Combining Temples of the Sun/Moon, Bentonite Hills, Factory Butte, and Moonscape Overlook

Hi there, I’d planned to visit Cathedral Valley, Goblin Valley, the Burr Trail/Northom loop, Factory Butte, and Moonscape Overlook, as well as the Capitol Reef scenic route over three days. The scenic Highway 12 would be for the following days.

Since I rented an AWD SUV, I was planning to contact an outfitter for Cathedral Valley, but they suggested that instead of doing Cathedral Valley with them and the rest solo, they could take me to the four most relevant sites mentioned in the title. Their plan is to start at sunrise at either Temples of the Sun/Moon or Moonscape Overlook and then hit the other three afterward. What do you think? Thanks! Louis

My advice is to do them on your own... 😉 You’ll have all the time you want and it’ll be free. If I understand correctly, you’ve rented a 4-wheel-drive vehicle. What category?...

Suv Awd

Actually, it’s a private tour starting at 6 AM, so I’ll have plenty of time. The SUV is a Kia Sportage, and the driver knows the best photo spots, so while I *could* do it myself, I’ll be able to enjoy it more this way. I was wondering if the sunrise is better at Moonscape or the temples

I think 6 hours to do all 4 sites is too short. That said, I don’t want to discourage you—everyone travels at their own pace! 😉

First off, he shouldn’t take you toward Cathedral Valley but only to Temple of the Sun via Cathedral Road. The trail that heads west and starts near Cathedral Valley Overlook takes about 3 hours on its own.

For me, the best spot for sunrise is Temple of the Sun because at Moonscape Overlook, you’ll have the sun right in your face, so you’ll be shooting into the light.

Just one small thing: the Kia Sportage has low ground clearance, so be careful if there’s heavy rain. There’s significant washboarding on Cathedral Road, so keep an eye on the weather.

Thanks for your feedback.

Initially, I’d planned to do just the full Cathedral Valley Road with them and then the two other sites solo, since I was getting a Kia instead of a proper 4x4 (which was more expensive). But the guide, who’ll do whatever I want, suggests doing all four instead, and we’ll head straight to the Temples, then Bentonite, then the other two.

Since I’m there for three days, if I feel like it, I can also revisit Factory and Moonscape at another time—maybe at sunset with the Goblins. We’ll see how it goes once I’m there, depending on different factors, but I’m keeping in mind the temples at sunrise

Yes, you can add Factory Butte and Long Dong Silver (which isn’t on your list). Easy to access—just a short walk for Long Dong Silver:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/3Fnu1366ADDmfvXS9

Awesome, thanks for the info—Utah really is an amazing place for discoveries!

Hi there. As Usafan 6H said, it's short—really short... If I understand correctly, the guide will drive your rental vehicle??????? In 3 days, you can do Cathedral Valley: you leave around noon, arrive at the campsite, catch the sunset and sunrise, then head back to finish the rest of the trail. You can take a shower in Hanksville—there are public showers at the campsite for a fee. In the late afternoon, head to Moonscape for the night, catch the sunset and sunrise. Then swing by Factory Butte and head toward Bentonite Hills. And if you have time, Long Dog Silver.

For the car, the Kia might scrape—ground clearance is a bit low, and AWD???? Plus, I assume no real spare tire. For the same price, you could rent a pickup. Real 4x4, real spare tire, and the bed for sleeping (with an air mattress). Check if you have the tools to change the tire. You’ll have time left to do the rest, and it’ll be cheaper. This comes from experience. Happy planning. Jacques.

Thanks for your feedback!

1. No, it’s his vehicle. 2. Yes, spare tire, but for $200 more I could get a real 4x4—I’m thinking about it. 3. Senior—I don’t have the energy for camping anymore; it’s a choice. Louis

Hi there, I just looked up Long Dong Silver, and some sites say it’s off-road, but I’m only allowed on gravel roads.

Hello. Rental companies don’t cover "off-road" (off the beaten path) or "gravel road" (dirt/gravel roads)—only paved roads. Everyone who takes the trails knows this and assumes responsibility. The Long Dog Silver trail isn’t an issue: max 2 km to the parking lot, then the rest on foot.

The parking lot and trail look like this. Have a great day. Jacques.

Hi there, and thanks! I can assure you that the company I book with allows me to drive on gravel roads, but not off-road—meaning where there’s no road at all. They actually recommend their Jeep Renegade for the routes I mentioned, like Cathedral Valley, Burr Trail Northbound, Hole in the Rock, and Cottonwood Canyon. I chose this small company even though it’s more expensive ($300) than Alamo because of that, plus they have better CDW and SLP insurance.

OK I’m talking about the mainstream rental companies: Alamo, Hertz, Avis, etc. It’s true there are "private" rental places like Rugged in Salt Lake City… Faradee in Moab… etc.

Yeah, it's forbidden! And yeah, everyone does it. It must be a Belgian thing, this off-road stress , because I see all our Belgian friends bringing up this issue lately 😉 Yeah, it’s always been forbidden, but everyone keeps driving on the trails.

None of the trails you mentioned are particularly risky (except in the rain), except for the western part of Cathedral Valley Road, as I told you. I’ve had a flat tire while off-roading before (which is why it’s important to make sure your car has a spare). You change the tire and get back on a road before contacting your rental company. I blew out my tire, and the rental company didn’t ask any questions, even though it was obvious it hadn’t happened on a road...

On that note, there’s no point in renting a 4x4 from one of those agencies that sell you easy off-roading (you’ll see them everywhere). First, because it’ll cost you $500 for a Jeep or a buggy for a maximum of 7 hours, and second, because those vehicles aren’t insured at all for that kind of use! They conveniently forget to tell you, but you’re on your own when it comes to insuring the 4x4.

In the U.S., they have car insurance policies that apparently cover this type of rental, but it doesn’t apply to foreign tourists. So it’s even worse—you’re driving with no insurance at all.

In my opinion, it’s better to find a way to get back on a road if you run into trouble, so you’re covered by insurance.

Yeah, there are probably airlines that allow it—I’ve never really looked into it. I’ll check the airline for my next trip ;) Got a link you can share?

Hello, Is the bed of the pickup big enough to sleep in?... I’ve always wondered about that I’m used to sleeping in a Jeep, but it’s not comfortable...

« Must be a Belgian thing, this off-road stress LOL, because I see all our Belgian friends bringing up this issue lately »

Hi, I don’t speak for all Belgians! But personally, I’ve always been very meticulous when traveling. I’ve also been to Southern Africa on gravel roads without any problems because there’s assistance available as long as you have network coverage, especially in Sossusvlei, Namibia, in deep sand—but I had a locking differential, which really helped.

So this kind of road doesn’t scare me, but I take extreme care with my trips because I hate getting stuck due to equipment issues—that’s why I’m asking for info. So yes, I’ll be renting a Jeep Renegade with a spare tire, proper insurance, and a satellite phone. I’ve also noted the phone numbers for off-road recovery companies.

I probably won’t need all of this, and it costs more, but nothing beats setting off with peace of mind.

Cheers, Louis

The truck-bed lengths vary. Width-wise, a double mattress fits perfectly, but length-wise it depends on whether it's a regular 4-door or one with a smaller rear door—you’ll have to leave the tailgate open. If you have the choice, go for a regular 4-door. It’s much easier for loading luggage in the back.

Oh yeah, I totally get it. I was just kidding because you're not the first to worry about the dirt roads. I think most travelers don’t overthink it too much. In Namibia, I’d say it’s way riskier than in the western U.S., where you’ll always run into another traveler along the way. And on the tracks we were talking about, there’s actually quite a bit of traffic.

But I completely understand. 😉

It sounds practical, but I’ll admit I prefer the "enclosed car" option for sleeping. But now I’m a bit desperate because I see Alamo has removed their Jeep Wranglers from their car listings... 🙁 All that’s left are pickups...

Hi there! Well, imagine this—I didn’t do nearly as much research for Namibia, which I’ve visited three times and absolutely love, as I normally would. The thing is, over there, it’s just part of the norm. In the US, if you run into trouble on the trails, you’re pretty much on your own.

Hi there. If you want a bit of comfort and a vehicle for the trails..........😏😉🙂

I know this one and others because I lived in Los Angeles for a year in my youth.

I even rented an RV to travel with my parents, and I have to say that their campgrounds are really well equipped.

You just need a good means of transportation because it’s not practical for grocery runs or restaurants… But Americans are very organized—I even saw one towing a small plane!

Hi there, After easily crossing the Fremont, the next part gets tougher—big stop on the track with a deep tear along its entire length and no room on the sides. But a bit lower down, there’s the wash, a bit muddy with a car track. We tighten our belts, engage the 4x4, and go for it at full speed. Phew, we make it! We continue on the track, visit Bentonite Hills, then take a small crossroad to skip the loop and reach the temples. Finally, a little track on Gaia GPS lets us pass by Factory Butte and Moonscape. It’s 1 p.m., and the temperature is climbing well above 30°C.