Goblin Valley State Park in Utah is known for its unique hoodoo rock formations that form as fine grain sandstone and siltstone erodes away and leaves behind harder sandstone pinnacles. People have taken to calling these formations Goblins.
I thought it was important to share some honest feedback about this state park. All the posts I’ve seen out there on Goblin Valley paint it as a “fairytale” and while it is an enchanting and beautiful place, there is some important information to be aware of… there are goblins in this fairytale after all.
First let’s start with the awesome. There are three interconnected valleys filled with fantastical mushroom shaped rock pinnacles through which one can hike or roam freely.
There are also more traditional trails. The trailhead to Carmel Canyon 1.5 miles, Goblins Liar 3 miles, and Grand Circle 3.5 miles, all start just beyond the restrooms in the parking lot. Then there is the Three Sisters trail, a quick 250 yard walk to a large iconic three pinnacle formation.
Just beware the early evening, that’s when the Goblins come out to play.
In the late afternoon and early evening the Desert Winds start to blow. They are extremely common at Goblin Valley State Park and can get ugly with no warning. I learned about these desert winds the hard way… they took out our tent and camp gear, as well as every other tent in the campground. We had our tent staked securely, but the wind bent the poles in half, same with our neighbors to the left. Our neighbors on the right didn’t stake theirs down so well and their whole tent blew away. They had to go looking for it the next day.
I spoke with two separate rangers who work there year long and both confirm that high winds in the afternoon are normal especially in the spring when they can be an everyday occurrence. I’d like to point out that the official website recommends both spring and the afternoon as one of the best times to visit! There are fewer people in the afternoon, says the website… lol.. ya.. probably because no one wants to walk around in a sandstorm. The rangers both said the winds aren’t as bad in the summer, although keep in mind that in the summer temperatures can get up to and over 100 degrees during the day. And the official website, which I hesitate to quote, says to be careful of thunderstorms in the summer. When I asked if the fall is any better, the rangers said…well, you can still get the desert winds but definitely not everyday like in the spring.
The good news is (If anybody bothers to mention it to you) the winds follow a fairly predictable daily schedule in that they usually come in the late afternoon or early evening, whereas in the mornings it’s usually quite calm.
The winds don’t always get terrible but they can pick up speed very unpredictably and wind speeds of 30 to 50 mph are apparently commonplace.
I’m not trying to scare anyone away, it really is a cool place to visit, but it is important to be given real information so one can be properly prepared.
So here is what to know:
Go early in the day and either, don’t stay too late, or be ready to leave by late afternoon if the wind gets bad.
Without an RV camping here might not be a great idea, at least in the spring. If you do camp here with a tent make sure it has an excellent wind rating. From what the rangers said it sounds like one might have better luck enjoying oneself in the fall, but still be prepared, an afternoon breeze even in the fall can pick up speed out of nowhere.
There are two yurts available for rent, those looked really cool and might be a better option.
Bring your sunglasses. Not so much for the sun, but for the sand. Even early on in the day the slightest breeze can blow the ultra fine silt right into your eyes. You see my photos and how sunny and beautiful it looks… you can’t tell, but there was so much sand blowing in my face I could barely take any of those photos. And it hadn’t even gotten windy yet.. lol.
The official state park website is: stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley
Reservations for yurts and campsites can be made at: utahstateparks.reserveamerica.com
