Moonscapes and Goblins

Factory Butte serves as the dramatic gateway to this 40-mile Class B road, a route that quickly leads to the breathtaking Moonscape Overlook (also known as the Skyline View Overlook). From this vantage point, the landscape transitions from "lunar" gray Mancos Shale badlands to the vibrant, Martian-like hoodoos of Goblin Valley State Park. This otherworldly journey takes travelers past jagged ridges and stark desert vistas to historic landmarks like the Factory Butte Coal Mine and the original log structures of the Hunt Ranch. While the dry terrain is typically manageable for high-clearance vehicles, the clay-heavy soil becomes notoriously "greasy" and impassable when wet, making clear weather essential for the 4-to-6-hour trip. Because cell service vanishes almost immediately after leaving the Factory Butte Staging Area, it is vital to have a full tank of fuel and to have all necessary maps downloaded.