Goblin Valley State Park

Most park lovers and outdoor adventurers know of the iconic Bryce Canyon hoodoos, the orange-y rock spires that create an other-worldly environment. But just a couple of hours away in Utah lies a landscape dotted with another type of hoodoos called “goblins.” Formed from the erosion of Entrada sandstone, many of these sort of mushroom-shaped goblins are scattered throughout the floor, setting the scene for the most epic game of Hide-and-Seek ever. To learn more about the geology behind how these rock formations were created, check out my post about Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Getting Here

Goblin Valley State Park is located off of State Route 24 with the nearest towns being Hanksville to the South and Green River to the North. From SR 24 turn onto Temple Mtn Road and then onto Goblin Valley Road.

The Three Sisters + hoodoos before reaching the main area

What to do at Goblin Valley

There are a few sections of the park you can explore, but the main section known as "The Valley of the Goblins" is the biggest and can be found by the picnic area towards the end of the main park road. The park only has a few official trails so visitors are free to simply wander around the goblins marveling at their shapes and taking silly pictures around them.

I particularly enjoyed exploring the hoodoo and rock fin walls that jut up from the valley floor, and even found a few hidey-holes to shove myself into!

Hiking Trails

There are a few short trails throughout the park, the most famous being The Goblin's Lair which takes you to an interesting cavernous formation. I did not hike here due to the heat but I've heard great things about this spot. One thing to note is that a permit is required to rappel down into the "lair." Other trails include Carmel Canyon, Entrada Canyon, Curtis Bench, and Three Sisters; you can read more about these hikes on the state park website.

Camping

Goblin Valley State Park has a campground that offers tent and RV sites as well as yurts. The campground has clean showers that are open during the warmer months. The cost of the tent and RV sites seems a little pricey at $45 but this includes your entrance fee as well. Get ready to see some of the country's best night skies here! If you're on a budget like me and don't mind roughing it, there is plenty of surrounding BLM land that is free to disperse camp on.

Nearby adventures:

Little Wild Horse slot canyon

Capitol Reef National Park

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