Goblin Valley State Park
Things To Do
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Canyoneering
Rappelling into Goblin’s Lair requires a backcountry permit as well as technical gear and canyoneering skills.
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Explore the Goblins
The main park attraction is a three-square-mile area covered in hoodoos that is open for on-and-off-road trail exploration on foot. The 'Goblins' and the other odd shapes in the park are made of Entrada sandstone deposited during the Jurassic period 180-140 million years ago.
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Hiking
There are more than a dozen hiking trails that range from easy to moderate from one to four miles roundtrip.
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Mountain Biking
There are seven miles of interconnecting beginner to intermediate looping single track mountain bike trails called the Wild Horse Trail System.
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Photography
Nighttime photography is perhaps just as popular as daytime photography in the park. By day, red rock sandstone formations contrast starkly against bright blue skies. After dark, the outlines of the 'goblins' create a foreground to the nighty star show.
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Stargazing
Goblin Valley State Park is certified as an International Dark Sky Park, making it one of the best places to stargaze in the country.
A certified International Dark Sky Park, Goblin Valley State Park is a great place to camp for the night.
Photo: Austen Diamond
Camping
Reservations can be made online through Utah State Parks for camping and yurts. Individual campsites are available for reservation on a four-month rolling basis. Group sites are available for reservation on an 11-month rolling basis. You can book a maximum of 13 days beyond the last date of the reservation window. Check for fire restrictions and other important park information before you go. Check with the park for the current campsite fees. Campfires are allowed in specified areas. It is illegal to dump or drain water from campers or trailers onto the ground. A sanitary disposal station is provided for registered campers. Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Yurts
There are two yurts available for year-round, overnight stays at Goblin Valley State Park. The yurts are accessible by car and are furnished with bunk beds. Each yurt can accommodate up to five guests. No blankets, pillows, cookware, plates, etc. are provided so guests must provide their own.
The park presents a fun and unique experience for those who wish to explore on foot.
Top Goblin Valley Hikes
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Carmel Canyon Loop Trail
This loop trail has an elevation gain of 95 feet (29 meters) and is especially scenic in the evening hours. It connects with the Goblin's Lair trail.
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Entrada Canyon
This out-and-back trail has an elevation gain of 150 feet (45 meters) and begins at the group campsite. Many of the formations are only viewable from vantage points on this hike.
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Little Wild Horse Canyon
Among the exceptionally beautiful slot canyon hikes in the southern San Rafael area, Little Wild Horse Canyon is a classic, as well as the perfect introduction both to non-technical canyoneering for just about anyone in decent shape. The nearby Ding and Dang Canyons are a bit more difficult, and best suited for experienced hikers.
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The Goblin's Lair (Chamber of the Basilisk)
An out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of 219 feet (66.75 meters) that ascends up a rocky slope and features a massive cavernous formation known as the Goblin's Lair.
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Three Sisters
An easy loop trail hike with an elevation gain of 88 feet (27 meters) with views of the most iconic of all goblin formations in the park.
What's Nearby
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Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands is home to many different types of travel experiences, from sublime solitude in the more remote stretches of the park to moderate hikes through the Needles district to the opportunity to create your own version of one of the West's most photographed landforms, Mesa Arch.
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Capitol Reef National Park
Even considering Utah’s many impressive national parks and monuments, it is difficult to rival Capitol Reef National Park’s sense of expansiveness, of broad, sweeping vistas, of a tortured, twisted, seemingly endless landscape, or of limitless sky and desert rock.
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Green River
The city of Green River was once a stomping ground for Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch, and is a haven for river runners who raft places such as Desolation and Gray Canyons.
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Green River State Park
Green River State Park is a great place to begin your adventure on the Green River. If you make the journey you’ll be rewarded with easy access to the river, sheltered campgrounds and picnic areas, a nine-hole golf course, and a new eighteen-basket disc golf course.
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Little Wild Horse & Ding and Dang
Among the exceptionally beautiful slot canyon hikes in the southern San Rafael area, Little Wild Horse Canyon is a classic, as well as the perfect introduction both to non-technical canyoneering for just about anyone in decent shape. The nearby Ding and Dang Canyons are a bit more difficult, and best suited for experienced hikers.
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San Rafael Swell
San Rafael hikes and bike rides offer unique terrain and jaw-dropping scenery. Learn about the area’s trails and start planning your trip!
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Torrey
Torrey's proximity to Capitol Reef National Park, the mountains of Fishlake and Dixie National Forests, Scenic Byway 12: Utah's All-American Road, sublime desert landscapes to trout-filled alpine lakes, make Torrey an outdoor lover's perfect hub for some of the most spectacular scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities in the state.
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Southern Dinos and Goblins
From fossils and petroglyphs to slot canyons and goblins, you’ll have four days of “oohs” and “ahhs” for the whole adventuring family.
Highlights
- Moab Adventures
- Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
- Natural Bridges National Monument
- Goblin Valley State Park
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Sandstone Spires & Swimming Holes
Walk the paths of dinosaurs and descend through 200 million years of geologic history in this six-day road trip from Vernal to Kodachrome Basin. It’s a kid-friendly desert drive in search of dino tracks, slot canyons and swimming,
Highlights
- Dinosaur Tracks in Vernal
- Crystal Geyser in Green River
- Hoodoos & Slots of Goblin Valley
- The Red Cliffs of Capitol Reef
- The White Cliffs of Grand Staircase
- Sandstone Spires in Kodachrome Basin
Read the Stories
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A Grand Tour of the San Rafael Swell
This grand tour goes into the heart of Utah's Swell from north to south, connecting the uplift’s spectacular views with playful slot-canyon hikes, bike excursions, rock art, dinosaur bones, and soft-serve cones in town.
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Across a Snow-Covered Desert
Follow this itinerary for a week-long winter road trip across the snow-covered desert of Southeastern Utah.
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Filmed in Utah: 5 Itineraries Through Hollywood's Most Iconic Settings
Whether hitting the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and Salt Lake City in January or visiting Utah throughout the year, you’ll find yourself near some Utah’s most iconic and most filmed places.
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Find a Winter Refresh in a Utah State Park
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Finding Strength and Inspiration Deep in the Utah Desert
How a series of hiking and camping trips in Utah’s parks and wilderness put Elisabeth Brentano on a transformative journey from urbanite to nature lover.
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How to Slow Travel in Utah
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It’s About Time We All Unplugged
After months of being at home, we’ve all been disconnected from each other but connected permanently to our screens. It’s time to pull the plug—literally. In Utah, you can find far-flung places to reset, wellness resorts that promote digital detox, and destinations where you can swap screen time for much-needed adventure time.
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Moonscapes, Marscapes and More
If you want to know what Mars looks like — then the dramatic terrain of Capitol Reef National Park and the surrounding lands are a good place to start.
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Movies Filmed in Utah: Plotting a Cinematic Drive-Through
Follow a Germany-based film enthusiast on an extended road trip to discover the rich history of Utah cinematography.
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Permit of Solitude
Watch this video of a guided experience canyoneering in the remote Robbers Roost. Find a guide to take you canyoneering in Utah.
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Reclaiming the Stars
Utah’s public lands are beautiful and dramatic during the day, but they might well become famous for how awe-inspiring they are during the night.
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Reef Walking, Petroglyphs and Bones
Check out the world’s densest concentration of dinosaur bones at Cleveland Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry and explore other prehistoric wonders around Utah.
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San Rafael Swell Throughout the Seasons: 4 Reasons to Visit
From narrow slot canyons to grand sweeping vistas, from sandstone plateaus to meandering rivers, San Rafael Country and the San Rafael Swell are home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Utah.
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The Underrated Trails Within the San Rafael Swell
Utah's San Rafael Swell features a vast landscape of winding gorges carved deep by rivers, and you'll find multi-colored sandstone mountains and mysterious slot canyons. Here's a quick guide to some of the best trails to explore the region.
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The Undiscovered San Rafael Swell
Circle back to the San Rafael Swell, a gem of public lands in Central Utah you may have missed on your last visit through some of Southern Utah's Mighty 5® national parks. The Little Grand Canyon of the San Rafael Swell is a stunning panorama from above, and an incredible adventure within.
