2 fantastic OHV routes, and numerous hiking trails here, plus it’s only 25 miles from Factory Butte Road.
Here are my blog posts about Capitol Reef:
- 15 Best Things to Do in Capitol Reef National Park
- The Ultimate 1-4 Day Capitol Reef National Park Itinerary
- 5 Best Day Hikes in Capitol Reef National Park
Goblin Valley State Park
This is a Utah State Park filled with sandstone “hoodoos” and other unique rock formations. It’s located 32 miles northeast of Factory Butte.
Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Insanely underrated National Monument with slot canyons and fantastic waterfalls. It’s roughly 75 miles southwest of Factory Butte Road.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Small National Park filled with hoodoo rock formations in a unique amphitheater. It’s 150 miles southwest of Factory Butte Road. This is a fantasic park to make a day trip to due to it’s compact size, I wrote a blog post on how to spend a day in Bryce Canyon here.
Utah Scenic Byway 12
Amazing scenic drive that connects Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, and Bryce Canyon National Park on US Highway 12.
A portion of this highway is called “The Hogback” because of steep drop offs on each side.
This drive is one of the most spectacular scenic drives I’ve ever done, and it even rivals the famous Beartooth Highway in Montana!
You can make an epic week-long road trip of driving and exploring these 3 parks along the Scenic Byway 12!
Related: Utah Scenic Byway 12 Road Trip Itinerary | 1 Epic Week in Capitol Reef, Escalante, & Bryce Canyon
Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is located 130 miles east of Factory Butte. It’s known for its desert plateau landscape carved by the Colorado River.
Arches National Park
Arches is a National Park famous for having over 2000 natural sandstone arches. It’s located 116 miles east of Factory Butte and is just north of Canyonlands National Park.
Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook FAQs
Can You Hike Factory Butte?
There are no established hiking trails at Factory Butte Recreation Area, but you are free to explore on foot or in your vehicle.
Why is it Called Factory Butte?
Early settlers named this towering butte “Factory Butte” because they thought it looked like a factory!
Is Factory Butte on BLM Land?
Yes, Factory Butte Recreation Area is a BLM-protected OHV site.
What is the Geology of Factory Butte?
The top of the buttes in this area are made of resistant sandstone. The bottoms are composed of blue gate shale, which is a lot less rigid. The yellow, blue, and grey colors you see in this area are from the sandstone, shale, and clay.
The sandstone presses down on the shale, crushing it in some places and forming the rippled badlands you see today!
Do you plan to adventure out to Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook on your trip to Utah? Let me know in the comments below!
-Megan
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