Goblin Valley State Park
Park Desert park in Utah famed for mushroom-shaped hoodoos
Eastern Utah’s Goblin Valley preserves hoodoo-like Entrada sandstone formations; easy trails, bouldering among the ‘goblins’, camping, and photographic afternoons draw families and photographers.
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Goblin Valley State Park is a Utah state park known for a compact valley filled with thousands of odd, mushroom-shaped sandstone formations commonly called goblins. The formations are the result of differential erosion of the region’s sandstone and are concentrated in discrete hollows and benches.
The park offers short trails and open scrambling among the formations, easy access to formed alcoves and viewpoints, and a campground for overnight stays. It is widely used for family-friendly hikes, photography and geological interest rather than long alpine routes.
The landscape formed over long periods through weathering and erosion of the Entrada sandstone; the result is dense clusters of hoodoos and pedestal rocks in sheltered basins. The area was set aside and managed as a state park to protect the unusual erosional landscape and provide visitor facilities.
Goblin Valley sits on the Colorado Plateau in central-eastern Utah near the San Rafael Swell. The park is reached by local roads off the main east-west corridors that serve this part of the state.
- Geology: The park's hoodoos are made from softer Entrada sandstone and have eroded into thousands of bulbous, 'goblin' shapes concentrated in a compact valley.
- Stargazing: Stargazing is a popular activity due to low local light pollution; the valley floor and overlooks provide unobstructed night skies.
How to Get to Goblin Valley State Park #
From Hanksville or Green River, follow UT-24 then local roads to Goblin Valley State Park (signposted). The park is about 75 miles from Capitol Reef National Park and roughly 170 miles from Moab. GPS coordinates and directions are on the Utah State Parks website.
Tips for Visiting Goblin Valley State Park #
- Enter early morning to avoid tour buses and to have the place almost to yourself for sunrise photos.
- Walk the short overlooks to see the tight canyon meanders from different angles - each rim reveals a distinct perspective.
- Roads are unpaved approaching some overlooks; low-clearance cars might struggle.
Best Time to Visit Goblin Valley State Park #
Spring and fall are the most pleasant for exploring the hoodoos without the summer heat; early morning reduces crowding and harsh shadows.
Weather & Climate near Goblin Valley State Park #
Goblin Valley State Park's climate is classified as Cold Desert - Cold Desert climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 36°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 5°C and lows of -10°C. Light rainfall.
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February
February is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of -6°C. Almost no rain.
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March
March is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of -2°C. Light rainfall.
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April
April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 2°C. Light rainfall.
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May
May is cool with highs of 26°C and lows of 7°C. Light rainfall.
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June
June is mild with highs of 32°C and lows of 12°C. Almost no rain.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 36°C and lows of 16°C. Light rainfall.
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August
August is warm with highs of 34°C and lows of 15°C. Light rainfall.
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September
September is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 10°C. Light rainfall.
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October
October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 3°C. Light rainfall.
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November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of -4°C. Light rainfall.
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December
December is freezing with highs of 6°C and lows of -9°C. The driest month with just 7 mm.
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