Bentonite Hills

"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DETicNmg7rd/?igsh=MWl4dW92YTY0cTh3bQ=="

@edenann1971

"The hills along the Cathedral Valley loop are very official and have their own viewpoint pin on google maps. You will definitely need a 4×4 car to get to these ones as the road is pretty rough a lot of the way with a river crossing to get back onto the main road. Bentonite Hills Near Mars Research Station GPS Coordinates We find these days the easiest way to find places that are hard to find a second time is to use the GPS coordinates. The coordinates for the Bentonite Hills near the Mars Desert Research Station are 38°24’43.5″N 110°47’01.4″W. You can also use the above map to get there. Directions From Hanksville, turn right onto Utah State Route 24 until you get to Cow Dung Road. Yes.. it is really called that. This is where the off-roading begins. You will need to follow this road all of the way to the Mars Desert Research Station. The Station is private property so don’t trespass. Instead you will want to keep driving past the station to the GPS coordinates listed above. sunset at the Bentonite Hills at Mars Research Station Once you reach the coordinates you will notice the huge mounds on your left-hand-side. These are the hills! Find somewhere to park safely out of the way of any other cars and get out there and explore! 📷 Take a photography tour to Mars! If I was going to do any tour to see the Bentonite Hills, this is the one I would pick! On this tour, you don’t only get to photograph the Bentonite Hills at the Mars Research Station during Blue Hour, but you also have the option to hire a drone for the tour. top down drone shot of Bentonite Hills in Hanksville Bentonite Hills at the Mars Desert Research Station group standing on the Bentonite Hills in Utah The best photos that we got from the Bentonite Hills were with our drone. Without the drone, you cannot really get the colours to stand out or see the patterns on the hills. From the moment we put our drone up in the air, we were in shock and awe at what we were seeing on the little screen. If you are into photography and don’t have your own drone, I urge you to book this tour! You will treasure these photos for years to come! 👉 Book this Bentonite Hills Drone/Photography Tour ahead of time so you don’t miss out! powered_by 🚙 Do I need a 4×4 to get to the Bentonite Hills For both locations in this guide, we were in an SUV with 4×4 capabilities and quite high clearance. I recommend a 4×4 if you can get your hands on one as the roads can get pretty dicey! powered_by 🎟 Do I need a National Parks Pass to see the Bentonite Hills? You will need an America the Beautiful or day national parks pass if you want to visit the Bentonite Hills in Capitol Reef National Park on the Cathedral Valley Loop. You do not need any passes or permits to visit the Bentonite Hills at the Mars Research Station. 🗻 What are the Bentonite Hills Made of? The Bentonite Hills are made of Brushy Basin shale member of the Morrison Formation. This shale layer was formed during Jurassic times about 140 million years ago which is just crazy to think! Bentonite Hills at the Mars Desert Research Station ⚠ Things to consider before heading out to the Bentonite Hills Has it rained recently: rain can make the ground super soft and form bigger holes that could make the drive harder or you could easily get bogged. Future weather forecast: You do not want to get stuck in the middle of the desert in the pouring rain or in the middle of a storm. Flooding can happen very quickly in Utah and you can easily get stranded. There is no reception out there so make sure you are well prepared with a spare tire, emergency first aid kit and plenty of food and water. 🕐 Best Time to Visit the Bentonite Hills The best time to visit the Bentonite Hills to see the blue, purple and red hues of the hills really pop, is during blue hour. Blue hour is the short amount of time just after sunset, before it gets completely dark. 📹 Are Drones Allowed Yes! Drones are currently allowed in both areas as neither reside in a national park. Just make sure you are mindful of other people who are also trying to enjoy the area. Bentonite Hills Cathedral Valley 🔵 Are the Bentonite Hills really Blue or are they Photoshopped? If you visit the Bentonite Hills smack bang in the middle of a sunny day, you might be disappointed. The hills will look a bit grey and brown. During sunset, the red and orange hues of the hills really start popping. Bentonite Hills at Blue hour During Blue hour, (this is a popular term for photographers for the hour right after sunset when there is still light but everything has a bit of a blue hue to it) the parts of the hills that you thought were grey will start changing to blue. It is truly a stunning sight to see! Make sure you get to the hills with plenty of time to spare, so an hour or two before sunset. You want to make sure you have enough time to explore a little and find the spot you want to photograph and then be ready to capture the perfect sunset and blue hour lighting because it doesn’t last long! 🛎 Places to Stay Nearby the Bentonite Hills that are SO Worth it! There is SO much to do and see near the Bentonite Hills, so I recommend staying in the area a few days. If you are camping, you can stay in Hanksville, or otherwise there are some really beautiful hotels in and around Capitol Reef National Park! Broken Spurr Inn and Steakhouse – This is where we stayed and it is a great budget option! I’m still dreaming about the super comfy bed. They also serve a daily full breakfast. Skyview Hotel – The Skyview Hotel has the most incredible views! 😍 Apart from the incredible views, the hotel is super modern and clean and has a rooftop terrace and hot tub! Red Sands Hotel – Imagine coming back from your daytime adventures to a hotel with mountain views, a swimming pool, restaurant, spa and wellness centre AND a hot tub. This is what hotel dreams are made of! 🛌 For a full guide on where to stay in Capitol Reef National Park, read this guide! 🥾 What to Pack for your Bentonite Hills Adventure Hiking Boots – The ground is dusty pretty much everywhere so hiking boots are a great choice! Merino t-shirt – I love Merino t-shirts for outdoor adventures because the last longer in between washes without smelling. Hiking Pants – I using wear leggings on all our outdoor adventures but occasionally you will see me in a pair of hiking pants. Shorts Leggings Fleece – I don’t think there’s anything better than having a cozy fleece to put on in the chilly mornings and evenings. Puffer Jacket – for those extra cold adventures! In Spring in Utah, we both needed our puffer jackets quite a bit. Raincoat – just in case Sunhat – 100% necessary for the strong Utah sun! Beanie – A beanie helped a lot on our road trip in Spring. Sunscreen – 100% necessary for the strong Utah sun! Bug Spray – We didn’t have too many issues with bugs in Spring, but in Summer it’s another story. Better to be safe than sorry! First Aid Kit – We never go anywhere without our first aid kit because you never know when you might need it. Headlamps – If you are going for sunset, bring along a headlamp to find your way back to your car. Camera! There will be plenty of photography opportunities! We have a list of our camera gear here. 🌲 Leave No Trace The 7 Leave No Trace principles are important to be aware of to help keep places like the Bentonite Hills beautiful. The Hills are also an extremely fragile place as the dirt is soft and crumbly so watch where you walk. There are often small trails around the hills made by rain and animals that you can follow so as to not disturb the hills. Nature is there for us to enjoy but also respect and leave the way we found it but as well as respecting nature, we should also be treating each other with nothing but kindness. To remind yourself of the 7 Leave No Trace principles, check out the LNT website. Other Things to Do Nearby There is loads to see and do in and around Hanksville. If you enjoy sights like the Bentonite Hills, you will love Moonscape Overlook and Long Dong Silver. Moonscape Overlook girl standing on overlook at Moonscape Overlook Moonscape Overlook This place absolutely 100% blew our minds! Moonscape Overlook in Utah makes you feel like you have literally been transported to the moon! The overlook is located on the edge of a canyon near Hanksville which at sunrise is absolutely magical! Long Dong Silver Spire Long Dong Silver is a an incredible black rock spire that looks like it could have come straight out of a Star Wars movie! This is definitely one of Utah’s hidden gems! 💭 Our Thoughts The Bentonite Hills are really awesome to see, however if you don’t have a drone, this spot might not be as worth it as some of the other sights in Hanksville, like Moonscape Overlook or Long Dong Silver. At the Mars Desert Research Station location, we found that the colours of the hills were extremely washed out during the day so don’t think they are worth visiting in the middle of a sunny day. However, we visited the Bentonite Hills along the Cathedral Valley Loop during the day and the reds were a lot brighter there. I think the Mars Desert Research Station is a great spot for photographers during sunset, blue hour or on a cloudy day, but if you are not looking to take photos with a drone, the Bentonite Hills at Cathedral Valley might be the better choice. You might also enjoy: Ultimate Utah 7 Day Road Trip from Salt Lake City How to Visit the Temple of the Sun and Moon, Utah How to Spend One or Two Days in Capitol Reef National Park Guide to the Fifth Water Hot Springs Trail, Utah Cassidy Arch Trail – A Must Do Hike in Capitol Reef National Park How to Get to Moonscape Overlook in Utah 📌 Like it? Pin it! Guide on Finding the Bentonite Hills (Mars) in Utah Travel guide on how to find the Bentonite Hills Utah Related 10 Amazing Things to Do in Hanksville Utah June 28, 2023 In "Road Trips" Cathedral Valley Loop Guide – The Best Stops and Views! November 1, 2023 In "Road Trips" Our Ultimate 7 Day Utah Road Trip from Salt Lake City May 22, 2023 In "Road Trips" By Author Kerry Posted on Last updated: March 7, 2025 Categories USA, Utah Post navigation Long Dong Silver Spire – One of Utah’s Hidden Gems How to Hike the Slhanay Peak Trail in Squamish Jean Wednesday 21st of June 2023 Such amazing photos!! I don’t have a drone. Will the blue show up in photos taken from land at blue hour? Or are the layers too thin to show up? Kerry Wednesday 21st of June 2023 Thanks so much Jean! ooo hard one as we only used our drone. It's definitely more of a drone spot than camera. From ground level you can't really see the different colours. Brad Kaz Wednesday 14th of June 2023 Hi Kerry and Dave, Great post!! I've been wanting to get out there. So just to be clear, its ok to fly drones out there? I live in Santa Barbara and thats a long way to go to get turned down. Also, are there other places to fly in that area. Factory Butte? Thanks Brad Kerry Friday 16th of June 2023 Hi Brad! Thanks so much! It's such an amazing area! With your drone, you just need to check the area before flying. Utah is great because there are so many amazing landscapes that are not yet restricted. National Parks are a big one to look out for because you are not allowed to fly there. Factory Butte and Moonscape Overlook are both currently fine :) Also Long Dong Silver. Lita Tuesday 13th of June 2023 Visiting the Bentonite Hills was one of the highlights of our time in Utah! Thanks for sharing this great post, your pictures are absolutely incredible. Kerry Tuesday 13th of June 2023 Thanks so much Lita! The Bentonite Hills are truly out of this world! Comments are closed. happy couple surrounded by larches Hi! We’re Kerry and Dave! We are outdoor adventure travel creators living in Vancouver, Canada. Our goal is to inspire you to get outdoors and discover our beautiful planet one hike or road trip at a time! About Us Portfolio Contact Privacy Policy Instagram TikTok Facebook Pinterest Mail Copyright © 2025 Oceanus Adventure "

@

"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIpNoRavtyO/?igsh=cGZoZm5rcmZ6aThl https://www.instagram.com/reel/DETicNmg7rd/?igsh=c2k4ZnUzbnNscWh4"

@

"One of the most incredible videos you’ll ever see…🤯 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAG5YxfS8KN/?igsh=N2p5dXc4MHlvajJ3 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDfDpk7vDN5/?igsh=aWZjaTl4dmpkNzBx https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBYvfm5x0fG/?igsh=MWI5Z3M0MTQ1OHY2Ng=="

@

"The best time to visit the Bentonite Hills is during blue hour. You’ll want to arrive in the area about an hour or so before sunset."

@

"https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ct-AjrAq9GO/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA=="

@

"https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2AYYltopXj/?igsh=MW4yYTc5aHZhZGxiYw=="

@sawphie

"https://www.instagram.com/reel/Crivc4Ko-Ux/?igsh=bTFqYWk5ZnpjMm51"

@

"Wayne County, Utah, United States"

@interesting

"Y aller au lever ou coucher du soleil"

@lise21

"The famous spot is on cow dung road near the Mars desert research station. "

@maelyssemoreau

"https://www.instagram.com/reel/Crivc4Ko-Ux/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ=="

@

"Difficile à trouver, coordonnées exactes: 38°24 52 4°N 1 10°4704.4°W Bentonite Hills, Utah (near Capitol Reef National Park) Shooting tip: If you come here during the day, make sure to bring a HIGH ND Filter for your drone (we used ND 256) as the light will be too intense otherwise which makes the colors fade out. We also tried shooting during blue hour (before sunrise or after sunset) but preferred the daylight with the filtered lights"

@