Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park is a must-see natural phenomenon. We have tips for a successful visit, and popular sites within the park.
What Is Goblin Valley?
What You'll Find on This Page
A state park in Utah, Goblin Valley features sandstone formations that, thanks to uneven erosion, look otherworldly, something you might expect to find in a fantasy world or on Mars. This video from Geology professor Shawn Wilsey explains why and how it exists:
This state park is a great place to take young children especially. Visiting this park was a highlight of my own childhood, and I still have drawings in my childhood journal to commemorate our trips there.
I was excited to take my own kids to visit!
Goblin Valley Weather
Definitely check the weather you before you visit! This park is in the San Rafael desert, and it tends to be uncomfortably hot in the summer and quite cold in the winter. We were unlucky, with temperatures of over 105F (over 40C) the day we visited last summer. It’s not unusual for temperatures to drop below freezing if you visit between November and February.
Places to Stay In Goblin Valley
You can actually camp inside goblin valley. There are also two yurts, which look like they would be fun to stay in. Since it’s so remote, this is an amazing place to go stargazing. I camped in Goblin Valley as a child, but it was really hot when I took my kids, so we opted for a hotel. We stayed in Green River.
What to See in Goblin Valley
One of the most amazing things about this park is that visitors are given a lot of freedom! You can walk around the different formations, and explore wherever you like.
The Three Sisters Formation
The Three Sisters Formation is probably the most iconic Goblin Valley Site:
There is a loop trail hike to get up with this formation, but you can also easily see it from the road.
Observation Point
Observation point is the easy entrance to start wandering around among the formations. You just park and walk down a staircase, and you have a whole bunch of different formations right at your feet. It’s also easy to get to if you don’t have a lot of time – just drive a little ways past the Three Sisters and you’ll see it.
The Goblin’s Lair
The Goblin’s Lair is a popular hike for more dedicated visitors. This video describes it well:
Find more hike recommendations for this park here.
Have you ever been to Goblin Valley? What did you think?
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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
I haven’t been there, but it reminds me of the Badlands on the Navajo Reservation with some of the rock formations. It looks like it would be really cool place to visit.
It definitely has some similarities with the badlands, but Goblin Valley is made of soft sandstone, and it’s mostly smaller scale formations with quirkier shapes.