Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
5 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
7 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Utah Torrey Factory Butte

Factory Butte

A striking, menacing sandstone peak towering above a landscape that's equal parts Mordor and the Moon.

Torrey, Utah

Added By
Marin Stefani
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Factory Butte with morning light.   john lambing / Alamy
Factory Butte with morning light.   john lambing / Alamy
Factory Butte, one of Utah’s hidden wonders.   Marin Stefani / Atlas Obscura User
The North Caineville Mesa towering above Swing Arm City.   Marin Stefani / Atlas Obscura User
The Coal Mine Road will take you close to the Butte, and up to a campground.   Marin Stefani / Atlas Obscura User
Factory Butte in the background.   John Menard/cc by-sa 2.0
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
June 2023   brendonstinson / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Utah is famed for its wondrous national parks like Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon, but it also has a lot to offer curious travelers willing to wander off the beaten track. Factory Butte, a cathedral-like sandstone hill that rises above the rugged Caineville badlands, is one of these lesser-known gems. 

Part of an ensemble of small, flat-topped mesas called the Upper Blue Hills, Factory Butte culminates at 6,302 feet. With its root-like combs, crags, and shoulders that snake towards the hilltop, it seems deeply entrenched in the ground, like a very old rock stump. 

The surrounding, barren landscape is equally otherworldly; it feels as though you're exploring another planet, and for good reason: If you go, you're likely to be the only one there.

When exploring this colorful formation, don't forget your camera. While the scenery is striking on an overcast afternoon, it'll surely be even more surreal at sunset. 

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Martian Landscapes Geology Deserts Nature Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

To visit, take the Hwy 24 from Hanksville, in the direction of Capitol Reef. Eleven miles in, turn right on Coal Mine Road, a dry dirt track that curves around the Butte and heads North, accessible by any vehicle. Park and explore, or drive further to access a free campground and beautiful eroded rocks. Don't go too far though; after 10 miles, the road becomes impracticable.

If you drive a 4x4 or a dirt bike, and you've ever dreamed of drifting on the Moon, be sure to go make a few turns and skids in Swing Arm City, an off-roading terrain located next to the road's entrance.

Community Contributors

Added By

Marin Stefani

Edited By

Meg, Collector of Experiences, brendonstinson

  • Meg
  • Collector of Experiences
  • brendonstinson

Published

September 7, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Factory Butte
Hwy 24
Torrey, Utah
United States
38.280114, -111.139667
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Mars Desert Research Station

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Wolverton Mill

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Carl's Critter Garden

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Utah

Utah

United States

Places 155
Stories 29

Nearby Places

Mars Desert Research Station

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Wolverton Mill

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Carl's Critter Garden

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Utah

Utah

United States

Places 155
Stories 29

Related Places

  • RV tracks

    Wadi Rum Village, Jordan

    Wadi Rum

    Known as the "Valley of the Moon," this Jordanian wadi is one of the most amazing desertscapes on Earth.

  • A mud pot.

    Iceland

    Námafjall

    In Northeastern Iceland lies something of an oxymoron: a steaming desert.

  • The Pinnacles.

    Cervantes, Australia

    The Pinnacles

    Alien rock formations grown from the sands of an Australian national park.

  • A medium gray rock on the desert floor, with a trail in the dirt behind it showing how the rock has moved.

    Inyo County, California

    Sailing Stones of Racetrack Playa

    The rocks in this arid basin leave trails of movement behind them.

  • “Chicken and mushroom” rock formations.

    Egypt

    White Desert

    An alien landscape of chalk-rock in the Egyptian desert.

  • Yangykala Canyon

    Balkanabat, Turkmenistan

    Yangykala Canyon

    Few people have ever heard of, let alone visited, one of Turkmenistan’s most impressive natural attractions.

  • The Smoking Hills, as seen from the sea.

    Inuvik, Unorganized, Northwest Territories

    The Smoking Hills

    These hellish-looking cliffs in the Canadian Arctic have been burning for centuries.

  • Early evening in Lut desert

    Kerman, Iran

    Lut Desert (Dasht-e Lut)

    The hottest, driest, and most scenic desert on Earth.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.