Bentonite Hills Cathedral Valley Half Day Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Your guide will share with you personal insight into every aspect of the tour as well as sharing with you places and points of interest specifically geared towards your own interests based on years of intimate experience with the region. These include places not on the usual path of other tours.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Capitol Reef National Park
The journey to and from the Bentonite Hills includes a trip through the famous geology and cultural history of Capitol Reef National Park. Your guide will share insight into the regions geologic origins as well as more recent cultural history and both Native American Fremont Culture and Ancient Puebloan sites located within the region.
These world famous Jurassic era sediments not only harbor Dinosaur fossils and trackways, but they offer the modern explorer vistas and experiences rivaled no where else on our planet. No wonder these are the same deposits on which Nasa chose to build it's Mars Research Facility. Your experienced guide will explain the geology, geography, and history of the region as well as giving you the "lay of the land" which includes insight into Capitol Reef's Water Pocket Fold and the region's groundwater drainage all the way down to the Colorado River and Lake Powell. This tour also visits an abandoned drilling rig and functioning well in the desert as well as two fordings (crossings) of the famous Fremont River in addition to a trip through Capitol Reef National Park and its famous sandstone cliffs surrounding a historic district of Pioneer era settlements and active orchards still producing fruit to this day!
Options
Private tour
Private tour Pickup included
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Gratuities not included
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
58 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Tour at Capital reef
Susan S,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great tour very knowledgeable guide and driver. Would highly recommend. He was able to adjust the tour to our ability.
Mel was great. Very...
maureen c,May 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Mel was great. Very informative & showed me places that were truly inspiring. Had a great time. A very memorable trip. Thanks!
Great adventure in the dessert !!!
Vianey V,May 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience and explanation from Eugenie our tour guide , very friendly conversation and very comfortable jeep . Very knowledgeable on the area
Highly recommend tour with Meridian
marieanddon,May 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brilliant, tour of Bentonite Hills and Cathedral Valley with Meridian Tours, booked through TripAdvisor. Communication and information was excellent. Time changed by company to accommodate better weather, was hassle free. Guide Mel was so knowledgeable friendly and accommodating. The trip was at sunrise in 4 wheel drive, leaving 515am. The 3hrs trip had plenty of time in the Hills, even saw petrified trees. Scenery awesome. Excellent trip. Highly recommend this company
Great tour!
ltforbes,May 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Mel was terrific, friendly and a wealth of knowledge. He was willing to stop anytime if we wanted to take pictures. I would highly recommend this tour. The bentonite hills was absolutely beautiful!
Couldn’t have seen this in a rental car!
teresafT7850JM,May 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Up close with bentonite clay formations, a few dinosaur fossils, and petrified trees. Off road in enclosed car through stream and up to the top for a vast overview. Mel was a very knowledgeable guide and a careful driver.
Awesome Experience
Vance S,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We booked a tour to account for the roads which can be challenging. Mel picked us up at our Airbnb and drove us out to Bentonite Hills. He is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic while sharing. We had about 30 minutes at two locations plus a quick side stop to see petrified wood, which was cooler than I expected. Mel also made a couple recommendations of other things to do in the area. We did one the next day and it was fantastic.
All the way from New England!
Beth H,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00My guide Jenny was absolutely the best! So knowledgeable about the region, went on trails that were not normally known to the public. Great experience!
Had a great time seeing...
Caitlyn L,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Had a great time seeing the Bentonite Hills with Jenny! She was incredibly knowledgeable about the area including the geology, plants, history, and best time of day to see various landmarks. She tailored our tour to our interests which included finding old fossilized shells and petrified wood. Her enthusiasm made for an exciting tour and we're hoping to come back to Utah to book more Cathedral Valley tours with Jenny and her partner! 10/10
Beautiful and interesting experience
Lawrence W,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Jenny was an enthusiastic and informative guide and driver. We learned about the history and geology of the area and even went to a petrified forest
Related Experiences
Operated by Meridian