Best Places for Capturing Utah by Drone
Southern Utah looks like a place specifically designed for aerial photography. Towering buttes, ridged badlands, red rock arches, and winding river corridors all sit within a few hours of each other, and each one looks different from above than it does from the ground. When the Nashville Drone Co team planned a drone adventure trip to Utah, the goal was simple. Capture as much of the region as possible in drone video and aerial photography, and bring it all home for our Utah Chronicles series, stock video and a Sky Hymnal video.
This article covers the places we filmed, what we learned along the way, and the practical lessons that will help you plan your own trip. Some of those lessons came from good planning. A few came from rain, mud, and a very small grocery store.
Why Utah Rewards a Drone Pilot
Ground level views in this part of Utah are impressive, but scale is hard to show from the ground. A butte looks like a big rock until you see it next to the empty land around it. A canyon looks narrow until you see how far it runs. Drone video and aerial photography solve that problem by pulling the viewpoint back and letting the landscape explain itself.
Keith Stancil, founder of Nashville Drone Co, holds FAA Part 107 certification and has spent over two decades in entertainment marketing, so he approaches a trip like this with both a pilot’s discipline and a storyteller’s eye. Every stop had a plan for light, access, and the shots that would make the final film work. The rules about where drones can fly change from place to place, so the planning started long before we left Nashville.
Stop One in Hanksville and Staying at Krusty’s Motor Suite
Our first base was Hanksville, a small town that works well as a launching point for some of the most unusual terrain in the state. We stayed at Krusty’s Motor Suite, a unique historic gas station turned lodging rental, that fit the spirit of the trip. It was a comfortable and memorable place to recharge batteries, both the human kind and the drone kind, between long days in the field.
Because many of the Hanksville area locations sit on rough backcountry roads, we rented a Jeep to reach them. If you plan to explore this region, a capable high clearance vehicle is not a luxury. Many of the best viewpoints are down dirt tracks that a regular car should not attempt.
We Learned What Rain Does to Bentonite Clay
Our first day in Hanksville brought rain, and that taught us a lesson about the local terrain. Much of the ground in this region is bentonite clay, and when it gets wet it turns slick and sticky. Some areas became undrivable, even with the Jeep. The good news is that the clay dries out fast. In our experience it dries within about 24 hours, and once it did, the roads opened back up. If rain is in the forecast, build some flexibility into your schedule. A lost first day does not have to wreck the trip as long as you can shuffle locations around and shoot somewhere else while the ground recovers.
Planning for Food and Supplies in Hanksville
This is one of the most practical lessons from the trip. Hanksville is small, and there are not many places to eat. The two restaurants we found close early, and the small grocery store has very limited food choices. If you arrive hungry after a long day, you may have no food options.
The solution is to come prepared. Bring groceries, snacks, and water from a larger town, and plan your meals around the early closing hours. A cooler in the Jeep is a smart investment for a trip like this one.
Hanksville Filming Locations
Factory Butte
Factory Butte is the kind of landmark that stops you in your tracks. It rises sharply from the surrounding badlands, and the contrast between the butte and the flat, ridged terrain around it makes it a natural subject for drone work. Aerial footage shows its size better than any ground photo can. Some Factory Butte footage can be seen in video above with more on this one in upcoming Utah Chronicles episodes.
Mars Hill
Mars Hill earns its name. The landscape has a rust colored, otherworldly feel, and from the air the colors and textures look even more striking. This was one of the places where the drone really showed what it could do, since the patterns in the terrain only become clear from above. And seeing the mysterious Mars research station was also super intriguing. Video coming in the Utah Chronicles.
Moon Overlook
Moon Overlook sits among the pale, rolling badlands around Hanksville, and it gives a different mood from the red tones elsewhere in the region. The gray and tan terrain has an almost lunar look. It rewards patient flying and careful composition because there are fewer obvious focal points than at a butte or arch.
Long Dong Silver
This distinctive rock spire is one of the more unusual landmarks near Hanksville. It stands out against the open ground around it, which makes it a strong subject for aerial photography. Orbiting a formation like this from a safe distance shows how it sits in the landscape in a way ground level shots cannot. We did find it difficult to actually find as the turn offs aren’t marked well and it requires a mile hike through spongy mars like soil. Its also hidden behind some vast rock walls. But reaching the magnificent spire was worth the persistent hunt
Swing Arm City
Swing Arm City looks like scene out of the movie Dune. Factory Butte reveals itself as a backdrop to this popular motorbike playground which serves as a great place for FPV drone filming.
Rainbow Hills
We took Cathedral Valley Road to capture the Rainbow Hills. The Rainbow Hills earn their name through their bands of color across the slopes that look absolutely beautiful from above. It can be a tricky area to navigate as land managed by Bureau of Land Management area meets Captol Reef State Park So make sure to research before launching your drone to avoid major fines. Footage can be seen on our YouTube channel under The Utah Chronicles playlist.
Goblin Valley and the Permit You Need to Plan For
Goblin Valley State Park was another highlight, with its crowd of rounded, mushroom shaped rock formations. It is also one of the places that requires advance planning. Flying here required a permit, and the park issues only a couple every hour. That limit means you cannot show up and expect to fly on a whim. Reserve your time as early as you can, and have backup plans for other locations in case the schedule shifts. You can secure a permit the day prior to visiting if you are planning a sunrise flight as the park office isn’t open until around 8am. The effort is worth it. The formations look wonderful from above, and the aerial perspective shows how many of them there are and how they spread across the valley floor.
Moving On to Moab
After a few days in Hanksville, we moved over to Moab for the second half of the trip. The change in scenery was dramatic, and so was the change in atmosphere. Moab sits near red rock cliffs and the Colorado River, and every direction offers something worth filming.
Moab Feels Like a Different World
Moab offered the opposite food and supplies situation we found in Hanksville. It is loaded with restaurants and grocery stores, and finding a good meal is easy. It is also a very busy area. During our visit it felt like a crowded vacation town, full of 4x4 vehicles and mountain bikers. The energy is fun, but it means popular locations can be busy and parking can be tight. Plan for crowds, and again lean on sunrise to find a bit of space. Early morning is when the town and the trails feel calmer, and it is also when the light is at its best.
Moab Filming Locations
Corona Arch
Corona Arch is one of the most recognizable landmarks near Moab. The arch frames the sky and the surrounding red rock, and from above it becomes part of a larger scene instead of a lone object. Aerial photography here captures the arch together with the canyon it sits within. Be prepared to hike a few miles on a trail that includes some ladder climbing. And the arch is absolutely worth the hike.
Wall Street
Wall Street is a striking canyon corridor with towering sheer walls. Filming here gives a sense of depth and enclosure that the drone can capture in a way standing on the ground cannot. The walls frame the shot naturally, and the changing light on the rock adds texture. You will see ancient petroglyphs and climbers doing their thing right along the edge of the road.
Potash Ponds and the Potash Corridor Along the Colorado River
The Potash Ponds bring a surprising pop of color to the desert, with bright blue shapes set against the red and tan land. The corridor leading along the Colorado River adds winding water and dramatic cliffs. This was one of the most visually interesting stops for aerial work, because the geometry of the ponds contrasts so strongly with the natural shapes around them.
Castleton Tower and Castle Valley
Castleton Tower rises from Castle Valley like a stone monument, and the valley around it spreads out in soft, open shapes. From the air, the tower becomes a vertical accent in a wide landscape, which is exactly the kind of shot that tells a story about scale. We encountered a black bear in the area so carrying bear spray would be advisable.
Fisher Towers
Fisher Towers sits northeast of Moab, along the Colorado River corridor, and it is one of the most dramatic stops in the area. A cluster of deep red sandstone spires rises from the desert floor, with the La Sal Mountains standing in the distance on a clear day. The tallest, known as the Titan, climbs roughly 900 feet. The towers are managed by the Bureau of Land Management and drone use is permitted.
Fisher Towers is a good example of why aerial work adds so much to a landscape film. From the ground, you see the towers as a wall of vertical rock. From the air, you see how each spire stands apart, how the ridges and ledges stack along the sides, and how the whole formation sits against the open land around it.
Light matters here more than almost anywhere else on the trip. At sunrise and sunset, the red rock glows and the shadows between the spires add depth. Midday sun flattens the color and makes the towers harder to read on camera. We planned our visit around the low light, and that also helped us avoid the heavier daytime crowds.
Fisher Towers can be filmed from the parking lot but we recommend doing the hike to the back side. The hike requires some rock scrambling and climbing a few ladders.
Sunrise and Sunset Made the Difference
Across every location, the best times to film were sunrise and sunset. Low light brings out texture and color in rock, adds shadow that gives terrain dimension, and softens the harshness of midday sun. In the Hanksville area, early morning had a second benefit. We avoided much of the tourist traffic at popular locations, which made flying safer and let us work without interruption.
If you only have a few days, plan your schedule around the light. Midday works well for scouting, driving, eating, and resting. Save your flying for the early and late hours.
Tips for Planning Your Own Utah Drone Trip
Research the land manager for each location. BLM land, state parks, and national parks all have different rules about drones. Some places require permits, and some prohibit flying altogether.
Book permits early. Places like Goblin Valley limit how many are issued, and spots fill up.
Rent or bring a capable vehicle. Backcountry roads around Hanksville demand it.
Watch the weather closely. Rain can make bentonite clay roads impassable, but it typically dries within a day.
Shoot at sunrise and sunset. The light is better and the crowds are thinner.
Stock up before Hanksville. Food options are limited and close early.
Bring extra batteries and a way to charge them. Long days in remote areas use a lot of power. We stopped Walmart on our way down from Salt Lake City and purchased a Power source for charging batteries.
Fly responsibly. Respect wildlife, other visitors, and the land.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time of day for drone photography in southern Utah?
Sunrise and sunset offer the best light and, in many places, the fewest visitors.
Do you need a permit to fly a drone at Goblin Valley State Park?
A permit is required, and the park issues only a couple every hour, so plan ahead.
How long does it take for the roads near Hanksville to dry after rain?
We found the bentonite clay dried out in about 24 hours, though conditions vary with the amount of rain.
Is Hanksville or Moab better as a base?
It depends on your priorities. Hanksville is quiet and close to remote terrain but has limited food and services. Moab has plenty of restaurants and shops but is much busier.
Where can I see the footage from your trip?
It will appear in our Utah Chronicles series on the Nashville Drone Co YouTube channel.
View the Utah Chronicles
We captured some amazing footage on this trip, and we are excited to share it. The full story of each location will be revealed in our Utah Chronicles series on the Nashville Drone Co YouTube channel, so subscribe to follow along as each new episode arrives.
Nashville Drone Co is based in Middle Tennessee, and Utah gave us a chance to stretch our skills in a very different landscape. If you have a project that calls for experienced aerial video and photography, whether in Nashville, in the mountains, or somewhere in the desert, Nashville Drone Co is ready to talk. Reach out at info@nashvilledrone.co to start the conversation.