A State Park to Remember

Southern Utah has a lot going for it. Mostly famously its got five amazing national parks. But, as we’ve mentioned before, there are also a plethora of state parks in Utah, a lot of which are just as fun as their more popular national park cousins. With that in mind, let’s talk about one of our favorite’s – Goblin Valley State Park

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Goblin Valley – Fun for the Whole Family

Goblin Valley really is one of Utah’s best desert playgrounds. It’s a sheltered basin that is filled with towering hoodoos – very similar to those found in Bryce Canyon. Goblin Valley is quite a bit smaller, which means you can explore everything in the basin in an afternoon. Don’t get us wrong, this is a good thing, because unlike in Bryce Canyon you have a lot more freedom to play in the hoodoos. You can climb on the rocks, play hide-and-seek, capture the flag, or tag among the hoodoos.

In addition to all those hoodoos in Goblin Valley, the park also includes a bunch of little canyon hikes. We recommend the Goblin’s Lair hike, but they are all pretty fun. See the list of hikes and their descriptions here on the official site. Just remember, this is desert hiking, so be sure to bring plenty of water.

Also! There is a dedicated disc golf course in the park.

Photo by Michael Tuszynski via unsplash.com

The Details

Goblin Valley is located about an hour northeast of Capitol Reef National Park, on Highway 24. If you are coming from the south, it is best to go through Capitol Reef (and who wouldn’t want to drive through Capitol Reef) then turn north in Hanksville. If you are coming from the Salt Lake area, take I–15 south, then connect to I–70 west. Highway 24 will take you south to the park. You can see the park marked here on Google Maps.

Be aware that the Goblin Valley State Park charges a fee of 20 dollars per entering vehicle. (This allows access for two consecutive days.) There are additional fees to camp in the campground (which accommodates a limited number of RVs.) See the complete list of fees here on the official site. And go here to reserve your camping spot, if you feel like spending a weekend in one of the best state parks in Southern Utah!