Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch are among the most famous outlaws of the American West. One of their most important hideouts was Robbers Roost, a rugged canyon region in southeastern Utah.

Located between the Dirty Devil River, Green River and Henry Mountains, Robbers Roost was extremely difficult for law enforcement to enter. Its steep canyon walls, hidden ravines, lookout points and remote terrain made it an ideal refuge for rustlers, bank robbers and train robbers.

Butch Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker, became familiar with the area while still young. He reportedly spent time rustling cattle with Mike Cassidy, whose surname he later adopted. During the 1890s and early 1900s, Robbers Roost became a sanctuary for Cassidy and members of the Wild Bunch.

After the robbery of the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado, Cassidy and several associates reportedly hid in the Roost. Cassidy and his close friend Elzy Lay are also said to have formally organized the gang while staying in the canyons.

Authorities tried to pursue the outlaws, but Robbers Roost was never successfully raided. Its concealed camps, multiple escape routes, extreme heat and difficult approaches gave the gang a major advantage over any posse unfamiliar with the region.

Remnants connected to the outlaw era can still be found in the area, including a Wild Bunch corral, a stone chimney from a cabin, shelter caves and historic carvings.

Today, visitors can explore the same rugged landscape that helped create the legend of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. The canyons remain a powerful reminder of why Robbers Roost became one of the West’s most famous outlaw hideouts.

Explore the Robbers Roost Trail Systems and experience the history behind Utah’s legendary outlaw country.