Goblin Valley State Park

Explore the deserts of southern Utah in Goblin Valley.

Goblin Valley State Park is near Hanksville, Utah, and the Henry Mountains. The park features miles of hoodoos or goblins, formations of tall, mushroom-shaped pinnacles of sandstone formed over millions of years of erosion. There are several Native American rock art panels in the area as well. Goblin Valley was discovered in the 1920s. Though remote, it attracted many visitors to the area. This place was officially designated a state park on August 24, 1964, to help preserve and protect the hoodoos from vandalism. In 2019, the state park was expanded by adding 6,261 acres of federal land. The area is featured in the 1999 film Galaxy Quest as a faraway "alien planet," which certainly fits the bill.

Admission is $20 per vehicle. Come prepared with proper gear. The temperatures here can reach 105 degrees in the summer and as low as 10 degrees in the winter. The summer monsoon season can bring dangerous flash floods, so be sure to check the forecast before your visit. If you're visiting southeastern Utah, this state park is a neat place to include in your itinerary.