Robbers Roost
The Robbers Roost was an outlaw hideout in southeastern Utah used mostly by Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang in the closing years of the Old West.
A canyon & gorge, 10 mi east of Hanksville
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Torrey, 48 miles west. Where to stay ↓
Summers are hot
July highs run 98–98°, and about 104 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 19°. When to go ↓
Best months: Apr, May and Oct
April, May and October are the mild months, with highs of 71–81°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures and Wikipedia.
Weather, month by month
Typical highs and lows in Hanksville. Green months are the mild ones.
Robbers Roost
The Robbers Roost was an outlaw hideout in southeastern Utah used mostly by Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch gang in the closing years of the Old West.
The hideout was considered ideal because of the rough terrain. It was easily defended, difficult to navigate into without detection, and excellent when the gang needed a month or longer to rest and lie low following a robbery. While hiding out at Robbers Roost, Elzy Lay and Butch Cassidy first formed the Wild Bunch gang. The Wild Bunch, early on led by Cassidy and his closest friend Elzy Lay, developed contacts inside Utah that gave them easy access to supplies of fresh horses and beef, most notably the ranch owned by outlaw sisters Ann and Josie Bassett. The gang constructed cabins inside Robbers Roost to help shield them from the harsh winters. There, they stored weapons, horses, chickens, and cattle.
- Type
- Canyon & gorge
- Wikipedia readers
- 19K a year
Where to stay near Robbers Roost
The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Hanksville (4) and Green River (21).
Compare 3 towns
| Town | From Robbers Roost | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanksville | 10 mi west | 15 min | 4 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 RV park | 169 | $95K |
| Green River | 51 mi northeast | 1.5 hr | 21 8 hotels · 5 motels · 3 inns & B&Bs · 3 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 888 | $174K |
| Torrey 43% vacation homes | 48 mi west | 1 hr | 15 6 hotels · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 3 RV parks | 257 | $408K |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also near Robbers Roost
Other well-known places within 61 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
Big draw61 mi National ParkArches National Park1.5M visitors a year
35 mi National ParkCapitol Reef National Park1.4M visitors a year
115 mi Canyon & gorgeBluejohn Canyon
43 mi National ParkCanyonlands National Park796K visitors a year
219 mi State parkGoblin Valley State Park
322 mi MountainFactory Butte
54 mi Park & preserveBears Ears National Monument
45 mi State parkDead Horse Point State ParkPhoto credits
Arches National Park: m01229 from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Capitol Reef National Park: Bob Palin, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Bluejohn Canyon: Michael Grindstaff, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Canyonlands National Park: Phil Armitage, Public domain · Goblin Valley State Park: Donar Reiskoffer, CC BY 3.0 · Factory Butte: Ken Karagozian, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bears Ears National Monument: U.S. Geological Surey, Public domain · Dead Horse Point State Park: Nikater, Public domain
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Visiting Robbers Roost
What town is Robbers Roost near?
Hanksville, UT, about 10 miles west.
When is the best time to visit Robbers Roost?
April, May and October, with highs of 71–81°.
What is the closest airport to Robbers Roost?
Canyonlands Regional (CNY), about 52 miles away. The nearest big hub is Salt Lake City (SLC), about 187 miles.
Where should I stay near Robbers Roost?
Hanksville (10 mi, 4 places to stay), Green River (51 mi, 21 places to stay) and Torrey (48 mi, 15 places to stay).
Tips from people in Hanksville
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Hanksville’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.