Most people who go to Utah focus on the National Parks (for good reason) but there are actually many state parks as well to visit. On our first time to Utah, we took a two-week Arizona/Utah road trip to cover the Big 5 National Parks, but also tried to see whatever we could along the way. One of those was an underrated state park a little outside Moab, Utah. Hiking Goblin Valley State Park is a fun afternoon and a great way to break up your drive if you’re heading across the state.
Where is Goblin Valley State Park?
Goblin Valley is directly west of Moab, Utah but you need to take I-70 to HWY 24 to reach it. Moab is probably your best option for nearby cities because it’s kind of out there. And it is a little bit of a trek: about an hour and a half from Moab. But, it’s a fun day trip to take or a great place to stop on your way from Capitol Reef.
We decided to come across Utah on HWY 24 instead of I-70 so we could drive the Million Dollar Highway from Escalante. There’s also quite a few otherworldly rock formations once you are near the Caineville/Hanksville area. It’s sort of its own trip though and unless you’re doing a big road trip across the state, you’ll likely be coming from Moab.
About Goblin Valley
If you’ve been to Bryce Canyon National Park, you’ll be familiar with hoodoos. If you haven’t been, hoodoos are basically tall, think rock spires. While the formations at Goblin Valley are relatively similar, they are a bit shorter and squattier, and are best known as ‘goblins’.
The goblins are comprised of sandstone that has been eroded away to sculpt their unique formations. The deposits were laid 170 million years ago and have a variety of different shapes. Some look like little toadstools, some look like hoodoos and some look down right inappropriate.
It’s a strange, strange place and looks very otherworldly. Interestingly enough, it actually has been the site of several movies because of it’s unique landscape. There have been about 10 movies filmed here–most notably the 1999 film Galaxy Quest.
Hiking Goblin Valley
Perhaps the best part about hiking Goblin Valley is that you can climb on and around the rocks. It’s a great place to take kids for that reason. It’s essentially a big outdoor playground. We saw quite a few families with kids that were running all over the place. It’s a fun place to get out and explore.
There are 3 different valleys of formations here that you can go into to explore. You’ll want to head into the valleys to explore around the goblins!
There are also 3 main hikes to do in Goblin Valley State Park, one trail extension and one popular formation/photo spot:
Entrada Canyon
This hiking tail is about 1.3 miles long and takes you from the campground to the goblins. You’ll be able to see some goblins and formations along the way.
Carmel Canyon
This hike is a moderate 1.5 mile loop that leads from the parking to the desert floor. This is also the trail you’ll need to take to access the more strenuous hike: Goblin’s Lair.
Goblin’s Lair
Goblin’s Lair starts off on the Carmel Canyon trail and then branches off .5 mile down. This trail is more strenuous and eventually leads to a slot canyon. It’s about 1.5 miles round trip. You can also rappel into the ‘lair’ if you obtain a permit first.
Curtis Bench
This trail is the easiest, but a little longer. It’s about a 2-mile out and back trail that is at a higher elevation than the others. This trail gives you a view of the Henry Mountains.
The Three Sisters
This is a popular formation that can be seen on the drive in. If you want to walk to it, there’s a little path. But this is the shot I got just from the car. The rock formation consists of three rock spires all in a row that are separate from the rest of the ‘goblins’.
Side Note: I don’t think we even ended up on a trail. You can drive to the observation point at Valley 1 and just walk into the valley. We weren’t really following any sort of trail, but just exploring around the goblins. But you do want to keep an eye out for how to get back!
Where to Stay:
In the State Park: There is a campground within the state park that looks like a great area to camp. The campground is right up next to an orange and white rock wall, so the scenery is great. The spots are far enough apart and have their own covered shelters over picnic tables. You don’t find this at a lot of places, but it’s a huge plus, since there isn’t any shade otherwise.
Camping spots are $30 a night. They DO allow RVs but there are no hookups.
There are showers and facilities at the camping visitor center, but I don’t think they are open through the winter months. Check here for updates!
In a Yurt: Another fun option is to stay in a yurt! Yurts are a glorified tent of sorts and fall under the category of ‘glamping’. And actually, there are many places to go glamping in Utah! The yurts are a bit more private I think and are tucked into the rocks. It looks like a really cute option but can run about $100 per night.
In Moab: If you plan on visiting Canyonlands National Park or Arches National Park, Moab is a great place to stay. There are also a lot of camping spots in and around Moab.
Things to Know:
- Park hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. all year.
- Drones are by permit only, which you can obtain from the office for a $5 fee.
- Bring lots of water! You are quite literally in the middle of nowhere, so staying hydrated is essential!
- Pets are allowed but must be kept on a leash. (Also just remember that the ground is hot, the sun is hot and there isn’t any shade. I would not consider bringing my dog here unless the temps were low.)
Hiking Goblin Valley was a fun stop on our Arizona Utah road trip. Even if you don’t take any of the trails, you’ll still be able to check out the goblins and head into the valley. We were on our way towards Moab and didn’t want to spend too long here, and that was just fine. We were able to explore a bit, take some pictures and be on our way. It’s definitely a cool place to see in Utah and very unique.
PIN IT FOR LATER
Went there last summer on our trip through Utah’s famous 5. Great place! Grandkids loved it. My wife and I are going back this summer. Hope to stay in goblin valley in a yurt. Keeping fingers crossed.
That would be amazing! The yurts look really cool tucked into the rocks. Would be a great time.