Goblin Valley State Park

Goblin Valley State Park

Cheryl Bratt’s Travel BlogCheryl Bratt’s Travel Blog

Utah is filled with many wonderful places to visit. An interesting tourist attraction is the area of Castle Country. This region, also known as Price Country, is home to several destinations. Goblin Valley State Park can be found amongst that intriguing list.

Goblin Valley State Park contains a naturally formed collection of odd rock formations. Accompanied by deteriorated cliffs, the rocks uniquely resemble the faces of goblins. This is a result of erosion, or the process of rocks wearing down due to exposure to excessive wind and water.

Sandstone is a material that varies in hardness. As erosion descends upon it, Sandstone tends to wear down at different intensities causing the geological phenomenons or goblins to appear.

The first discovery of this area was made by cowboys looking for cattle prior to the 1920s. In 1949, Arthur Chaffin began photographing the area which he then called Mushroom Valley. By 1964, Goblin Valley was taken on by Utah and official named a national park.

Present day, there are several activities that a tourist can enjoy there. Camping with RVs or tents is welcome. Additionally, hiking and nature watching is common. Often, weddings and special events are held there as well as snow sports in the winter seasons. A special event that will be ending soon is the guided three mile hike to Goblin’s Lair through the state park’s astounding cavern.

The ceilings here even reach up to 70 feet high. Guests will be in the company of an experienced ranger and it is recommended that each person bring plenty of water.  This desert environment can be very harsh and even strenuous to the plants and animals that live here.  

For those who are driving, location details can be found. Please check out more information on www.stateparks.utah.gov