Have you ever wanted to see Mars? If so, then you absolutely have to go to Goblin Valley! It’s as close as you will ever get to experiencing Mars and it’s a whole lot easier to get to, it’s in Utah. The area is almost entirely covered in red, there is barely any vegetation, it gets extremely hot and there are gorgeous hoodoos everywhere. What’s even better is that you can wander freely between them because there are no trails here either. This area is huge and it doesn’t get a whole lot of visitors yet, which is nice cause when you visit, you’ll really feel like you are on another planet.
If you like hoodoos, this is the place to see them. There are hundreds of them, all beautifully carved out of red sandstone. There is only 1 place on earth where you can see more hoodoos than you will see here and that’s in Bryce Canyon National Park. You may see more in Bryce but they don’t compare to these ones. The variety here is incredible, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some look like mushrooms or animals, one looks like an Easter island head, another looks like a warrior guarding the emerald green castle, there’s three sisters and others look like they could be characters in a movie. Your imagination will go wild as you wander throughout this valley.
Travel Secret
- There are no trails here, it’s all natural terrain. You can wander as you please but respect the area and do not leave a trace!
- In 2013 two scout leaders purposely knocked over a balancing rock that dated back 165 million years and have been paying for it ever since. Do not vandalize and do not harm the hoodoos.
How were the Hoodoos created?
Millions of years ago this area was a shallow sea. Nearby shorelines and rivers washed all sorts of deposits into the area and when the water dried up, the sediments left behind created the Entrada sandstone. Since sandstone is composed of different materials, some parts erode faster than others and over time wind has created goblin like formations that cover this valley. Everywhere you look, you will notice eyes peeking out at you from the rock formations.
How was the site discovered?
This is a very young site, it was first discovered by a few cowboys who were searching for a few lost cows in the area. It was rediscovered in the late 1920’s when Hite ferry owner Arthur Chaffin and two of his companions were searching for an alternate route between Green River and Caineville, they accidentally stumbled upon this along the way. It was something they would never forget and that’s why Chaffin returned to this magical place in 1949. He spent days exploring and taking pictures of the place which started attracting people, which was pretty crazy since it was a still a very remote location at the time.
Galaxy Quest paved the roads to the site
In 1954 it was proposed that area should be protected from vandalism. The state of Utah jumped in and acquired the area a few years later. On August 12, 1964 they turned it into a state park. Roads to the park were all unpaved until the the area was used in 1999 to film Galaxy Quest featuring Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver. Thanks to the money earned from the production, the park was able to pave the access road.
Hours
Open year round. 6:00 am – 10:00 pm
Admission
$15 per vehicle for a day pass.
Plan about a half day for the visit. Dogs are allowed here, please pick up after them. The only restrooms are located next to the parking area. There is a picnic area and a shaded overlook. Bring water, good walking shoes, a hat and a camera.
Trails
You can explore the entire valley, there are no trails on this site, it’s all natural terrain but please stay off the formations. All of it is fairly flat land but bring lots of water because you will not be able to purchase anything on site.
Directions
Goblin Valley State Park
Goblin Valley Rd,
Green River, UT 84525
From I-70W Take exit 149 for UT-24 W, turn left onto UT-24 W and take a right onto Temple Mt Rd. Turn left onto Goblin Valley Rd, destination is at the end.
If you are coming the other way, from I-70 E, take exit 149 and merge onto UT-24 W. Turn right onto Temple Mt Rd. Turn left onto Goblin Valley Rd, destination is at the end.
Accommodations
The closest accommodations are in Caineville, Utah. My link will search through all the online sites to find you the best price available. By purchasing your trip through my link, this site will earn a small commission on your purchase. Rest assured that it will not cost you anything extra! In Fact, the only difference is that this site will earn a commission instead of another booking site. Thank your sponsorship!
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