Last Light At The Overlook
Last Light At The Overlook
Near Hanksville, UT
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 2.5 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). The main road (Coal Mine Rd) is rough in a few spots, and the dirt road that takes you to the overlook can be a bit bumpy. However, the walk from the parking area to the location of the shot is an easy 25 yds.
NOTE: the dirt road to this location can be impassable when the ground is wet/muddy.
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
4,653 Ft. Elevation
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Photography Tips
This area under the Moonscape Overlook provides some of the best abstracts for a drone and a long lens. If you fly drones, this area is like a Willy Wonka photo factory.
The area will provide many great photographic opportunities for a DSLR with a long lens in the late afternoon. After the sunset (during the blue hour), drone photo opportunities are endless.
Arrive at least 90 minutes before sunset and walk along the ridge line to find the composition you are looking for. The very last sun will provide the best light (golden), but the light moves very quickly at the end - so be ready, or you will miss the best shots.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Moonscape overlook.
From Hanksville: travel west 10.6 miles on UT-24 until you get to a street sign that says 6650 EAST (this is Coal Mine Rd); take a right - From Coal Mine Rd travel 5.7 miles until you see a dirt road BLM 0913. Turn right and follow this dirt road EAST for 2.7 miles until you reach the overlook of the Badlands. The overlook is just a few yards from the camping area.
Google Earth
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 200 mm
Exposure – 60th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Aug 15th
Time – 7:45 pm
Best Time of Day to Shoot
This shot above is of the area below the cliffs from the Moonscape Overlook, so the shadows will start to move across this area about 90 minutes before sunset. The shot above was taken about 25 minutes before the stated sunset.
Best Time of Year
You can take images above the Moonscape Overlook any time of year.
The image above was taken on Aug 15th
Lens(es) Needed
The area below the Moonscape Overlook reaches about 5 miles, so a long lens is a must to capture these abstracts as the sun goes down. Lenses ranging from 200 mm to 500 mm are perfect for this location.
The shot above was taken @ 200mm.
Birds-Eye View From Google Earth Pro
Permits
There are no permits required in the area.
Direction of the Shot
This shot was taken facing northeast around 50°.
Equipment Needed
The abstracts area under the Moonscape Overlook are best captured with a DSLR with a long lens or a drones.
A sturdy tripod is VERY helpful with a very long telephoto lens to help keep from camera shake.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
The Moonscape Overlook has become a more popular place in recent years. You may see several other folks in the late afternoon and around sunset.
Weather
The area around Hanksville has a high desert climate at about 5,000 feet elevation. The temperatures can vary up to 30° - 40° a day. Spring and fall are nice, but summer can get into the high 90s.
Cell Service
I have Verizon, and the cell service from this location is spotty. A stronger cell signal is available as you are near Hanksville.
Lodging & Camping
The area around the Factory Butte is badlands, with the closest towns being Hanksville and Caineville, Utah. There is a small camping area just off of the road to this location (not sure if it is sanctioned by BLM or not) with a makeshift fire pit. There are other camping areas and lodgings in both Hanksville and Caineville. There are 2 motels and 2 RV Parks in Hanksville and 1 hotel in Caineville.
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Duke's Slickrock Campground & RV Park – 275 E Highway 24, Hanksville, UT 84734
Lodging - click on the lodging below for a TripAdvisor review
Muddy Creek Mining Company
(877) 711-3857
280 E 100 N, Hanksville, UT
Whispering Sands Motel
(435) 542-3238
90 South HW 95, UT
Nearby Restaurants
Hanksville is the closest town, and there are a few places to eat there. After a morning shoot, I enjoy a good breakfast (biscuits and gravy) at Duke’s Slickrock Grill in Hanksville. They have great food, and nice people run the place. Stan's Burger Shak makes a good hamburger and a hardy shake, and the Outlaw’s Roost makes great tacos.
Nearby Restaurants - click on the restaurant below for yelp review
Duke’s Slickrock Grill
(435) 542-3235
Stan's Burger Shak
(435) 542-3330
Outlaw’s Roost
(435) 542-1763
Area Guides and Workshops
None