If you’re looking for an otherworldly, off-the-beaten-path place while visiting the Utah National Parks, look no further than Goblin Valley State Park! Located just an hour and a half from Moab, this lesser-visited part of Utah is definitely worth the stop on your next road trip.
Wonder among the mysterious hoodoos, go for a hike, or even rappel into a sandstone cave in this incredible Utah State Park.
We visited Goblin Valley State Park on our way to Moab in October of 2024. We only had a few hours to spend here, but we had plenty of time to explore the mysterious rock formations.
This post is all about how to visit Goblin Valley State Park, including the best things to do, how to get there, how much time you need, and more!
Goblin Valley State Park Overview
It doesn’t take long to understand why Goblin Valley got its name.
This area of Utah was informally named “Mushroom Valley” by Arthur Chaffin, the owner and operator of the Hite Ferry. This ferry was the only way to cross the Colorado River between Moab, Utah and Lee’s Ferry, Arizona until 1964 when Lake Powell was filled and bridges were built.
Arthur was the first to explore and photograph the Goblin Valley area. It was eventually acquired by the state of Utah in 1964 and designated Goblin Valley State Park.
If you’re wondering how the “goblin” rock formations in the park were formed, the answer is simply wind and water erosion. Harder rock sits on top of softer rock. Over time, wind and rain erode away the softer rock underneath, leaving the mushroom-shaped “goblin” rock formations you see today.
The Best Time to Visit Goblin Valley State Park
The best time to visit Goblin Valley State Park and this area of Utah in general is typically spring and fall. Spring and fall bring pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds than the busy summer months, but mid-March and mid-October can also be busy due to spring and fall breaks for Utah schools.
Southern Utah does get brutally hot in the summer, which makes hiking unpleasant and dangerous at times. Shade on trails here is nonexistent, so plan to be in full sun the entire time when hiking. If you plan to visit here during the summer, try to explore early in the morning or during the evening when it is cooler out.
Winter can be a great time to visit if you really want to ditch the crowds, but you’ll want to plan for cold temperatures, wind, and the occasional snowstorm (it is rare for snow to accumulate significantly, though). The average winter high temperatures are usually between 35 and 50 degrees with the lows often falling below 20 degrees.
Goblin Valley sits at about 5000 feet of elevation, so you might feel a bit more winded than normal, especially if you’re from a near-sea-level part of the country (like me in Indiana).
How to Get to Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park is located in south-central Utah, 50 miles south of Green River and 29 miles north of Hanksville.
If you’re looking at the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks in a line, Goblin Valley sits between Capitol Reef and Canyonlands National Parks right off of Utah Highway 24. It will take you 1.5 hours to drive to Goblin Valley from Moab and about 1 hour from Torrey (the town on the west side of Capitol Reef).
The closest airport to fly into and rent a car is Salt Lake City. From there, it will take you about 3.5 hours to drive to Goblin Valley State Park.
You’ll find this area of Utah to be quite remote compared to the tourist towns of Moab and Springdale (near Zion National Park). You’ll have to drive at least 30 minutes from the park to find a restaurant, gas station, or hotel, so be prepared with a full tank of gas and lots of snacks!
The map below shows where Goblin Valley is located with respect to the other nearby towns and parks.
Related: Arches National Park Itinerary: How to Spend 1, 2, or 3 Days in Arches
Fees & Passes Information
It costs $20 per vehicle to enter Goblin Valley State Park and the pass is good until 10 pm on the day after your visit. The park is open year-round from 6 am to 10 pm, with no holiday closures. For the most up-to-date information, check out the State Park website here.
If you want to rappel into the Goblin’s Lair Cave, that will cost an extra $4 per person.
Please note that this is a Utah State Park and not a National Park, so your America the Beautiful Pass will not work here!
Things to Do at Goblin Valley State Park
1. Explore the Hoodoos
The main attraction at Goblin Valley State Park is to view the Valley of the Goblins. The map of the park shows 3 distinct valleys, but they aren’t marked in the park and all connect so it’s hard to know which one you are in at any given time.
You’ll park close to Observation Point, which gives you a birds’ eye view of Valley 1. There are steps that lead you down to the valley where you can explore to your heart’s content! Spend as little as a few minutes or multiple hours here.
We had a blast taking photos and climbing up on some of the hoodoos. Each one is so unique!
2. Go Hiking
If you’d prefer to explore Goblin Valley via a more formal hiking trail, there are a handful of short hikes in the park that you can do in under 2 hours:
- Caramel Canyon: 1.2 miles, 85 feet of elevation gain. This trail takes you along a ridge with viewpoints of Molly’s Castle and the Three Sisters rock formations.
- Goblin’s Lair: 2.3 miles, 203 feet of elevation gain. Hike to the entrance of the Goblin’s Lair, a cave-like slot canyon. This trail follows part of the Caramel Canyon Trail and requires a little bit of rock scrambling up to the entrance of the lair. The hike does not include the rappel down into Goblin’s Lair.
- Curtis Bench Trail: 1.6 miles, 59 feet of elevation gain. This easy trail gives you sweeping vistas of the Valley of the Goblins and the Henry Mountains.
- Entrada Trail: 2.1 miles, 159 feet of elevation gain. This hike takes you from the campground to Observation Point for Valley of the Goblins. It’s similar to the Curtis Bench Trail with a little more elevation.
OUR EXPERIENCE: We hiked the Goblin’s Lair Trail since it encompassed multiple points of interest on a relatively short trail. It was fun scrambling up the rocks to the lair entrance! We did this trail in the late afternoon and it was hot, plus it was our first hike of the trip so I was definitely feeling the elevation change as my body hadn’t acclimated yet!
3. Rappel into Goblin’s Lair
You can actually rappel into the Goblin’s Lair, an 89-foot drop down into the slot canyon. The original entrance to the slot canyon ended up getting sealed by falling rocks, so now the only way in is through the slot at the top.
You’ll have to reserve a $4 permit at the Visitor’s Center to secure your 2-hour time window. Permits are first come, first serve.
You will need to bring your own gear and canyoneering skills for this experience, unless you book with a guide. More information on the Goblin’s Lair rappel and guided tour options can be found on the State Park’s website here.
4. Disc Golfing
Goblin Valley State Park has its own free disc golfing course! There are 20 holes, with the first 11 being over relatively flat terrain and the rest requiring some more steep climbs over sand dunes and canyons.
The course is free to play and discs can be rented for $1. More information on disc golfing at Goblin Valley State Park can be found here.
5. Mountain Biking
Goblin Valley has 7 miles of mountain biking trails, called the “Wild Horse” trail system. Some of the trails are shared with the hiking trails and others take you to parts of the park that are seldom visited with sweeping views.
The trails range in difficulty from beginner to intermediate. More information on mountain biking, including trail maps, can be found here.
6. Stargazing
Goblin Valley State Park was designated as an International Dark Sky Park in 2016. Since it’s located away from populated areas with a lot of light pollution, the stargazing is excellent here on a clear night.
Check the calendar to see when ranger-led stargazing events are held in the park. You just might be able to catch a star party or full moon hike while on your trip!
How Much Time Do You Need at Goblin Valley State Park?
Goblin Valley State Park is a great Utah road trip stop because you only need a few minutes to a few hours here to really get a feel for the place.
With an hour or less, you can wander the famous Valley of the Goblins and take some great photos among the hoodoos.
With half a day, you can add on a hike or two, or rappel down into the Goblin’s Lair if you have canyoneering experience.
If you plan to stay the night nearby, I’d definitely recommend a ranger-led stargazing program. While we didn’t get a chance to stargaze at Goblin Valley, we have at Big Bend National Park in Texas and it was absolutely fascinating!
Camping in Goblin Valley State Park
The Goblin Valley Campground has 24 campsites and 2 yurts that you can rent for the night. The campsites are divided into 10 tent sites and 14 RV sites. There are no electrical hook ups here.
The yurts have heat and a swamp cooler to keep you comfortable during your stay.
Also note that the campground isn’t located within the Valley of the Goblins, but it is surrounded by interesting rock formations.
Learn more about camping and make your reservation online here.
Where to Stay
If you aren’t planning on camping or staying in a yurt, but still want to stay close by Goblin Valley State Park, Green River and Hanksville are the closest towns.
Hanksville is 30 minutes south of the park and is a tiny town with a motel and a handful of restaurants. We stayed at the Whispering Sands Motel, and it wasn’t anything fancy, but was fine for one night. Staying in Hanksville is more convenient if you’re traveling west toward Capitol Reef National Park.
Green River is located an hour north of Goblin Valley and has more options for hotels and food. This is a great place to stay if you’re heading east toward Moab or north toward Salt Lake City.
It is totally possible to visit Goblin Valley State Park on a day trip from Moab or Capitol Reef National Park, or as a quick stop on your way to or from either destination as you make your way through the Utah Mighty 5 National Parks.
If you are planning a Utah road trip and want to add Goblin Valley to your list, I recommend spending an entire day driving between Capitol Reef and Moab and stopping at Goblin Valley on your way. You really don’t need much time here and you probably have a long list of other places you want to visit, but it is definitely worth the quick stop.
I hope you enjoy your trip to this hidden gem in southern Utah! Where else to you plan to visit on your trip? Drop your questions in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer!
-Megan
Other Things to Do Nearby
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK: Visit Utah’s most underrated National Park located an hour east of the Hanksville area. Check out my 1-4 day Capitol Reef itinerary, the top things to do in Capitol Reef, and the best hikes in Capitol Reef to help you plan your visit.
LITTLE WILD HORSE CANYON: This neat little slot canyon is located only 7 miles from Goblin Valley State Park. You can hike the entire 8-mile loop through the canyon or hike in as far as you’d like.
LONG DONG SILVER SPIRE HIKE: Located just a few miles west of Hanksville, this hidden hike takes you to an incredible spire rock formation that makes for excellent photos. This post shows you how to hike to the Long Dong Silver Spire.
FACTORY BUTTE & THE MOONSCAPE OVERLOOK: Located just a few miles west of the Long Dong Silver Spire, enjoy the incredible moon-like scenery and photograph the towering Factory Butte. Getting here is a bit tricky, so check out my guide to visiting Factory Butte and the Moonscape Overlook before your trip.
