Ever wondered what to see and do on your drive between Capitol Reef, Canyonlands and Arches National Parks? Although the drive between Capitol Reef and the town of Moab (where most visitors base themselves when visiting Canyonlands and Arches National Parks) is only 2.5 hours, those with an extra night up their sleeve should definitely consider the sights around Hanksville. Even more so if you are a drone or ATV enthusiast!
With a population of 219, Hanksville may be tiny but has the essentials – a solid Whispering Sands Motel, lovely service and hearty food at Duke’s Slickrock Grill, a BLM office for helpful information about the area, and even a gas station ‘Hollow Mountain’ situated inside a rock! Whether you have kids or are a kid at heart and enjoy climbing and exploring, Hanksville and the wild scenery of its surrounds make for a great jumping off point.
Factory Butte
30 minutes northwest of Hanksville lies the badlands of Factory Butte, 5,300 acres of play area for off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts, motorcycles and passenger car touring. The turn off onto Coal Mine Road at mile 105 takes you onto an unsealed road that follows beside Factory Butte and its scenic moonscape.
Drive beyond Factory Butte until you are parallel to the ‘thumb’ looking structure pictured above, then take a left across the desert floor and make your own path over the flattest sections of uneven ground. You can hop out and wander over the cracked floor, and get up close to the various sandstone formations.
The best time to photograph the area is at sunrise and the hour beyond that, before the light reflecting off the white moonscape gets too harsh. At sunrise, you will witness a fiery orange glow make its way from the top down of the butte.
Leprechaun Canyon
The ultimate highlight of the area, Leprechaun Canyon is so well hidden and under the radar that you are guaranteed the place to yourself – if you are able to find it! From narrow slot canyons and dark crevices to cavernous light filled spaces, you can easily spend a couple of hours exploring all the nooks and crannies and contorting you’re body as far deep into the canyon as you can fit.
Directions: Take highway 95 south for 30 minutes until you reach mile 28 and turn left immediately (if you see a campsite with signs that say ‘North Wash’, you have gone too far). There will be no signs indicating you are in the right place, however, park your car and wander inwards away from the road for a mile amongst sand, bush and trees. You will eventually reach sandstone and slick rock, and can either enter a narrow slot canyon on your left, or climb over the slick rock on your right.
On par with the beauty of Lower Antelope Canyon but with free entry, no crowds, and complete freedom to explore at your own pace, Leprechaun Canyon is a must do when visiting Utah!
Goblin Valley State Park
30 minutes into the drive northeast towards Moab is a turn off to Goblin Valley State Park. The park features a colourful valley of hoodoos (goblins), characterised by their unique mushroom shape. There are a few hiking trails you can go on, or simply descend into the valley and climb and explore to your hearts content. It costs 15USD per private vehicle to visit the park, and drone enthusiasts can pay an additional 5USD for a fly permit.
With Moab only a 1.5 hour drive away, you may have time to pop into Arches National Park for a sunset hike before settling in for the night. More on both Arches and Moab in upcoming blog posts, so stay tuned! 🤘🏻