Explore Goblin Valley State Park and it’s out of this world landscape
Goblin Valley State Park in Utah’s San Rafael Desert is a genuinely one-of-a-kind place. It’s off the beaten path near the small town of Hanksville and a little over three and a half hours’ drive from Salt Lake City. Goblin Valley was first discovered by Cowboys searching for cattle. It would become a Utah State Park on August 24, 1964.
People come to the park to take in the thousands of hoodoos, or as locals call them, goblins. These odd and colorful mushroom-shaped rock formations are packed into the “Valley of the Goblins.” The three valleys are 3 square miles that visitors are welcome to explore on foot. There are no maintained trails in the valleys. Walking through the goblins is a different feeling. It’s almost like you are exploring a distant planet because the landscape is unique. People who have visited often describe it like they were on Mars. It’s surreal to think that many goblins are millions of years old.
Hiking and Mountain Biking in Goblin Valley State Park
The Three Sisters Trail is a great one for families or older folks. The trail is only 250 yards and offers spectacular views of the park’s most iconic formation, “The Three Sisters.” There are other great trails in the park. Goblin’s Lair is a favorite for many visitors. The hike is about 3 miles and offers incredible views of Molly’s Castle. It’s also popular with rock climbers. Other trails include Carmel Canyon, Curtis Bench, and Entrada Canyon. Each of these offers hikers something different, but all feature incredible scenery.
Another great way to explore the outer reaches and less visited areas of the park is by mountain bike. The Wild Horse Mountain Biking Trail System features 7 miles of loops and weaves through areas of the park that are very remote.
Camping in Goblin Valley
You can spend as little as a few hours exploring the park, but we recommend trying to spend the night. Goblin Valley State Park has a great campground that can be reserved in advance. There are restrooms and hot showers at the campground, which anyone who has spent a few days boondocking in the southwest knows showers are a much-appreciated feature.
Another great reason to stay the night is to experience one of the darkest places in the country and on earth. Goblin Valley is virtually free of any light pollution. The park is a certified Dark Sky Park and offers exceptional views of the Milky Way.
The park is open year-round, and there is no wrong time to visit. The summers can get very hot during the day with afternoon thunderstorms. In the winter, occasional snow will blanket the park. Goblin Valley can get busy during cooler weather, weekends, and holidays, so plan on arriving early. Fun fact about the park: part of the Movie Galaxy Quest was filmed there.
