Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park is unique and often compared to Mars because of the geological formations and sandstone that make up the majority of the park. I remember going to Goblin Valley Park as a child and I couldn’t wait to take my family there! It’s a great place to visit before/ after going through Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and Dead Horse Point State Park.
It costs about $13 to get into the park or about $10 if you’re 62+ years or older. Having a state parks pass is not a bad idea, especially if you are planning on touring any of the other state parks in the next year. If you want to camp, it’s about $25 to get a campsite (there’s $15 extra vehicle fee) or approximately $80 to rent a yurt. If you want to camp with a group, it costs $75 for a group up to 35 people and then $3 for every person after that. Check out their website for camping regulations and booking a campsite/ yurt. We haven’t camped there before but we’ve had friends tell us that the bugs can get bad at night and the temperatures can get chilly in the evening, so keep that in mind when planning a camping trip in Goblin Valley State Park.
The coolest part of Goblin Valley is that you can get out there and climb rocks till your heart’s content. WARNING: It can get pretty hot during the summer so carry a water bottle, wear good climbing/ walking shoes, and wear a hat or suntan lotion. There is no shade among the valley of rocks. The kids loved climbing and playing hide and seek games while we were out there. There are quite a few hills and the landscaping is not even so be cautious. Other trails and lookout points might be more of interest to you. Also, there are canyoneering tours offered through Get in the Wild Adventures. For more information about the tour, visit their website at www.getinthewild.com.
There are bathrooms scattered periodically in the park but they are pit toilets. Near the campsites are bathrooms with showers. There are picnic areas also sporadically placed throughout the park. I recommend eating something before exploring the formations. You can easily spend hours in the “valley”.
Honestly, we skipped the visitor’s center but there is one close to the entrance of the park. Stop by for a pit stop and find out a little information about the park.
For more information on Goblin Valley State Park, such as park hours and directions, visit their website at http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley.
