Utah has no shortage of bizarre destinations. In fact, it's home to several places in the US that don't seem real at all. Add in the plethora of national parks, including the beautiful Capitol Reef National Park, along with popular parks like Zion and Arches, and it's fast becoming a top destination for photographers or outdoorsy types who are looking for something a little different.
So, it comes as little surprise that Utah actually has mountains that are purple in color! This phenomenon is striking, especially when surrounded by desert oranges and browns. Located near one of the many Utah towns with easy national park access, it's an easy-to-visit stop on your next Utah adventure. But where are these purple mountains in Utah, and how can you visit them?
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Utah's Bentonite Hills Are From Another Purple World
Located just an hour outside the small town adventure town of Hanksville, UT, the Bentonite Hills is a mecca for photographers, nature lovers, and scientists from around the world. In fact, the Mars Society has a research facility in the area, to see the similarities between this purple-red landscape and the mighty Red Planet. The environment is apparently startingly similar, hence why you can commonly find scientists in this region.
So, why are these hills this striking color? The Bentonite Hills are comprised of layers of bentonite clay, which is a kind of volcanic ash, alongside sand and mud, to create these impressive peaks. As a result, they had a more red-purple color to them, rather than the yellows and browns in neighboring Capitol Reef National Park.
Bentonite Hills in Utah
However, these clay hills are incredibly delicate and easy to damage. While you can visit and hike in this area, you have to stick to existing tracks and trails. Anything else could ruin the Bentonite Hills, ruining the landscape, and potentially putting at risk decades of research, so be careful!
How Close Are The Bentonite Hills To Utah's "Mini Grand Canyon"?
One of the other amazing sites that Hanksville, UT, and its surrounding areas are known for is the most underrated "mini Grand Canyon" you've probably never heard of. Called the Moonscape Outlook, this Grand Canyon dupe has amazing viewpoints that overlook the desert surroundings, giving a definite Grand Canyon vibe, but without the hordes of tourists at every turn.
While the landscape may be more blue and gray in hue rather than yellows and reds, as it is in Arizona, it offers a beautiful and more dramatic alternative to the traditional Grand Canyon. If you want to experience both the Bentonite Hills and Moonscape Outlook in one short trip, it's completely possible.
It's around 30 miles or an hour and 10-minute drive between Moonscape Overlook and the Bentonite Hills via UT-24 highway. Essentially, if you're based in Hanksville, both sites lie to the west of the town, with the Moonscape Overlook being the closer site, just half an hour from the trail head.
If you love the idea of spending a weekend exploring lunar-style landscapes, this is a must-visit region. It's remote to get to, but that's part of the magic!
How Can You Get To Utah's Bentonite HiIls?
Given the remote nature of the Bentonite Hills in Utah, how can you get there? Well, if you're staying in the closest town, Hanksville, you can drive down UT-24 W and pull off down Hartnet Road or Cathedral Valley Loop. This takes about an hour, and you need a car with a 4x4 drive for this kind of landscape.
You can also head to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS). Of course, this is not open to the public, but there are some paths that you can drive down, like Cow Dung Road, to reach the hills. Again, it's very important to stick to the trails and established driving paths to avoid any damage. You should also avoid going if it's been raining, as the combination of mud, clay, and sand makes passage nearly impossible.
To get to Hanksville, it's three hours and 40 minutes south of Salt Lake City and four hours and 10 minutes northeast of the outdoor capital of St George, Utah. This means you absolutely need a car to reach Hanksville and the Bentonite Hills by extension.
It's also located on the opposite side of Canyonlands National Park to Moab, so it'll take around an hour and 40 minutes to get between the two, as you have to go around the national park.
So, if you're looking for a day trip that's out of this world, head to Utah's purple mountains, otherwise known as the Bentonite Hills. Located close to Utah's "mini" Grand Canyon, aka the Moonscape Overlook, you can easily explore both lunar-inspired landscapes in one quick trip.