Goblin Valley State Park, Utah – Adventure Among the Hoodoos

In 2013, after my dad and I finished another Southwest adventure, including Moab, I became obsessed with all the amazing things I could find to put on my SW Wanderlist. It didn’t take long for me to find Goblin Valley State Park, and when Matt and I decided on Moab for our babymoon, I knew that Goblin Valley State Park had to be on the itinerary.

Luckily for us, another thing on our itinerary – Little Wild Horse Canyon Slot Canyon – is located just about 10 minutes from the Goblin Valley State Park entrance. So, we were easily able to roll those two adventures into one day.

Quick Info for Goblin Valley State Park

Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Admission Fee: I have to admit, admission to this park is quite steep, especially considering that there aren’t that many hiking trails – only six miles of trail total. However, once we were in the park exploring the hoodoos, I didn’t care. For a private vehicle the fee is $20, or $10 for a motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian.
Accommodation: There is a campground where you can bring your own tent or camper, or you can also rent one of their yurts.
Eating: The visitor center has a few snacks, but I recommend packing a cooler of picnic supplies. Or go on a day that the food truck that’s parked at Observation Point (Hoodoo Hotdogs) is open.

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Our Goblin Valley State Park Adventure

Goblin Valley State Park is pure other-worldly magic. It took all of about 10 minutes of driving in the park before we took a pull off to start running amongst hoodoos. Matt hadn’t seen anything like it before and I loved watching his curiosity and wanderlust just take over as he discovered the magic of the insane Mars-like landscapes.

We originally had plans to try to tackle most of the trails, but after playing at that first pull off, all I wanted to do was get to the Observation Point overlook so I could see as many of the hoodoos as possible. From there, we intended to start hiking some of the different trails. Instead, we just roamed the valleys filled with hoodoos for a couple of miles.

Every turn led us to a new crazy shape, an insane arch or hole to wiggle through. We climbed buttes, found faces in the different formations and just had an amazing time being in that wonderland together!

The area with the highest concentration of hoodoos is down in the Valley of Goblins. It’s broken up into three separate valleys, we explored the first and second valleys. It started really warming up, and Matt was concerned about me overheating, ya know, being pregnant and all, so we didn’t get a chance to make it to the third valley. Luckily, I have the point of view that this means we get to come back and see something totally new!

Other Activities to Take Part in at Goblin Valley State Park

Hiking: As I previously mentioned, there are 6 miles of designated trails meaning there are only a few short trails, but some are still designated difficult. In addition to just roaming the valleys of hoodoos, you can pop on one of these trails.
Mountain Biking: Goblin Valley State Park has a relatively new mountain biking trail system. It’s made up of 5 different loops that span about 7 miles. This is on my list for our next visit!
Star-Gazing: Like Arches National Park, Goblin Valley State Park is a certified International Dark Sky Park. That means star-gazing here is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
Oddly Enough, Disc Golf: There is a nine-hole disc golf course that cuts around the campground and other park buildings, but still looks like it’s quite scenic! If you have your own discs, it’s free to play. If you need to rent discs, you can rent them from the visitor center for only $1.
Canyoning: You can acquire a permit to rappel into the Goblin’s Lair. Also, Canyoning tours are available with Get In The Wild.

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I am super eager to get back to this park and dedicate a true full day here. We were a bit limited on time because we spent the morning hiking at Little Wild Horse Canyon and I had to take it a smidge easier being pregnant. I want to rent a yurt and soak up the entire experience on our next visit, and let me tell you, I cannot wait.

Don’t Forget….

There are a few things that you should bring with you to make this trip easier and more enjoyable. Here’s what we recommend:

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