When you hear the Hanksville desert referred to as Mars, they're not joking! The Mars Desert Research Station is located near Hanksville, where scientists do all kinds of simulation research as if they're on Mars. They wear space suits, study extreme bacteria, and grow veggies in a greenhouse. Crews of six people live there for two-week shifts, doing experiments to help us prepare for exploring the real Red Planet. It's like a space camp for grown-ups!

NOTICE FROM MDRS: The Mars Desert Research Station is a private research facility and is not open to visitors.  People are allowed to pass the campus from Cow Dung Road and are welcome to stop and park where allowed and view the station from that spot.  Because of the research being conducted here, the main campus is not open to the public, and we ask that our crews’ privacy be respected.

Getting there -- if recent weather is dry, most 2WD can make the drive on Cow Dung Road; however, it can be rough at times. If you visit, please stay in the designated parking area and view from a distance.