Hanksville/Torrey: Bentonite Hills Drone/Photography Tour

The Bentonite Hills look less like southern Utah and more like a film set for another planet. Near Hanksville’s NASA Mars research facility, bands of red and blue clay fold across the dry ground, giving you a strange, open setting for wide photos and drone work. Guide Jenny takes you off-road to viewpoints that are hard to find on your own.

I like the private-group format, since you can spend more time framing a shot instead of waiting for a busload of people. I also like the mix of photography and local geology. Jenny has been praised for explaining the area clearly, while Mel has offered useful suggestions for other things to do around Hanksville and Torrey.

The catch is the walking. The best viewpoints require climbing about 50 to 100 feet, and the tour is not suitable for people with mobility limits, low fitness, or anyone over 60 according to the stated restrictions. Weather and rough ground can also force a change in plans.

Key points to know before you book

• Three hours in a private SUV: Pickup and return are included from Hanksville, Torrey, and Teasdale.
• Blue and red Bentonite Hills: The clay formations provide unusual patterns, color bands, and broad desert views.
• Jenny leads the photography experience: She combines photo guidance with explanations of the local geology and area.
• Climbing is part of the tour: Expect to gain roughly 50 to 100 feet to reach the strongest viewpoints.
• Drone work costs extra: You can rent a DJI Mini 4 or add drone video footage, but neither is included in the base price.
• Flexible booking: The $180 price includes transport, a guide, and water, with cancellation allowed up to 24 hours before departure.

What the $180 tour gives you in three hours

At $180 per person, this is not a simple scenic drive. You are paying for a private three-hour outing, transport from your lodging area, a guide, water, and access to selected viewpoints in a rough desert setting.

That price makes the most sense if you care about photography or want someone else to handle the route and driving. The guide can take you along rocky trails while you watch the terrain and prepare your camera. If you already know the area, have a capable vehicle, and only want a quick look, the value is less clear.

The private format helps. You do not have to match the pace of a large group, and a photography stop can take as long as your small party needs within the three-hour window. You can work on composition, wait for changing light, or ask questions about the formations without feeling rushed by a crowd.

Water and transportation are practical additions, especially in a dry area where a short walk can feel harder than expected. Still, bring your own camera gear and closed-toe shoes. The tour price does not include the DJI Mini 4 drone, and drone video footage is an optional add-on.

Meeting the SUV in Hanksville, Torrey, or Teasdale

Pickup is available in Hanksville, Torrey, and Teasdale. Look for a black or white SUV marked with Meridian letters and the company logo. That detail matters in small desert communities, where several vehicles may be waiting near a hotel or meeting point.

The drive itself is part of the practical value. You do not need to plan a route through rough terrain or worry about finding the right trailhead. The tour uses off-road transportation, taking you toward the Bentonite Hills near the Mars research facility.

The exact starting time depends on availability. Since the experience lasts three hours, check the schedule before booking and leave room around it for other plans. Weather can change quickly in open desert country, and the operator may modify, reschedule, or cancel the outing when conditions make the route unsafe.

The decision about weather is made by the tour provider, even if a weather app or park website shows different conditions. That may feel strict, but clay ground and rocky tracks can become difficult after rain. It is wise not to build a tightly packed day around this activity.

First views of the Bentonite Hills

Once you reach the hills, the main attraction is easy to understand. Bentonite is a soft clay material that breaks into rounded slopes and layered shapes. Here, red and blue tones create broad bands across the ground, with little plant cover to interrupt the patterns.

The colors are the star, but the shapes make the photographs work. Curving ridges, folds, and bare slopes create strong lines for wide shots. From higher ground, you can show the scale of the formations. From close up, you can focus on the clay’s texture and the way the colors change across a single slope.

The site’s connection with Mars research adds another layer. You are visiting a real desert environment used as part of NASA-related research and exploration work, not a themed attraction built for tourists. That gives the outing a useful sense of place. You can think about how scientists and crews use harsh, dry ground to prepare for work in an alien setting.

Do not expect a paved viewpoint or a polished visitor center. This is a rough outdoor stop, and the appeal comes from the raw setting. The lack of built facilities also means you should arrive ready for sun, dust, uneven footing, and a basic desert experience.

The climb to the best photo positions

The guide will take you toward the strongest angles, but reaching them involves a climb of about 50 to 100 feet. That is not a major mountain hike, yet soft clay, rocks, and uneven ground can make a short ascent tiring.

Closed-toe shoes are required for good reason. Sandals leave your feet exposed, and smooth casual shoes may not feel secure on the slopes. Bring only camera equipment you can carry comfortably. A heavy bag becomes a nuisance when you are trying to move over loose ground and keep your balance.

The climb is the tour’s main physical limit. The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, low fitness, or people over 60 under the stated booking rules. That age restriction is unusually firm, so check it before paying, even if you feel fit for your age.

If you can manage the climb, the reward is a better view over the colored folds. You can also frame images without staying at the first roadside stop. The guide’s role is especially useful here because the strongest compositions are not always obvious when you first arrive.

Learning the geology with Jenny

Jenny is the guide name most closely linked with this experience. She has guided visitors through less obvious Bentonite spots and explained the area from a geological point of view. Her approach appears to go beyond pointing out a scenic ridge. You can ask about the clay, the formation patterns, and the forces that shaped the ground.

That matters for photographers. Knowing why the hills have their colors and shapes helps you see more than a collection of pretty stripes. You may begin to notice how ridges lead the eye, where the clay changes tone, and why a high viewpoint gives a stronger sense of scale.

Jenny can also help make the outing useful beyond the three-hour tour. Her area suggestions can point you toward other things to do around Hanksville and the Torrey region. Mel has also provided directions and recommendations for nearby activities, which can help if this tour is part of a longer southern Utah trip.

The available guide languages are English, Russian, and Italian. Confirm your language needs when booking, since the experience depends on clear instructions during the off-road portions and the climb.

Making the most of the photography stops

You do not need to be a professional photographer. The tour is designed for people interested in drone photography as well as visitors who simply want better desert photos.

For a camera or phone, look for three kinds of images:

• Wide views that show the colored hills as a connected pattern
• Medium shots that use ridges and curves as leading lines
• Close views of clay texture, cracks, and changes in color

The private setting gives you time to try each approach. I would arrive with a simple plan rather than a long list of shots. A wide photo from the high point, a few lower angles, and several detail images should give you a useful set without turning the outing into a rushed checklist.

Light will affect the colors, but the tour information does not promise a particular sunrise or sunset departure. Check the available start times and ask the operator what light conditions are expected for your date. Do not assume that a popular photography time is offered every day.

If you want aerial footage, book the drone video option or arrange the DJI Mini 4 rental. The drone itself is not included in the base price. Ask for the current add-on cost before you commit, since the $180 fee covers the tour but not that equipment.

Drone options and what is not included

Drone work is a natural fit for the Bentonite Hills. From above, the colored bands and rounded ridges can form patterns that are hard to see from ground level. A short aerial sequence may also show how isolated the area feels around Hanksville.

The practical point is that the standard booking does not provide a drone. A DJI Mini 4 is available to rent, and drone video footage can be added, but these are separate choices. If you already own suitable equipment, confirm what you may bring and what operating rules apply before the tour.

Do not book this activity assuming finished drone footage comes automatically with the $180 price. The base experience gives you transportation, the guide, water, and access to the guided photography outing. Equipment rental and video production need to be added separately.

Weather, rough ground, and backup planning

The provider may alter the route, reschedule, or cancel because of weather or terrain. That is especially important in clay country, where wet conditions can affect both the road and the walking areas.

You should keep your schedule flexible on the day of the tour. Avoid pairing it with a fixed-time activity that cannot be moved. If the trip is canceled, the stated policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours in advance, and the booking option lets you reserve now and pay later.

A weather app cannot settle the question for you. The operator has the final say on whether conditions are suitable, regardless of what a phone forecast or park website reports. This may be inconvenient, but it protects the off-road portion from being treated like a normal paved-road excursion.

Who will get the most from this outing

This tour is a strong fit for someone who wants unusual scenery without planning an off-road route alone. It also suits photographers who prefer a guide to point out angles, explain the ground, and handle transportation between Hanksville, Torrey, or Teasdale and the hills.

I would especially consider it if you are:

• Interested in drone photography or aerial video
• Comfortable walking on uneven ground
• Curious about geology and NASA’s Mars research setting
• Visiting without a vehicle suited to rough trails
• Looking for a private experience rather than a large group outing

I would skip it if you need a flat, easy walk or a guaranteed departure in poor weather. It is also a poor match if you want a standard sightseeing trip with paved access and built facilities. The scenery is striking, but the setting is exposed and physically demanding enough that you should take the restrictions seriously.

Should you book the Bentonite Hills tour?

Book it if the combination of strange clay formations, private off-road transport, and photography coaching sounds worth $180 to you. Jenny’s geology guidance and the chance to reach better viewpoints give the tour more substance than a quick roadside photo stop.

Before booking, confirm three things: that you can handle the 50 to 100 foot climb, that your date has a suitable start time, and that any drone rental or footage add-on fits your budget. If those details work, this is a focused way to see one of the Hanksville area’s most unusual settings and come away with photographs that do not look like standard southern Utah postcard scenes.

FAQ

How long does the Bentonite Hills tour last?

The tour lasts three hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $180 per person.

Where is pickup available?

Complimentary pickup and drop-off are available in Hanksville, Torrey, and Teasdale. Look for a black or white SUV marked with Meridian letters and the company logo.

What is included in the tour?

Transportation, pickup and drop-off, a guide, and water are included.

Is a drone included?

No. A DJI Mini 4 is available to rent, and drone video footage is offered as an add-on.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide service is available in English, Russian, and Italian.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather?

Yes. Weather and terrain conditions may require the tour to be changed, rescheduled, or canceled. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.