Spring 2025 Utah, 4.16.25 - 5.14.25, Part 11, Hanksville, Moonscape Overlook, Caineville Reef Road, Neilson Wash, Long Dong Silver

On our last full day in the Hanksville area, we still had two sunrises we wanted to capture. We figured we would try one on this day and another one the morning we were leaving since our next destination was only a half hour away. We were very nervous about our chances because we had heard a bit of rain during the night. Sunrise would be at six-fifteen so we left at five-fifteen to make the drive up to Moonscape Overlook in time for the golden hour. Factory Butte Road was fine and when we got to the turnoff for Moonscape Overlook that road looked pretty dry as well. My heart beat faster when I realized we would be able to make it out there. I’ve been wanting to shoot a sunrise there for a number of years and I was finally getting my chance!

Apparently I wasn’t the only one thinking this way because when we arrived there were at least fifty people at the overlook. A couple were photography workshops and the rest were just people like me. I scouted out a couple of areas until I found a great spot on the rim. Setting up my tripod I took a couple of test shots and then waited for the magic to begin. The sunrise was everything I’d hoped for. It was spectacular! The changing colors through the golden hour and as the sun rose ran the gamut from pinks to oranges to bright golden browns. The low angle of the morning light created great shadows on the moonscape below and it was all just breathtaking. It didn’t last long before the sun rose up behind a cloud. To the north the San Rafael Reef was still lit up like a Christmas tree so the entire herd of lemmings all ran from their positions to the northern side of the rim and shutters clicked like an invasion of cicadas. It was really kind of hysterical to observe. I’m sure there are a lot of people including myself that were really happy with their results that morning.

Sunrise light comes and goes very quickly and after shooting for perhaps a half hour the sun had risen behind a large cloud. I was already thrilled with what I hoped were some great shots so we jumped in the Jeep and beat the masses out from Moonscape Overlook. When we got back to the main Factory Butte Road, instead of turning left and heading back towards US 24 and Hanksville, we took a right and drove another a couple of miles to a turnoff.

During our stay in Capitol Reef, when we were driving through Cathedral Valley with Greg and Cindy the previous week, I had wanted to extend that drive by turning off onto the Caineville Reef Road. This road runs about sixteen miles up along Caineville Reef and then around the northwest end of Factory Butte where you can then take Factory Butte Road back to US 24. This drive never took place due to blowing out a tire in Cathedral Valley. But the morning we watched the sunrise at Moonscape Overlook, we had a brand new set of tires and the whole rest of the day in front of us so we decided to drive the Caineville Reef Road in the opposite direction.

Caineville Reef Road is a well maintained dirt road that runs through some beautiful back country along Caineville Reef. We were the only vehicle on the road the entire time. The road cuts right through the San Rafael Reef and goes past some unique perspectives of Factory Butte and the Henry Mountains.

Somewhere near the tail end of the drive we dropped down a hill and came to a wash that we had to cross. On my Gaia app it showed that a road went up the wash so I turned north and we headed up the wash a bit. As we wound around a few turns the wash got narrower and muddier so we stopped there. I got out and hiked a short way around a corner and found an area of really nice white pillars and rock formations. These are hidden from the Caineville Reef Road so unless you went up the side wash you would never know they were even there.

**Interessting view of Factory Butte on the left, the Henry Mountains in the center and an unnamed butte to the right along the Caineville Reef Road**

**Cool rock formations up the side wash of Caineville Reef Road**

Not too far beyond the side wash we connected to the Caineville Wash Road which is the eastern part of the Cathedral Valley Loop. Then it was a very short way to US 24 and back east to Hanksville. It was still only nine-thirty in the morning. Bridgit was tired from getting up so early so I drove back up Factory Butte Road to do a hike. Very late in my trip research, actually just a week or less before leaving, I came across a report of a wash called Neilson Wash. Factory Butte Road actually goes right over the very top end of this wash and it sounded fairly scenic so I had it on my radar as a possible thing to do on our trip. I parked the Jeep right at the entrance to the wash and dropped in. From there I followed the very smooth gravelly wash down three miles all the way to where Neilson Wash goes underneath US 24 through a couple of large culverts. The hike was just a fantastic way to close out our last full day in Hanksville. I was completely alone and the solitude was wonderful. The wash was really more of a canyon with nice cliff walls, side canyons and interesting rock formations along the way. I was in no hurry so I just found a nice slow pace and just wandered down the wash enjoying the views and the sunshine. This hike was as tranquil as it gets. Very, very quiet and peaceful. I turned around at the highway and hiked back the way I came. At one point I looked up and saw a large furry creature waddling down the wash ahead of me. It was too far ahead to tell what it was for sure but to me it looked like a large marmot. I inquired about that later and got two different answers about whether marmots even inhabit that area so who knows what it was? I’m glad it didn’t eat me.

**Looking back up Neilson Wash from underneath US 24**

In order to complete everything I had on our itinerary, I still had one more thing to get done. On the morning we planned to leave Hanksville, we got up super early and drove back out to the turnoff for Long Dong Silver. Bridgit hadn’t seen it yet and was eager to check it out. The entrance road had been a quagmire of deep mud after the rains but this final morning we were able to drive around the left side of the muddy spot and found hard dirt the rest of the way to the trailhead. Since we got such an early start it was still pretty dark but though there is no trail per se, just heading up valley got us where we wanted to go.

By the time we got to the great photo spot on the hill behind Long Dong Silver the pre-dawn glow was already lighting up the cliffs on the western side of the valley. By six-ten the tops of the cliffs were getting sunshine and turning them a vivid shade of orange. Soon the very tip top of the spire began to glow and we watched as the sunlight gradually worked its way down the length of Long Dong Silver. We took photos until the sun had completely reached the base of the spire. On our way back to the trailhead I even took the time to wander over to see the Angel of Death Spire.

**The sun just touching the very tip of Long Dong Silver**

**Great morning to wrap up our stay in Hanksville**

**Long Dong Silver with Bridgit for scale**

**Straight on you can’t tell that there are actually two spires right next to each other**

**The Angel of Death Spire on the way back to the trailhead**

**One last look back at the sun behind Long Dong Silver**

It was a perfect warm morning and a perfect way to wrap up our stay in the Hanksville area. Considering the amount of rain we had and the ensuing road conditions, I was extremely grateful we had managed to accomplish everything we had hoped to in this area. But now it was time to pack up and head to our final destination before heading back home.

Just for you Bob! To the right (east) of the screenshot is Hanksville. To the left (west) is Capitol Reef National Park. The waypoint on the bottom right is where Long Dong Silver is. The blue line is Neilson Wash. The upper waypoint is Moonscape Overlook. Factory Butte is just west of Moonscape Overlook and Caineville Reef Road is the double dotted line west of Factory Butte that goes southwest to US 24. The farthest road on the left is the start of the Cathedral Valley Loop that goes up past Lower South Desert Overlook and Jailhouse Rock, curves around and drops back down past the Temple of the Sun. Lots to do in this one image!

Spring 2025 Utah, 4.16.25 - 5.14.25, Part 11, Hanksville, Moonscape Overlook, Caineville Reef Road, Neilson Wash, Long Dong Silver

Spring 2025 Utah, 4.16.25 - 5.14.25, Part 10, Hanksville, Leprechaun Canyon, Little Egypt

Spring 2025 Utah, 4.16.25 - 5.14.25, Part 12, Goblin Valley, Reds Canyon Overlook, Little Wild Horse Canyon, The Goblin’s Lair