We took this as a side trip and we really should have given this more time. If you are thinking of coming here, I recommend looking at all the activities offered to see how much is here to do so you won't feel as though you missed out on some of what makes this park FUN! As for us, we ran around the valley, played hide and seek, marveled at how these "goblins" were made and just had a great adventure with the time we had. read more

Goblin Valley State Park - Parks Near Me - Green River, Utah

A triumph of both western topography and federalism. This is one of those awesome parks that would in some ways be less special if it were "upgraded" to a national park. It's great the way it is. Just a few notes: -- the campsite is just amazing; you are nestled in among caves and washes, and your kids can merrily wander off "to the kids cave" or climb up onto a crest and watch the sunset or the rhythm of the campsite. They do have a shared bathroom with running water, which keeps the place just civilized enough for moderately experienced car campers. -- at the same time, this place is really remote. If you realize at campside that your propane stove doesn't work, you would have to drive an hour each way to Green River to get more. Instead, you will just have to figure out how to boil coffee and macaroni and cheese over a campfire. -- the stars. The city lights are far far far away, and the desert sky is clear, so you can see so so many stars. And if you sit and stare at them you see more. The only place I have ever seen so many stars in my life is standing on the side of the road outside Marfa, TX. -- two decades ago this was one of the first camping trips of my life, and it remains a special place in my heart. read more

Giving 5 stars even just for the view coming out here. It is SO gorgeous! There is a really nice visitor center just before you enter the park as well where you can get recs from staff or pick up a map or some other souvenirs). I didn't do the drive into the rest of the park because it's a $20 entry fee and I only had like 20 mins at the time to explore so I didn't think it would be worth it to pay and just drive further in/out for 20 min. But again, even just the view there is absolutely beautiful, the vistas are stunning - like an extension of both Capitol reef and Canyonlands. It's very remote though, so make sure if you really want to explore you have at least a few hours to do some of the longer trails. The little hoodoos are very cute and there are many ways to view them here so if you want to explore these more, this is definitely a fantastic spot (along with Bryce Canyon of course, and some of the small other random hikes through Arizona and Utah eg the Toadstools hike right at their border). read more

Beautiful state park with incredible topography with stunning hoodoos and rock formations. Super remote with little to no cell service. The park visitor center is very nice with wifi, firewood, ice and drinks. We stayed one night at the campground which was also fantastic. A beautiful location against a rock face, beautifully maintained with super clean bathrooms, showers, fire pits and sheltered gazebos. Special shoutout to Kevin Miller - campground host who we visited with over dinner. Kevin is a true steward of the park and its upkeep - loved our chat with him and his insights into the park and surrounding area. Bravo! read more

Goblin Valley State Park - Parks Near Me - Green River, Utah

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Southern Utah is remote and wild. And it doesnt get more wild than Goblin Valley State Park. A series of small valleys filled with wildly unique rock formations (goblins), this park is a must-do when in the region. The visitor center is a great first stop, the restrooms are clean and probably the first you'll have seen in a long while. The shop has some very fun souvenirs for you to take home for a payment. Once in the park, getting around is EASY. You can park and get out and go down into the valleys to explore on foot the thousands and thousands of rock formations. I heard they had part of the formations blocked off and are doing a study on erosion, comparing the open and closed parts. Thats pretty cool. Also, Galaxy Quest was filmed here and that movie is amazing. Watch Galaxy Quest, Go see the goblins. read more

Goblin Valley State Park has such an inviting name. How can you not resist coming here to see what this place is all about? It's located in the southern part of Utah about 225 miles south of Salt Lake City. I spent the night in Green River, Utah, about 50 miles north and just drove here for the day. It's not far from Utah's "Mighty 5" national parks. It can fit into anyone's itinerary for a roadtrip. When thinking of Utah and the amazing diversity of landscapes it offers, I figured Goblin Valley would be a dream visit. There are these "goblin heads" dispersed throughout the park, which are another name for hoodoos. And if you've ever visited Bryce Canyon, those over there feature the penultimate hoodoos. Here at Goblin Valley, I wouldn't say they're a more watered down version of Bryce's hoodoos, they're just featured on a lesser grand scale. The backdrop isn't as dramatic, but in a way, it's so hard to compete with Bryce Canyon on any level. Bryce is one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. And so here at Goblin Valley, it's more of a local type of park, where you can explore and get up close to goblin heads in a choose your own adventure pathway. Let me explain... When arriving, you drive maybe two miles towards a dead end parking lot. There are 50 or so spaces for cars. So right then and there, Goblin Valley doesn't get many visitors. It's under the radar. But at this parking lot, you leave your car and then walk down a staircase onto the valley floor where it's walk wherever you'd like and pick how you'd like to approach these goblin heads. You can continue throughout the valley and let your imagination run wild for as long as you can stand the heat. And I mention this because during summertimes when the sun is shining brightly, it will get hot. And there's zero shade anywhere. I stopped by at the end of September and conditions were very manageable, around the low 80 degrees. But I did carry water with me and when I returned to the parking lot after a few hours, I was still thirsty. I researched that there are 3 Valley Sections to the park. And once you climb down the initial stairs, you'll notice a sign saying "Valley 1". If you maintain hiking towards the right hand side and continue further away from the parking lot, you'll experience "Valley 2" which felt like a tighter clustering of goblin heads compared to the sparse Valley 1. Btw...I couldn't locate the exact sign for Valley 2. I just assumed I was standing in it based on assumptions from what I researched ahead of time. After walking around for a few hours, I wouldn't say I got lost, but I couldn't even locate "Valley 3". Maybe I should have brought the park map with me while hiking, lol. But...after being among Valley 2, I felt like I had a better understanding of what this place was all about. I was okay with returning to the parking lot. And don't fear about getting lost. The parking lot is viewable from almost anywhere throughout the valley (for the most part). More to do.... - Three Sisters Column - short walk to an iconic part of Goblin Valley featuring "3 Sisters" heads aligned on top of a sandstone formation. Good for a picture. It's located on the drive towards the parking lot. - Carmel Canyon Loop - 1.5 mile loop which is located at the opposite end of the parking lot away from the Valley Floor. The hike starts out with views of goblin heads from high above before entering down to the floor leading to Goblin's Lair. I read Goblin's Lair is a dimly lit slot canyon that requires scrambling and repelling. You may need a permit at the Visitor Center for it. They suggest experienced canyoneers attempt it. I opted to continue along Carmel Canyon Loop which twisted its way through its own slot canyon adding an adventurous element to the hike. Other short hikes at the park (but I didn't hike them)... - Entrada Canyon - 1.5 miles each way - Curtis Bench Trail - 1.5 miles each way too In my opinion, none of these hikes will match being at the Valley Floor for closeup views of the goblin heads. Extra notes... - You can climb on the goblins, but it's discouraged against because of the slippery nature of them leading to possibly falling. - It's $20 entrance fee. Unfortunately they don't accept National Park Yearly Passes. Goblin Valley is a separate state park. - The Welcome to Goblin Valley Sign sits 6 miles before the entrance gate. You can stop for a picture there. Then, at the entrance gate is the Visitor Center. You can enter the VC for souvenirs, restrooms and stamping your Parks Passport. - There's a campground here. There's barely any cell reception. The parking lot beside the Valley Floor has an awning with tables and benches overlooking the surroundings. In the end, Goblin Valley was a much more low key kind of state park visit. Since it doesn't get the awareness compared to its national park neighbors, it can be suitable for those folks trying to steer clear of the crowds. read more

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Goblin Valley State Park is a hidden gem amongst over six million acres of spectacular canyon country wilderness that surrounds the park. There are endless exploration opportunities for those that take a little time to research these lesser explored areas. Be sure to check out the Goblin's Lair Canyoneering Adventure at the park. One of the most unique and exciting experiences in Southern Utah. https://getinthewild.com/adventure/half-day-goblins-lair-canyoneering-adventure/ read more

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Very unique formations. It's like stepping onto another planet! It was the middle of June and very very hot at Goblin Valley. We were appreciative of the shade structure with picnic tables overlooking the valley. It was a short walk down to the structures to explore. There were clean flushing toilets on site at the parking lot. read more

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What a beautiful state park! The views here are unbeatable. Everywhere you look is just stunning, and we felt so lucky that we were able to snag some last minute camping spots in their campground to be able to wake up to these views every morning. They also have dispersed camping that's first come first served. There are so many places to explore and the most unique rock formations. It truly feels like you're on another planet here. The sunrises and sunsets here are just spectacular. The night sky here is insane - you can see so many stars, shooting stars - I literally couldn't believe my eyes. It's a really nice and well maintained campground. It has real, flushable toilets (they have pit toilets as well), FREE showers for people who are staying at the campground, and hot water. This is definitely one of the nicer campgrounds I've stayed in. Each site had its own shaded small pavilion and picnic table, as well as a platform for a tent and fire pit. This is also a camper/RV friendly campground and it has a spot at each campground. It's dog friendly as well, and dogs must be kept on leash. read more

20 dollars to enter park but the pass lasts a full 24 hours. It was without a doubt one of the coolest Utah cities experiences I've had and I'm a tried and true local. Will be coming back to explore the endless areas. read more

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This state park is about 1.5 hours from Moab, and so worth it to venture out here. I did arches, canyonlands, all the typical activities, but Goblin Valley ended up being a highlight of my trip! The fee is $25 for a car and it's a short drive from the little visitors center to valley of the goblins. There's a little hike you can do behind the toilets that is just magnificent. Only about 2 miles, but such a unique experience. There's desert sand all over and in some parts you're walking on it! Beautiful rock formations everywhere and as you make your way in, you're surrounded by these big goblin looking rocks! You can climb on them, walk all around them, picnic, whatever you want. It was just breathtaking and unlike anywhere I've ever been before. If you're in the area, this is an experience you won't want to miss. read more

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Southern Utah is such a beautiful place filled with National Parks and inserted in between are just as awe inspiring state parks. Goblin Valley State Park is one of those. This was a great stop and I enjoyed my visit so very much! It's a $20 entrance fee and then you can proceed to the Three Sisters rock formations and then the Goblin Valley areas. There are three Valleys where the main parking lot is. I am not sure how many I made it to but I went out quite a ways. Such beautiful formations and I can see why they may call some of them "Goblins". The lairs are really cool over by some cliffs and it was so much fun "getting lost" in the environment here. Wildlife I spotted were adorable little lizards skittering along the ground. Definitely bring water. I live in low elevations and I am not used to desert heat anymore and gave myself a hot flash. There are nearby slot canyons to explore but I believe those are on a gravel road and didn't really want to take my little car on there especially since I was recovering from being overheated. Definitely an awesome place to visit but I cannot emphasize enough to bring water and sun block even if it is early Autumn. read more

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This might be my favorite state park in all of Utah. I've been here 4 or 5 times by now at various times of the year. It's dog friendly and the rangers are always super friendly. There are marked hikes or you can also freestyle hike through the hundreds or thousands of unique looking "goblin" hoodoos. If you're lucky you'll get to experience the magic of the winds blowing the sand through the valley of hoodoos. You can climb around and walk around for hours without getting bored. It's a playground for kids and adults both! read more

Goblin Valley State Park is nothing short of spectacular! It's hard to describe the unique landscape without saying otherworldly. Wandering through the Goblin's Garden is as close to visiting another planet as any of us will experience. Our kids loved exploring the goblin or hoodoo formations. For the more adventurous and prepared, rappelling into the Goblin's Lair is an incredible experience! The 90-foot free-hanging rappel takes you into an enormous underground cavern that's spectacular. You can also access the Goblin's Lair on foot, and it's only a short hike. But rappelling is a lot more fun! Whether you're just passing through or camping nearby for a few days, exploring Goblin Valley is worth your time. It's a great Utah State Park and well managed by the friendly staff. read more

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It's out of this world amazing. The rock formations are unique and looks like.. well use your imagination. I didn't make it to one of the trails because it was getting dark, but I can't wait to come back one day. Highly recommend this place. Stay for sunset!! And bring tons of water. read more

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What an amazing area! We were at Capital Reef Natl Park & decided to drive the 75 miles since their rv park was full. Glad we did. Hard to describe unless you are there. A fun place for kids but also trails to explore if you want. Once there we saw there was BLM land we could have parked at. It was cool enough in Oct we would have been fine with no elec/water. A fun day! read more

It only took me 32 years to finally visit this state park. Well worth it though. The park is tiny, but what it has is well worth your time. You can bring your dogs on leash, the hikes are easy enough for small kids, and the crowds are non existent. We enjoyed the amazing dispersed camping right outside of the park too. read more

We had a blast getting lost in the valley. Bring plenty of water and remember where you are in relation to the parking lot. We went on a Friday afternoon and we only saw one other group the entire 4 hours we explored goblin valley. read more

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If you are insane to come out in the middle of a thunderstorm just bring a high quality pro camera. Our travels were at night and out of nowhere a big storm came about and Holly cow! I found out why they call it the "Goblin Valley!" I swear my mind was playing games on me. I could not tell if it was transformer exploding or if aliens just landed. It was a true clash of the titans. Just horrified and my insane driver did not even flinch his eyes. I guess he had to stay focused. I never thought in my wildest dreams I would end up in the middle of July in this Goblin Valley! Well, believe it or not I plan on my return for the day time. This is what I remember and before you make fun of me it is one thing to look at pictures and it is an entire other when you are in the middle of the thunderstorm. https://www.google.com/search?q=Goblin+Valley+2015+images+of+night+thunderstorm&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwidwoGXqM3qAhUXjp4KHbVNCa0Q2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Goblin+Valley+2015+images+of+night+thunderstorm&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECCMQJ1DX6QVYsIYGYMSQBmgAcAB4AIABW4gBuAmSAQIxNpgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1n&sclient=img&ei=ivENX53VIZec-gS1m6XoCg&bih=576&biw=1366&rlz=1C1NHXL_enUS740US742&safe=active#imgrc=83dAMtRX63eNZM read more

Goblin Valley might pale in comparison to other state parks, but it can still stand on its own as an excellent spot of nature's beauty. I mean, you can walk amongst hoodoos for goodness sake! The reasons one might find disappointment at Goblin Valley are as follows: It is small, there is limited hiking, and the appearance is quite barren, however these are also reasons to love it! When I visited, I saw maybe 15 other cars, and granted, it was in late January, but still! To go to a state park and encounter so few fellow visitors is a dream. If you are seeking hiking only, a stop at Goblin Valley is still worth your time (you MUST do Goblin's Lair, more on that below), but just add Little Wild Horse Canyon Trail, located a few miles outside the park, to your to-do list and you should be satisfied. And not everyone wants to hike anyways. A drive through GV is quick and easy, and if you are simply seeking relaxation amongst nature. you can just park at various spots and explore the hoodoos at your leisure. Lastly, while you may not see many trees or large bushes, you will instead find scrubby plant specimens and wildflowers that add a surprising amount of green and contrast to the otherworldly beauty of the sandy multicolored rock formations. Now, Goblin's Lair is a short out and back hike of 2 1/2 miles. The trailhead is located at the observation point, right next to the restrooms. It is easy peasy with almost no elevation gain, however actually getting inside the lair requires some rock scrambling. Totally doable, though! The entrance just looks like a pile of rocks from the trail, belying what awaits. As we hiked up and finally looked into the dark interior....whew, it truly gave me chills. A little creepy at first, then once my eyes adjusted to the light, and we climbed down inside, it is breathtaking. The space is over 100 feet tall, and with no one else about, it felt like I was on another planet or in some story where a dragon might appear at any moment. Without solitude, the experience would not feel quite so magical, so I recommend making an effort to hike it at off-times; though make your way here no matter what. Park entrance fee is $15, and worth it for the experience of Goblin's Lair alone. Camping is available ($30 fee) within the park, but only in designated spots (you will see loads of visitors sidle their RVs next to rock walls outside the park, though). They even have two yurts! Sadly, those book out months in advance, but are worth researching. GV is dark sky certified, meaning you will see the most glorious display of glittering stars. Seriously, you can admire the Milky Way with your own unassisted eyes! If you opt not to camp, the closest city in which to spend the night is Hanksville, offering a few questionable motels and like two restaurants (none open in the off season). I would travel an hour west into Torrey for superior lodging. read more

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Talk about solitude. Visited right after the Thanksgiving day and place was empty, void of crowd. Ran into 3 couples. I kept hearing very low key, rarely visited state park. Perfect place to hike, check out different formation and enjoy the nature. Didn't get a chance to check out the camp sites but did see yute on the way out, situated just below to bluff. Clean bathroom at the ranger station with friendly employee and about 5 miles to the Little Wild Horse Canyon to check out the slot canyon. read more

Goblin Valley State Park - Parks Near Me - Green River, Utah

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What an unusual state park. We had a great time. They have two yurts and many camping sites. The bathrooms were clean. We spent a couple of hours wondering around the park and are glad we made the time to stop. It is a small park but worth your time. read more

Ok this place is SEVERELY underrated. I visited Goblin Valley as a part of my trip to see the Mighty 5 national parks in Utah in late November. I loved Goblin Valley, I thought it was so cool to see Goblin Lair, Goblette Lair, and the hoodoos. Even in November, I faced temperatures in the mid 50s so it was pleasantly warm. Definitely a must visit place full of mystery and exploration! read more

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The red planet of goblins A magical wonderland, For curiouser, seeker, dreamer, adventurer Explorer and story teller We are all children With our imaginations Playing hide and seek In this red village Under the majestic temple Hiding from reality Yet seeking for truth read more

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This place is super cool for kids and adults alike! Lots of places to explore and they have camping near by! It is a State Park so they don't accept the national parks pass. It's $15 to get in and it's worth it! They also have some other great hikes near by such as longs canyon. That is a great slot canyon for kids. read more

Whoaaa! Quick little stop between Capitol Reef and canyonland! Glad we made the detour. Kids had a blast Climbing the hoodoos. read more

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This place was rad!!! Everyone says it, but it feels like Mars!! Totally does. The parking lot was 3/4 full, but we didn't feel it was packed when we went on the trails. Spent a few hours here and absolutely loved it!!? read more

Goblin Valley State Park - Parks Near Me - Green River, Utah

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The mailing address of this state park may be Green River, but it's actually located about 12 miles north of Hanksville, Utah, on Route 24. Although the road is well-paved and the park itself has a well-groomed parking lot and comfortable campground, this place is in the middle of nowhere. Goblin Valley once had the name of Mushroom Valley and both names are apt. The Entrada sandstone rock formations resemble giant mushrooms or goblins and the sunsets here almost make these creatures come alive. There's no strenuous hiking here, just a fun romp through an almost silly landscape. If you're anywhere in the area, this state park is worth the detour. read more

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Amazing state park! Definitely feels otherwordly and I'm surprised this place doesn't get more attention. I was worried about getting lost but when I asked the guy selling tickets he laughed at me. That was reassuring! So I wandered into the hoodoos and it was beautiful. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore. I was an adult by myself but it would be a really fun place to take kids. When I was there, it was about to storm and it made it even more beautiful. There are beautiful views all around, not just the hoodoos. For $15, this is a steal. I would budget about two hours if you're going by yourself. read more

Wow this place is absolutely amazing! I would highly recommend this state park. If you have a National Park Pass it won't work here. I didn't stay but they apparently even have yurts here to rent. There isn't a distinct trail here you basically just explore the park as you desire. Great place for pictures too! read more

Do you think the landscape has a soul? Do you think it can talk? Does it whisper to you, teaching you lessons and connecting you with the stone and sky? Do you feel the vibrations of those who came before, those elements here today, and the future? Monster, hoodoo, ghost, soul, cloud, and mountain. It's alive here. Inside the lair of the goblins. This state park is in its own world, that goes at its own pace, and that is haunted by the wisdom of special places over eons of erosion. Your imagination lights up at the "goblins" that populate the valley, and the outliers that rise up off the rim floor. The cover of my book (holla!) features a photo I took here; I love it that much. The campground is much improved from a decade ago. Now you have shade, you have showers, and you have two yurts available to rent at a reasonable price. If you don't want to stay in the park, there's plenty of public land around, but without the amenities. Inside the park, pick up a pamphlet for your hiking adventures. I'm keeping my favorites to myself this time. None of them are bad. Be sure you get into the main valley to wander around with the hoodoos and be double sure to respect them. Don't be *that* guy who climbs all over or knocks one down. This place changed me. Rocks immovable, clouds ever-morphing speeding on their way, the slow and imperceptible shapeshifting ghosts; this is in all of us, around all of us, and when the good goblin speaks, you have to listen. read more

If you're coming to Utah to explore National/state parks, this one is a MUST...Especially if you have kids! Goblins lair is a must, the kids loved running and climbing through all the hoodoos. Around each corner there is a new, cool place to explore. My kids have said to me countless of times since we have visited that this is their favorite Utah state park we have visited so far on our road trip. read more

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Hands down one of our favorite parts of our trip through Utah! We hit up Goblin Valley after Arches National Park and before Capital Reef National Park, and highly suggest you make the detour. Sooo worth it! Be forewarned you will probably not have any reception in this region of any kind. This was one of the most desolate areas we encountered while in the state. I'm talking not even radio stations, just Navajo tribal chanting, which we loved! This park is not covered on your National Park Pass which I would suggest purchasing if doing the Utah's "Mighty Five". The fee to enter this state park was minimal however.... $10-$15 or so. There's a free parking lot and it just a staircase down into the valley. This park is the epitome of the term "nature's playground". My daughters and I had an absolute ball playing hide and seek and climbing on the "hoodoos". Each one had a unique, incredible shape and indeed their own personality. The kiddos named them all and couldn't get enough of discovering more. They seemed to go on for infinity!! The kids would've ran all day here if I let them. I honestly wish I allotted more time for this park. I had no idea just how much we would love it here and how much we would enjoy just jumping and playing with our new goblin friends. I would absolutely recommend coming with a full tank of gas and with proper gear to camp out here under the stars!! Many were doing so just outside the park entrance in a huge, wide open space. It's a magical area, one I highly underrated and shouldn't have. Bring lots of water and sunscreen although when we visited around 7:30pm in April, the weather was perfection! Mid 70's and just so enjoyable!! WE. LOVED. IT. HERE!!! read more

This is where they filmed galaxy quest, when they're trying to get a sphere of the space ship. The cute aliens are trying to catch them alive and caught Jason to fight the pig lizard until it teleport inside out. And then, Jason was running away from the rock monster until they finally got him to teleport back to the space ship. read more

If you love bizarre-shaped hoodoos that are fairly accessible (in other words, you can drive up to a parking lot and walk down a short way to get at this cool valley full of strangely shaped rocks and hoodoos), this is the place for you. I do night photography, and this was the highlight of a trip that involved Cathedral Valley/Temple of the Sun, Bryce, Devil's Garden at Staircase-Escalante, and more. I arrived during the day, and it was very hot and dusty, and a nasty wind kicked up. Despite this, I was so enamored by the first valley (there are three of them) that I wandered for a couple of hours anyway before retreating to Hanksville to eat and drink even more cold water and shakes. I returned in the evening, and having the place to myself, spent several hours under a nearly full strawberry moon taking photos with two cameras, the hoodoos taking on an even weirder, stranger sort of atmosphere, which I loved. As a bonus, this place also has some of the darkest skies in Utah, and is designated a Dark Sky site. The fees are currently $15 to enter, and $30 for camping. And if you are taking photos at night, you are charged the $30 fee. The people who work there are friendly and nice. There is a small visitor's center and gift shop at the entrance. The State Park is remote, and you will likely have no cell reception at all, and will not have too many people there, either. And as much as I love people, enjoying nature without having a ton of people around is the way I prefer. Highly, highly recommended. read more

How could you give this less than 5 stars. This is God showing off. It's breathtaking spectacular. I felt like I was on another planet. It's a bit of a drive but it has such unique features and it can be done quickly. I think it was well worth the trip and something you can't see anywhere else. It's quick because it's not like Zions where you're driving through it for miles and miles. After you enter the park the main attraction is just a mile up the road and you can hike around to your souls delight. Nothing too strenuous. But it was nice to be able to get there and be able to just be out of the car for an hour with my toddler. She enjoyed being touted around and the are definitive places she can run to get her road trip energy out. The visitors center is super small but gives you the science behind it and some souvenir options. We loved the photo ops and the unique one-of-a-kind features we saw. I should highly suggest it. read more

Such an incredible spot. We stayed 1 night in one of the 2 yurts on site. If you can, plan your trip around a new moon and being a desert there are few clouds most days. Come bring your blanket and spend hours star gazing. Considered one of the darkest places on earth you can easily see the Milky Way and will spot tons of shooting stars. This is a great one night stop. read more

Goblin Valley State Park - Yurt - Parks Near Me - Green River, Utah

It's like no place that we have ever seen and we're worldwide travelers!! Reminds me of some of the imaginary planets in the Star Wars movies, but it's for real!!! read more

Prob my fav park in Utah. It's so unique! There is no marked trails. It gets really hot during the summer and really cold and windy during the winter, so spring and fall may be more ideal. read more

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Goblin Valley State Park is a cute little side destination which you should see if you are in the area visiting the major parks (Arches & Canyonlands) and/or are taking the scenic route (http://www.yelp.com/biz/utah-scenic-byway-12-tropic#hrid:4f4LKagO0e5YdTwC9icsig ) on the way from Arches to Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon. The drive to the park is scenic in itself with several immense buttes along the way. Goblin Valley is an unusual collection of hoodoos (rock formations formed by wind erosion as opposed to water erosion) which tend to be "top heavy" and therefore look like a series of busts or mushrooms. Some look animated yet in a misshapen way, i.e. Goblin-like! We were there in winter when each formation had a sprinkling of snow, so that from a distance the valley resembled sheets of gingerbread muffins coated with frosting (see my photos)! Close up, we had fun playing "guess that shape" with the formations and identified Hello Kitty, Richard Nixon, and the Sphinx. My dog lifted his rear leg in salute to Tricky Dick. While this park is probably more for kids (and those of us who are still kids at heart) than serious outdoors-types, fun, photo-ops, rock climbing, and a decent hike can be had by all who come here. There are also nearby trails including one through a slot canyon. Sadly we did not have time to check these out. Definitely worth the trip! BTW, Goblin Valley is about 40 miles from Green River, not in the town as the address in Yelp implies. read more

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