Discover our content material useful? You’ll be able to help the BFT staff by making your gear, attire, and journey purchases via the affiliate hyperlinks on this weblog put up. We get a small fee with no added value to you. You can too say thanks by leaving a tip in our digital tip jar. THANK YOU!
You probably have ever dreamed of sleeping on the moon, tenting at Moonscape Overlook in southern Utah is likely to be the closest factor to it. With a panorama just like the moon’s lunar floor, you’ll query if you’re nonetheless on Earth.
After I deliberate to go to Utah in my Sprinter Van, I reached out to my buddies for dispersed tenting suggestions. A fellow van life couple that I comply with on Instagram really useful Moonscape Overlook.
I used to be intrigued by the title alone, however as quickly as I noticed footage of the smooth pink skies above the moonlike floor at sundown, I used to be offered! I knew I needed to camp right here for at the very least an evening on my Utah highway journey.
Nevertheless, I had a tough time discovering correct instructions on easy methods to get there for the reason that spot is fairly off-grid. This information goals to cowl all the things it’s essential to find out about tenting at Moonscape Overlook, together with GPS coordinates, step-by-step driving instructions, tenting data, and extra.
Obtain my FREE Outside Journey Planning Toolkit
Enter your e mail to get entry to printable PDF packing checklists, itineraries, and extra.
Vital Reminder: Because it goes in the entire locations we share, please observe good path etiquette and bear in mind to Go away No Hint. This implies packing out all your rubbish (together with bathroom paper), being respectful to others, and following the established guidelines.
What’s Moonscape Overlook
Moonscape Overlook is a free, dispersed tenting space close to Hanksville, Utah between Capitol Reef and Canyonlands Nationwide Park. You’ll be able to drive straight to the overlook and attain it with out climbing.
It doesn’t seem on maps or most free campsite finder apps, so lots of people haven’t heard of it. Vacationers don’t have a tendency to go to except they’ve both seen images of it on social media or heard about it from a buddy.
If you’re road-tripping via Utah’s Mighty 5 Nationwide Parks, Moonscape Overlook is certainly well worth the cease. It’s only about 40 minutes away from Capitol Reef Nationwide Park.
I visited Moonscape Overlook in October 2023. I camped right here for an evening and headed to Capitol Reef the next day.
Moonscape Overlook particulars
The best way to Get to Moonscape Overlook
After I tried to search for Moonscape Overlook on Google Maps, nothing got here up. I additionally noticed numerous units of coordinates listed for the placement, and I struggled to search out detailed driving instructions.
The toughest a part of tenting at Moonscape Overlook is discovering the spot. These instructions will assist you to navigate the roads and really feel assured driving to this epic tenting space.
Guarantee you could have the right car
I like to recommend taking a 4-wheel drive car to this space. Though I’ve van life buddies who made it of their 2-wheel drive ProMaster van, they felt uneasy and virtually rotated a number of instances.
The roads resulting in Moonscape Overlook embody gravel, dust, and even a brief stretch of sand. The highway is rutted and bumpy for almost all of the drive.
When driving on the sand, you’ll straddle the center of the highway to maintain your car degree. Because of this, I encourage driving a car with excessive clearance.
Useful Tip
Do I NEED 4×4?
In the end, if the roads are dry and also you drive slowly, be careful for giant rocks, and have respectable clearance, you must be capable to make it to Moonscape Overlook in most autos with no drawback. Nevertheless, I like to recommend taking a 4-wheel drive car for additional peace of thoughts in case you find yourself needing to make use of it. This space could be difficult (and costly!) to get towed out of.
When you flip off the primary gravel highway described within the instructions under, the rest of the roads resulting in Moonscape Overlook are slim dust roads with no shoulder to drag over. Though the realm has restricted visitors, pay shut consideration to oncoming autos if it’s essential to squeeze previous each other.
I bought into a detailed name with a piece truck coming down the highway, however fortunately, there was part of the highway that was a bit wider the place I might await it to cross.
Moonscape Overlook GPS coordinates
Put the next GPS coordinates into your cellphone whereas crosschecking the written instructions under. You’ll be able to verify that your GPS leads you in the best route and keep away from by accident making improper turns.
The coordinates for Moonscape Overlook are 38.45222 N, 110.83806 W. This may lead you to the overall tenting space, and when you arrive, you’ll be able to resolve the place you need to arrange camp.
Instructions to Moonscape Overlook
Since there isn’t any cell service at Moonscape Overlook, print or screenshot the instructions under forward of time. If you’re driving from the city of Hanksville, it’s a couple of 30-minute drive.
Greatest Time to Go to Moonscape Overlook
Just like tenting in different areas of Utah, the very best instances to go to Moonscape Overlook for very best tenting circumstances are late spring and early fall. In case you camp right here within the fall as I did, take a look at these important fall tenting ideas that will help you plan your journey.
Winter circumstances
In winter, the roads can develop into moist and muddy, which will increase the chance of getting caught. And with out cell service, you don’t need to get your self right into a pickle.
The temperatures throughout winter months can fall under freezing at evening. This ends in chilly tenting circumstances, particularly for tent tenting.
Summer season circumstances
In the summertime, temperatures at Moonscape Overlook can attain over 100°F in the course of the day and there’s no shade. These excessive temps could make for uncomfortably heat circumstances whereas hanging out at your campsite in the course of the day.
There may be additionally a threat of afternoon thunderstorms within the late summer time months. In case you go to in summer time, be sure that to carry a shade construction or awning just like the Moonshade (save $40 with code BEARFOOTTHEORY).
Useful Tip
Greatest time of day to go to
For my part, the very best time of day to go to Moonscape Overlook is sundown. I camped in a single day and watched each sundown and dawn. I desire the golden mild of sundown with the smooth shades of pink and orange tones throughout the sky. Some might argue that dawn is healthier. Watching the tiny orange ball of the solar rise above the horizon line is gorgeous in its personal proper. You can’t go improper both approach and in the event you select to camp right here, I like to recommend watching each sundown and dawn!
Tenting at Moonscape Overlook
If you’re tenting at Moonscape Overlook, listed here are some essential issues to notice earlier than you arrive. You’ll want to go into this distant tenting space with reasonable expectations and the right tenting gear.
IMPORTANT: Preserve a detailed eye in your kids and pets always in the event you take them tenting at Moonscape Overlook. The overlook has no ropes or constructions in place to guard guests from getting too near the sting, and a fall could possibly be deadly.
Moonscape Overlook tenting data
Moonscape Overlook Pictures
With my husband being an expert photographer, tenting at Moonscape Overlook was a dream come true for him to seize some breathtaking photographs. The spot has 360 views and plenty of locations to arrange a tripod for time lapses of the sundown or dawn.
Be extraordinarily cautious of your footing and keep away from strolling on the sting of the overlook whereas taking images. Sadly, individuals have died whereas taking images at Moonscape Overlook because of the rock crumbling beneath them. Bear in mind, the proper photograph will not be value your life!
Well-known Moonscape Overlook Photograph Spot
There may be an iconic photograph spot the place many individuals pose at Moonscape Overlook that’s standard on social media. Whereas tenting right here, I noticed many individuals drive up the highway for the only objective of snapping a couple of images of their associate, buddy, or member of the family at this spot.
This well-known Moonscape Overlook photograph spot is close to the far proper nook while you drive into the tenting space. It’s a slim walkway resulting in a flat rock which you’ll climb and stand on for a photograph. There are steep drop-offs alongside the walkway in addition to on high of the rock.
I don’t advocate taking a photograph right here when you’ve got poor stability, vertigo, or expertise worry of heights, edges, or drop-offs. I’m often okay with all of those, however I skilled slight vertigo and felt dizzy after I stood on the flat rock on the finish. I additionally don’t advocate permitting kids to stroll to this photograph spot.
Useful Tip
Put on footwear with good traction
In case you select to stroll out to this well-known photograph spot, be extraordinarily cautious and put on grippy climbing footwear with good traction to keep away from slipping. There may be unfastened rock scree and random gusts of wind, so it would be best to be sure to are coated in these circumstances.
Drones at Moonscape Overlook
It’s authorized to fly your drone at Moonscape Overlook. Drones are a solution to get some unbelievable aerial pictures from a hen’s eye view of this distinctive panorama.
Listed here are some ideas to remember in the event you plan to fly your drone right here.
Ideas for Visiting Moonscape Overlook
When dispersed tenting, it’s essential to analysis and plan in your security earlier than spontaneously hitting the highway. In case you plan to camp at Moonscape Overlook, listed here are some ideas that will help you have the very best expertise attainable.
Issues to See Close to Moonscape Overlook
Though tenting at Moonscape Overlook is the primary attraction, you’ll be able to take a look at different attention-grabbing formations close by. Beneath are a few spots I like to recommend exploring when you’ve got time.
Manufacturing unit Butte
In your approach out and in of Moonscape Overlook, you will note an enormous rock formation in the wrong way referred to as Manufacturing unit Butte. Like Moonscape Overlook, Manufacturing unit Butte is situated in an space referred to as the Manufacturing unit Bench Mesa.
Bentonite Hills
If you’re leaving Moonscape Overlook to drive to Capitol Reef Nationwide Park, there’s a cease alongside the best way referred to as the Bentonite Hills. It takes about an hour and quarter-hour to drive from the highest of Moonscape Overlook to the Bentonite Hills.
Though my Sprinter Van has 4-wheel drive, the dust highway main right here regarded extraordinarily slim and out of my consolation zone. As quickly as I noticed it, I modified my thoughts about visiting and continued in direction of Capitol Reef.
Nevertheless, if you’re used to driving slim 4×4 roads and have a smaller car, I’ve heard it’s value a cease.
Useful Tip
Restrict your steps
When you arrive, watch out to not step on the floor, as it’s fragile and simply broken. There are footprints and tire tracks within the space that may take years to fade. To protect this particular place for years to return, keep away from strolling round unnecessarily.
Moonscape Overlook Packing Listing
These are a few of the objects it would be best to carry with you when tenting at Moonscape Overlook. For an entire record, take a look at these automobile tenting necessities.
Need to discover Utah additional? Take a look at these spots!
Save this put up to Pinterest
Would you prefer to camp on Moonscape Overlook? In case you’ve visited beforehand, I’d love to listen to your tales and ideas for others within the feedback!
Associated Posts
