Goblin Valley State Park in Utah - Unearthly Gremlin Creatures Abound!
82Goblin Valley State Park...
If you wish to see unearthly and imaginary creatures composed out of rock formations then Goblin Valley State Park in Utah is a must see adventure for your entire family.
It is located between Capitol Reef National Park and Arches National Park.
Some fellow vacationers going the opposite direction told us to make a point of taking the detour off of Highway 24 onto the unpaved road and follow the signs to see the Goblin Valley State Park. They made it sound interesting enough that we decided to take their advice.
We had just enjoyed sightseeing in the unbelievably beautiful Capitol Reef National Park and were on our way to see both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
Had we not been tipped off by those fellow vacationers, we probably would have not taken the time to take this side-trip which turned out to be of so much interest.
(c) Peggy Woods - All Rights Reserved
Goblin Valley State Park
More information about this park
- Goblin Valley State Park | Utah.com
Goblin Valley State Park camping, amenities, attractions, and other park information.
The 10 mile one-way unpaved road was being newly graded and we followed the dirt path not knowing exactly what to expect. ( This was back in July of 1991. The road may be paved by now, but I doubt it due to its remoteness from more heavily travelled areas.)
As we approached the area and got closer, we began to see some unique outcroppings of very unusual goblin like creatures sitting upon a flat surface of rock. They appeared as though some giant child had formed these sentries while playing with silly putty and they were just the beginning of what we were to see.
Road we took to get to the Goblin Valley State Park.
Goblin Valley Family Hike
For those who like to camp...see actual Goblin Valley State Park campsite photos in this video.
goblin valley state park utah
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Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah
Goblin Valley State Park
As we got to the main viewing area, there is a raised shelter with picnic tables where one can overlook the out of this world sight.
On the smooth earthen floor appears countless unearthly formations all cast in stone. Stones piled upon other stones form images of creatures of every type imagining. Many appear like mushrooms; others like the goblins for which the state park is named.
In the late 1920's when Arthur Chaffin first discovered this place he called it Mushroom Valley.
Hoodoos
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Great video of walking in Goblin Valley State Park, Utah
Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley State Park is one of those places that one could easily miss seeing as it is definitely off the beaten path.
Just imagine what the first people who discovered it must have thought!
Many people, both children and adults were exploring and climbing upon the rocks but looked like midgets playing in that giant child's silly putty city as seen from the overlook.
There are no specific trails throughout this maze, but the higher overlook picnic area can always be the guidepost to getting one safely back to one's car.
It it was not for that point of reference, it would be easy to get lost among this wide array of scattered rock formations.
If you are a Hobbit fan or just like gremlins and goblins, be sure and make plans to visit this site.
Oh........and be sure and bring your camera! It is a photographer's paradise!
Goblin Valley State Park and all of those unearthly rock creatures will remain in your memory long after you have finished your vacation in Utah. It has certainly done that for us!
Goblin Valley from the air
Goblin Valley State Park - Some additional photos
If you were in the area would you take a detour to see Goblin Valley State Park?
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2 Brits having fun in Goblin Valley State Park
More Utah hubs by Peggy W...
- Utah - National Park - Moab - Arches - Natural Wonder
A wonderland of arches!
- Utah - State Park - Escalante - Petrified Forest- Pictures
Between the National Parks of Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, see petrified wood, dinosaur bones & more...
- Utah - State Park - Recreation - Sand - Dunes - Coral Pink!
When we first saw the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah from the air, we could hardly believe our eyes!
Goblin Valley State Park - Goblin Valley - Fire poi and staff spinning
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What a great name for a park. That final picture of people playing among the rocks gives a sense of scale to those giant formations. FYI, the music in the last video is appropriately enough from Edvard Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King."
Hi Don,
Goblin Valley State Park is well worth a detour between the national parks of Capitol Reef and Arches. Looks like it would be a great place for those people who like to camp! Thanks for your comment and votes. Merry Christmas!
It has been a long time since I have been in Utah but what I remember was interesting. If I ever get there again I'll try to see the goblin park.Voted up,interesting and beautiful.
Hi Gus,
Glad you liked this hub about Goblin Valley State Park...one of Utah's amazing sites and a fun playground of sorts. As far as running out of breath...am sure some of the people playing in the Goblin Valley State Park have done that. Haha! Thanks for your comment.
Howdy Peggy W - You know something? A person could easily run clean out of breath trying to keep up with that wonderful camera of yours. Another fun hub for you here, Peggy...
Gus :-)))
Hi Eiddwen,
These old pictures were taken with a Canon 35mm camera...nothing fancy. Now I use just a Panasonic digital camera that cost less than $200. It has features that I have never even used. I'm pretty much a point and shoot kind of gal using a zoom lens on occasion.
These rocks are even more colorful than portrayed here because the photos were somewhat faded. If I have time I can use some photo editing to bring them back to life. All I need is time! Ha!
Glad you liked this one about Goblin Valley State Park. It is certainly an unusual outcropping of rocks in Utah!
Thanks for your comment.
Hi Peggy,
Another great one to bookmark, I love all your hubs and I was just wondering ; Do you have a super duper camera or just an average one.
I'm only curious because all your photos are amazing.
Your niece is a very pretty young lady, thank you for sharing this hub again.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Hello Linda Peterson,
That is typical of youngsters. We generally care to learn more about our relatives when we are older, and by then, many of them are already gone.
Did your great grandfather also visit or live at one time near the Goblin Valley State Park in Utah?
This is so interesting. I have just started searching information about my great grandfather whom I always found fascinating. His name is Arthur Chaffin. His daughter Gladys Smith was my Grandmother. I knew he ran the first ferry at Hite,Lake Powell but had no Idea all the other important things he did in his life. Too bad when we are young that we don't think to really question our relatives lifes.
Hi Tony,
Visiting the Goblin Valley State Park was merely a side adventure to all 5 of the National Parks that we visited in the State of Utah one summer, but it was certainly interesting! Glad you liked this. Love and peace to you!
This was a wonderful Hub to read and the pix are awesome! Thanks for sharing this about a place I have never heard of before. Would love to see it.
Love and peace
Tony
Hello Arnim Walter,
Wow! You have certainly has some unique experiences in the Goblin Valley State Park in Utah! Thanks for the comment.
My photography students and I visited the goblins in 1976 from Canada. The students liked the night time, when the goblins spooked them in moonlight. The last time I was there with my wife. While we were cooking our supper during a thunderstorm,lightning hit the valley, and storm blew the pots off the camp stove.
Hi habee,
Goblin Valley State Park in Utah is indeed a "neat place!"
Neat place!
Hello Video Express,
I agree that with three boys...Goblin Valley State Park in Utah would be a great playground for them. Thanks for the visit and comment.
Great pictures. I have three boys and this place would be a ton of fun.
Hello loveroflife,
Yes, Goblin Valley State Park in Utah is amazing...but as you say...there are many such spots in that state along with breathtakingly beautiful ones as well. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Another amazing scenic spot in Utah. Thanks.
Hello qlcoach,
Happy that you liked this hub about Goblin Valley State Park in Utah. It really is an amazing place.
BTW...clicked on your link above & it said the hub does not exist. But by clicking on your avatar, it shows that hub. Will go read it now. Thanks for commenting.
Beautiful, Beautiful! I love nature and this park is an amazing place. Great videos too. Hope you will visit my new HUB about cruising: http://hubpages.com/hub/ebywaycruise. Enjoy my video too about Dreams the Eby Way....Gary.
Hi frogyfish, It certainly is unusual. Glad we stumbled upon it and could share it with you and others. Thanks for commenting.
Really strange, unusual, and most interesting rock formations. It does deserve its name. Imagine h o w it all came to be! Thanks for very interesting hub!
Hi Journey, Glad you liked it.
Hi Ethel,
We were staying in the same motel with other travelers and we were both visiting National Parks in Utah but were each going in opposite directions. So we shared additional information with one another as to things not to miss seeing. That is how we were introduced to the Goblin State Park. Would undoubtedly have passed it by without checking it out as it was an out of the way location. We were happy to have heard about it and perhaps they investigated sites we also told them not to miss. Glad you liked viewing and hearing about this.
This is very interesting, Peggy W. Thanks for posting this article and the photos!
Never heard of this place before. Thanks for sharing it with us :)
Hi Laughing Mom, Thanks for following Teresa. I feel certain you would enjoy this even better in person than just seeing the photos. It is an "out of this world" experience. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Teresa, This was an out of the way place compared to all the great National Parks in Utah, but worth a visit for sure. If you are in the area, be sure and make the side-trip to see it. Thanks for commenting.
I followed Teresa over here. This looks like a place I'd love to explore!!
Graet photos -- glad I found this one: you are really making me itch to travel again. . . .
Sounds like a great place, C.C. Riter. Any chance that you will write about it? Did you take any photos?
Wow! that is beautiful. I must try to get ther myself. Pgrundy is right in her assement of you niece, very cute. This is what we peripatetic fools find. The bestest of places. i have one I love in KY, the Natural Bridge State Park in Daniel Boone Nat'l Forest.
Thanks, great hub
Hello MellasViews, Had it not been for the tip of another tourist, we would have missed seeing this park as our focus was in visiting the National Parks of Utah. Most unusual, but definitely worth a visit!
And greetings, Amanda! Thanks for commenting. If you ever decide to visit this park, be SURE and visit some of the others. Utah is a paradise of parks!
Amazing! The wonders of nature. It looks like a great place to visit. Thanks for posting.
wow... what a gorgeous looking place to visit. And yes, the photos do look like faces carved out in the sides of some of those rocks! Amazing pics!
Thanks Celesta. We saw no snakes, but of course it was daytime with many people scrambling over the rocks and making lots of noise. Nighttime is probably very different!
Awesome! I would love to take a tour through this great park, but because of my fear of rattlesnakes, I will settle for this tour. Ha!
You are writing some good stuff.
Most unusual beauty in these rocks, for sure! The vast majority of the State of Utah is set aside in public lands. It amazed us at just how DIFFERENT the rocks looked in each of the national and state parks. Some have such majesty and are cathedral-like and awe inspiring, and others.......like here........well...........moulded silly putty was my best description.
Thanks for the comment regarding my niece. We enjoyed many summer vacations together and they are now fond memories. I am getting to relive those trips by writing these hubs. By-the-way, she is now a young lady and the mother of her own beautiful daughter.
What a beautiful place! Love the photos of your niece too--what a cutie! Thanks Peggy. (o:
Peggy W Hub Author 8 weeks ago
Hi alocsin,
Goblin Valley State Park is amazing. Seeing the people amidst the interesting rocks does give one perspective as to scale. Ah...so you like Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" composition. I also thought it appropriate. Thanks for your comment.