See Bentonite Hills in Cathedral Valley, Utah

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Bentonite Hills are located along Cathedral Valley Road outside of the Capitol Reef National Park. It's on Bureau of Land Management land. They are accessible by the Hartnet Road which requires a high clearance vehicle. Call 435-425-3791, press 1 for more information, and 4 for road conditions before visiting the Bentonite Hills. The Bentonite Hills appear as softly-contoured, banded hills in varying hues of brown, red, purple, gray, and green. The hills are composed of the Brushy Basin shale member of the Morrison Formation. This layer was formed during Jurassic times when mud, silt, fine sand, and volcanic ash were deposited in swamps and lakes. Bentonite clay (altered volcanic ash) absorbs water and becomes very slick and gummy when wet, making vehicle or foot travel difficult or impossible. Repeated cycles of absorbing water and then drying results in a popcorn-like appearance on the clay's surface.There are no trails through the Bentonite Hills. The surface is easily damaged; scars from footprints and tire tracks take many years to heal. Please only drive on the road and limit foot travel to firm, previously disturbed areas and wash bottoms.

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