Goblin Valley State Park in Utah is one of the weirdest—and coolest—places in the United States. Full stop. The bizarre rock formations make it feel as though you’re exploring another planet. Either that, or an entire civilization of goblins were turned to stone all at once. After all, the rock formations are what give Goblin Valley State Park its name.
This Utah state park is hands-down our favorite in the state. It’s so fun to explore with kids—and even dogs. I love that the Goblin Valley “hikes” are so open-ended: No signs to stay on trail because you get to wander freely!
My kids are still talking about our visit to Goblin Valley, Utah. (They still giggle about how our dog, Finn, was afraid of the weird hoodoos! That’s right: Goblin Valley is a dog-friendly destination.)
Read on for the best things to do in this Utah park, including hikes, sightseeing and even disc golf. Want to stay overnight? Scroll down to the Goblin Valley camping section, including details on yurts.
Then grab your sunglasses and your sense of adventure—and get ready to explore among the goblins!
Goblin Valley Hikes + Hoodoos
Here are directions to the best Goblin Valley hikes:
- Drive to the Goblin Valley observation point. Park.
- Walk down the stairs into Valley 1. (The stairs are not steep but may pose a challenge to people with mobility limitations.)
- Hike.
Really, it’s that simple.
Also, this trail-less hike is one of the reasons I love love love Goblin Valley State Park. You get to wander, explore and adventure all over the place.
As you walk through Goblin Valley, you’ll weave in and out of rock structures called hoodoos. So what is a hoodoo? It’s a column of rock eroded by the elements to leave behind a bumpy pinnacle or spire. Visitors to this area thought the lumpy rock formations looked like hunched creatures—which is how Goblin Valley got its name.
Goblin Valley was one of the best highlights of my family’s spring break road trip. My kids climbed all over hoodoos, played hide and seek in the maze of rock structures and climbed the rocky hills surrounding the hoodoo-filled valleys. Their adventuring hearts were full to the brim—as was mine.
We also loved scaling the cliffs that surround the valleys. My sure-footed mountain goats—I mean kids—scrambled up and down the hills, giving me only a few heart attacks. But boy the view from up there is epic!
If you check out a Goblin Valley State Park map, you’ll notice that it’s divided into three valleys. This is a little deceiving because one runs into the other. There are no formal barriers between valleys. They are marked this way to help visitors learn about the geologic features, since the areas are slightly different.
My best advice: Head down into the valleys and explore. It’s such a treat to wander without a trail—take advantage!
Remember to follow the principles of Leave No Trace. Leave this piece of wilderness just as you found it.
Other Goblin Valley Hikes
We didn’t hike these designated Goblin Valley hikes when we visited. We were having too much fun exploring and climbing!
If you’re curious, here are details for other trails in the state park.
Carmel Canyon Trail, 1.5 miles round-trip. This loop includes a viewpoint overlooking Molly’s Castle, a huge outcrop that looks like—you guessed it—a castle or fortress. This Goblin Valley hike also includes short sections of slot canyons.
Entrada Canyon Trail, 3 miles out and back. This hike links the Goblin Valley campground to the Observation Point. The moderate hike includes up-close views of unusual hoodoos.
Curtis Bench Trail, 3 miles out and back. This trail takes you to higher elevations, giving you impressive views of both the Goblin Valley as well as outcroppings and mountains on all sides.
Goblin Valley State Park Viewpoints
There’s a good reason the main destination within Goblin Valley State Park is named simply Observation Point: It’s the easiest spot to get a sweeping view of the hoodoo valleys.
To get there, simply follow the state park road until it ends in a parking lot. Stretch your legs as you walk around the observation area. You can check out the valley below from several areas, including an overlook next to the restroom.
The main viewpoint is next to a sheltered picnic area. You can see people exploring the valleys below and get great panoramic photos.
You can hike to other viewpoints, too. You can check out another perspective from the Molly’s Castle Overlook about halfway through the Carmel Canyon Trail loop. There’s also an observation point at the end of the Curtis Bench Trail. Note, though, that the Curtis Bench trailhead is next to the Goblin Valley campground—not at the Observation Point parking lot.
Observation Point accommodations:
- Picnic shelter: This shaded area, full of picnic tables, is a great spot to eat in the shade.
- Restrooms: Make sure to use the bathroom here. There are no restrooms or other facilities in the valleys.
- Drinking fountain: Fill up your water bottles before starting your Goblin Valley hikes. You burn through more water than usual when hiking in the desert. Your dog can also get a drink of water here.
- Trash cans: Make sure to pack out all garbage from the valleys. Dispose of trash properly to keep this beautiful landscape pristine.
- Note: There is no cafe, restaurant or store. You can buy limited snacks and bottled beverages at the visitor center at the park’s entrance; otherwise, bring all food and drinks with you.
Goblin Valley Camping, Utah
Want a stunning home base to explore the San Rafael Swell and this hoodoo-filled park? You can post up in the Goblin Valley campground.
Hot summers and cold winters make spring and fall the best time for camping here.
You’ll want to plan in advance, as the campground commonly fills up. (It’s a small campground, making spots at an even greater premium.) You can reserve a campsite or a yurt at Reserve America up to six months in advance.
Goblin Valley Campground
The Goblin Valley Campground includes 24 campsites, a dump site, restrooms and a group site. Hot showers and flush toilets are available.
Sites include 10 tent sites and 14 RV sites. One thing I love about the Goblin Valley campground: Sites include a small shelter. These permanent structures provide shade and cover a picnic table—extremely welcome for hot, sunny days!
Campsites are nestled among rock formations and sandstone hills. They’re near trailheads, an OHV staging area and the disc golf course.
Goblin Valley campsites cost $35/night.
Goblin Valley Yurts
The Goblin Valley campground also includes two yurts. As you can imagine, these all-weather structures are in high demand, so reserve your Goblin Valley yurt well in advance.
The yurts are standard for what you’ve seen in other state parks. The round structures include:
- a bunkbed
- a futon
- table and chairs
- electricity
Yurts do not include linens, blankets or cooking supplies.
One thing I think is cool about Goblin Valley yurts: They include a little porch. I’ve never seen this in other state park yurts. The deck is a perfect spot to sit at night and stargaze.
Goblin Valley yurts cost $100/night.
Goblin Valley Disc Golf
My husband is a huge fan of disc golf, so when he found out there’s an epic Goblin Valley disc golf course—well, you can imagine how stoked he was.
We actually dropped him off at hole 1 to play while the kids, dogs and I explored the hoodoo valleys.
Hubs shared that this disc golf course is challenging and not ideal for beginners. You’ll tackle quite a lot of elevation change, with some pins situated atop stone spires. He got a lot of exercise hiking across the course and barely crossed paths with anyone. For such a unique course, the Goblin Valley disc golf is practically unused.
When we met up after his round, he was dusty, sweaty—and smiling like a maniac. He couldn’t get over what an amazing disc golf course was set up in this one-of-a-kind landscape.
More Goblin Valley State Park Photos
Want even more Goblin Valley State Park photos to tide you over until your own visit? I got you!
As you can see, Goblin Valley is a strange and beautiful place. I can’t wait for you to check it out for yourself.
Is Goblin Valley State Park worth visiting?
If you haven’t gathered by now, I adore Goblin Valley State Park. If you like the outdoors, I think you’ll love Goblin Valley, too! So in short, YES: Goblin Valley State Park is 100% worth visiting.
To recap, a few reasons why Goblin Valley should be on your Utah itinerary:
- It’s unlike anyplace else. The rock formations are so weird!
- Goblin Valley is like an outdoor wonderland for kids (and adults!). You can climb hoodoos, scale rock walls and wander to your heart’s content.
- Dogs are allowed. Unlike national parks, this state park welcomes pets.
- The park is beautiful. This otherworldly desert scenery is just breathtaking.
- Goblin Valley State Park is a bit off the beaten path. It’s much, much less crowded than nearby national parks.
Still have questions? Check out these FAQs.
It costs $20 per car to enter Goblin Valley. The fee helps the Utah state park system maintain all parks, and some money stays right with Goblin Valley. These funds are crucial to keeping up the park, including maintaining restrooms and paying staff.
If you visit the park via bicycle or motorcycle, you’ll pay $10.
One extra-cool feature about your Goblin Valley admission fee: It’s good for two days! So if you want to come back and explore the hoodoos, hikes or even disc golf course, you can get in with the same pass.
You can drive through Goblin Valley State Park from its entrance to the main viewpoint and valley access point. You’ll need to park to get the best views and to explore. The road is out-and-back, not a loop. To enjoy Goblin Valley the most, leave time to get out of the car and check out the bizarre rock formations!
Yes! Dogs are allowed in Goblin Valley. Please make sure to pick up and pack out your pet’s waste; it will take ages to decompose in the desert if left on the ground. Also make sure to bring water for your dog; there are no bowls or drinking fountains once you’ve started Goblin Valley hikes. 
Goblin Valley is located 215 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, UT. The nearest city is Green River, UT (49 miles away). The road to Goblin Valley is paved the entire way. Make sure to start your maps app directions well before you arrive; once you near the park, you’ll lose cell and wifi service.
No! We had zero cell service and no wifi connectivity. This posed a bit of a challenge as we split up for part of our visit to Goblin Valley, Utah. Know ahead of time you won’t be able to call or get in touch with anyone. Make sure to download any resources you need ahead of time.
Not yet ready to explore Goblin Valley? Pin this post for later! And if you’re in the area, make sure to check out my post on our other fave Utah state park, Dead Horse Point State Park!
