Moonscape Overlook
a photography paradise

Moonscape Overlook near Hanksville Utah, just to the east of Factory Butte, is an amazing location to create intensely otherwordly photography.

Moonscape Overlook sits along Skyline Rim on the Factory Bench Mesa about 30 minutes from Hanksville. Sometimes Moonscape Overlook is mistakenly referred to as Skyline Rim or Skyline Rim Overlook, but Skyline Rim is actually the name for the entire eastern edge of the mesa top and runs for about 6 miles, with almost all of it only being accessible on foot.

But no hiking is required for getting to Moonscape Overlook, you can drive to it on decent dirt roads with a typical car. Once you arrive you’re on the edge of the mesa with a 500-foot sheer drop to the badlands below you.

Looking down to the shear drop from Moonscape Overlook

You can walk the mesa rim in either direction from the overlook, gazing out for a 270-degree view over the lunar-like landscape stretching out below you.

There are some very interesting unnamed formations to your right that will initially catch your eye, but as you start to study the landscape, you will start to realize that the badlands that continue out to the north and northwest are actually the star attraction.

The setting sun sculpts the landscape from Factory Bench

The shapes and colors created by erosion over millions of years have created a pastel landscape unlike any you have seen before. The sun moving across the sky reveals ever-changing shapes and textures in the landscape of the canyons, low hills, washes, and cliffs.

The badlands of Moonscape Overlook in Utah

Even if you aren’t going to do any photography, this is a beautiful place to watch the sunset or sunrise as the light illuminates the valleys and rock formations below you.

Sunlight creates texture stretching out for miles

Getting to the Moonscape Overlook

From Hanksville take Highway 24 west for 10.7 miles and turn north at ( 38.367083, -110.892296 ) onto North Factory Butte Road, continue for 5.6 miles and turn right onto Coal Mine road for 1.6 miles to continue on Skyline View Road 1 mile to the lookout.

Parking ( 38.452272, -110.838011 )

Dirt parking area

Notes

This route also takes you past photogenic Factory Butte

Photo notes

The best light is at sunrise and sunset for great side lighting that will give dimension to the landscape and rock formations.
Best to arrive a couple of hours before sunset or the badlands below the rim will be in shadow
You can walk the cliff edge for about a 270 degree view of the landscape and even a view back toward Factory Butte

Factory Butte

Explore Nearby...

Hikes...

Leprechaun Canyon – Hike

A short and fun hike in a non-technical slot canyon with corkscrew narrows, beautiful high-colored walled sections and a final narrow section with just a crack of light that will shine down from above.

Arsenic Arch

A little-known, rarely visited arch you can have all to yourself is hidden inside Poison Spring Canyon.

Hog Spring – Hike

Hog Springs is a nice rest stop and picnic area next to the highway with a short scenic hike that takes you to a spring-fed pool and the Cleopatra rock art panel is also close by

Scenic Drives...

How to photograph Factory Butte

Tips for photographing Factory Butte rising 1400 feet above the barren otherworldly landscape surrounding it

Moonscape Overlook – a photography paradise

A must-see viewpoint east of Factory Butte overlooking the moon-like badlands below

Hite Crossing Bridge

The bridge marks the upstream limit of Lake Powell and is the only bridge spanning the Colorado River between the bridge 110 miles upstream in Moab and the Glen Canyon Bridge, 185 miles downstream.

Burr Point Overlook

A dirt road runs across the Burr Desert flat lands and takes you to a few clifftop overlooks of the Dirty Devil River, with views across the canyons.

Kathline Rock

Just a quick place to stop along highway 95, there are viewing tubes that are labeled and sight some of the specific surrounding scenery.

Travel Curious

Moonscape Overlook
a photography paradise