Picture descending into a valley where thousands of creatures, some people-sized and others towering giants, rise up to greet you like the terra cotta armies of the first Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang. But while the Qin army was buried for 2000 years, the army of goblins in Goblin Valley has been buried for millions. And they are still emerging.
Wandering in Hoodoo Wonderland
Formed by millions of years of wind and rain eroding the uneven layers of sandstone, Goblin Valley lies hidden below the surrounding landscape. The huge freestanding bluffs that tower along the entry road to the park give no idea of what lies at their feet. Visitors arriving at the parking area on a low sand bluff look over the edge and get a preview of the marvels below, but only a preview. Not until they walk down into the valley and wander among its inhabitants do they get a full sense of the magnitude and variety of the naturally formed stone figures that populate this place.
These fantastical forms, called hoodoos by the locals because they seem to be conjured from some fairyland, seem to sprout everywhere. Spread across 3,654 acres, these natural wonders create an other-worldly landscape where it’s almost impossible not to let the imagination run wild. Find goblins mushrooms, elephants, hippos and even dragons among these stark and sinuous stone figures. So fantastic is this landscape that it is used as the setting for fantasy and space adventure movies, such as Galaxy Quest. People from as far away as Salt Lake City bring their children to Goblin Valley on Halloween night for a fright-fest.
Beyond the strange forms of the park, high bluffs form a deeply eroded wall, giving some idea of what this place looked like in the beginning. On the far side of the park a huge overburden of green rock rises above the red sandstone and walking towards it visitors discover themselves in another whole area to explore, with taller forms and a maze of passageways as paths narrow between newer (but still thousands of years old) eroded forms.
Visiting Goblin Valley
It is easy to lose track of time while wandering in the hidden back alleys of this still-forming landscape. It’s also easy to lose track of where you are, especially in the alleys under the bluffs, so plan to get back to the more open spaces before darkness falls.
The best time to visit is in late winter, spring and in late fall when temperatures are cooler. In late January you will need a warm coat but there is seldom much snow and what does fall evaporates quickly. This is a remote area, at least 10 miles from any civilization and in summer the temperatures here can reach more than 100° F. With an altitude of 5,100 feet, the sun can be dangerous even in winter months. Park officials recommend that each visitor have with them at least a half gallon of water and adequate protection from the strong rays of the sun – both sun block and coverage. Look online for trip planning advice.
A covered pavilion at the parking area at Goblin Valley State Park sits above the valley and makes a perfect place for a picnic and serves as a central meeting point. There are no food facilities at the park, but it does have paved camping spaces for about two dozen vehicles, each with a picnic table and barbecue grill. There is a day-use fee of $7 per person and the camping fee is $16.
Getting to Goblin Valley
The best air access for Goblin Valley State Park is through Salt Lake City. Take I-15 south and at Palmyra take US Route 6 south where it joins with US Route 191. Follow that route to US 50 (I-70).
From Green River, take I-70 west 12 miles to exit 147 (Hanksville). Travel south for about 30 miles and turn right at the Temple Mountain/Goblin Valley Junction. Go west on that road about 5 miles then turn left (south) to reach the park entrance.
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