Goblin Valley State Park
- Alex Cabrero
- Sep 4, 2023
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 24
(near Hanksville) If you're looking for a place where that feels like you're in a science fiction movie, Goblin Valley State Park is absolutely the perfect spot for you! Walking around the rock formations (the goblins) gives you a sense of what it might feel like to explore Mars. Sometimes, it feels like there may actually be goblins hidden in the cracks and crevasses secretly looking at you.
Goblin Valley State Park is one of the finest in the Utah State Parks system. There is no doubt this would be a National Park in almost any other state. Goblin Valley is located in the heart of the San Rafael Swell, but when you're here, it feels like you're far away from everything. That's because you really are.
When you get to Goblin Valley, you'll be greeted by thousands of eerie, weathered sandstone hoodoos, or "goblins," that stand guard over the park. Your imagination can run wild as you wander among these whimsical rock formations, which seem to have a personality of their own. They range from a few feet tall to as high as several stories. They're perfect for exploring and posing for photos. Whenever I see kids here, they're having a blast running from goblin to goblin.
The main attraction in the park is the Valley of the Goblins. It's basically the field of hoodoos you see in front of you as you park in the main parking lot overlooking the area. There are some stairs to go down to the valley or you can make your way down some of the other slopes. There are bathrooms at the parking lot, but not in the valley. Believe it or not, this area is open to free wandering. You can hike right up to as many goblins as you want. You're even allowed to touch them, but don't damage them. A few years back, some clown got in trouble for knocking one over after he kept pushing it back and forth singing "wiggle it just a little bit." He even posted his video online. His defense? He was knocking it down so it wouldn't fall on kids. What an idiot. Please don't do what he did.
The valley is made up of mostly undeveloped land with no maintained trails. Take your time hiking through here. It's almost impossible to get lost, but part of the fun of visiting here is to try and get lost. You really can't. There are thousands of hoodoos to explore in nearly 3600 acres. Find a favorite one and sit on the ground to eat a little lunch, if you want. Just make sure you pack up and pack out everything you brought in.
Goblin Valley is also a photographer's paradise. The lighting at sunrise and sunset will give you amazing shadows. During the day, the desert sun overhead gives you fantastic contrasts. Nature sculpted this place through weathering. Because the siltstone and shale layers are softer than the more resistant sandstone layers, they dissolve faster. As vertical cracks appear, the sandstone’s sharp corners are smoothed by chemical decomposition and erosion, forming the rounded caps and curves of the "goblins." It's amazing how this one place features so many of them.
Dogs are allowed, but they are supposed to stay on leash. When we visited on a Sunday afternoon, it was basically empty. So we let Timber off leash a little bit and she immediately had the zoomies. Look at her smile in the picture above running around some hoodoos. I swear she could see and hear critters in the rock cracks that us humans can't see.
There are some established trails around the valley where most of the goblins are located:
Curtis Bench - Fairly easy 2.1 mile out-and-back trail that follows the Curtis formation. The trail offers a unique overview of Goblin Valley as well as spectacular views of the Henry Mountains.
Carmel Canyon - 1.5 mile moderately strenuous loop leading from parking area to the desert floor. Along the way, visitors see Goblin Valley from different perspectives. Optional hike to Molly’s Castle Overlook.
Goblin’s Lair - 3 mile moderately strenuous out-and-back trail leading down into a cave. Breathtaking views of Molly’s Castle and Gilson Buttes. Exposed, sandy, requires basic bouldering skills into the cave.
However, you don't have to hike any established trails to just have a great time wandering through the hoodoos. That's what Kylie and I did and we had a great time. There was a different rock formation every time we turned a corner and I swear every picture I took was like "oh, I'm framing that one." Until the next goblin. And the next. And so on.
There is a campsite at Goblin Valley State Park. It has 24 sites, a group site, and two yurts with a centrally-located restroom and shower facilities. If you visit during the busy season, make sure you book your site in advance. They go fast. Also remember, it gets super hit here in the summer with temperatures above 100-degrees and hardly any shade at all in the valley.
Goblin Valley also has one of the darkest night skies on Earth. It's virtually free of any light pollution from populated areas because it is so far away from any cities and bigger towns. Goblin Valley is a certified Dark Sky Park where you can see amazing views of the Milky Way and stars with your naked eye. Looking up at night makes you feel small, which is something I think is good to feel every now and then. If you haven't see a true dark sky in years, seeing this dark sky might shock you a little bit. It's even better if you can visit when there's no moon in the sky. Here is a website for the park's clear dark skies forecast page.
Directions:
Goblin Valley State Park is located off Hwy 24. Drive 24 miles south of I-70 or 20 miles north of Hanksville. Turn at the Temple Mountain junction and follow the signs 12 miles to park. The correct route is paved all the way. If your GPS takes you onto a dirt road, it is not the right way.
For more information, and camping reservations, you can visit https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley/
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