4 WD
Hiking
Photography
What and Why?
Factory Butte is a peak almost 2000 metres high in the Upper Blue Hills in Wayne County, Utah.
Its outline reminds one of a huge factory building. The surrounding desert landscape, shaped by wind and weather, makes it an absolute highlight, especially in good light. The area around Factory Butte, which lies in the middle of Utah’s Great National Parks, is little known and yet offers a number of other sights that are greatly underestimated from our point of view.
The Moonscape Overlook offers an impressive view.
The colourful landscape around the Mars Desert Research Station
The Long Dong Silver, a black rock needle protruding from the ground in Blue Valley that seems to be out of this world
Where is it?
Factory Butte is located east of Capitol Reef National Park between Caineville and Hanksville.
38.4369252, -110.9134906
How to get there?
To view Factory Butte from a distance, which is definitely worth it considering its size, a normal car, motorbike or even bicycle is sufficient. Although the road is not paved, it is well prepared and flat. Coming from Capitol Rief National Park, turn left on Highway 26 12km after Caineville onto Factory Butte Rd. Follow this road for 8 kilometres until you are next to the Factory Butte.
(It is not recommended to drive on the unpaved roads during or shortly after rain and snow)
To explore this area in the best possible way, we recommend renting an ATV or UTV in Hanksville. The hire shop is located directly on the other side of the road from the petrol station. The ATV/UTV comes with a tablet with a navigation system, which guides you along the „off-road“ routes to most of the sights we mentioned. We only had to find Long Dong Silver ourselves.
When to go?
As the area around Factory Butte is about 1450 metres above sea level, it can of course get cold and snowy in winter. Despite the altitude, it can get very hot in this area in summer. A visit in late spring or early autumn is definitely recommended.
Who can visit?
The visit is possible for anyone who can sit in a car