State Park · Utah
Utah's Mars-like valley of sandstone goblins: a hoodoo playground, dark-sky stargazing, canyoneering access, and a small reservable campground.
Field briefing
Goblin Valley State Park changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Plan around heat and crowds by arriving in the morning or late afternoon, and reserve a campsite early if you want to stay for the stars.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Weather, crowds, and what the season changes about the trip.
Warm days and cool nights, with the heaviest weekend and spring-break crowds of the year.
Pack Sun protection, plenty of water, and an early arrival plan to beat the lot filling.
Very hot and exposed on the valley floor, with little to no shade among the goblins.
Pack Dawn or dusk timing, electrolytes, and a strict midday heat cutoff.
Prime desert hiking weather and excellent dark-sky nights once the heat breaks.
Pack Layers for cold nights, a headlamp for stargazing, and sun cover for the day.
Cold and quiet, with occasional snow dusting the hoodoos and short daylight hours.
Pack Insulation, traction for icy slickrock, and a plan for limited daylight.
Valley of Goblins
The main attraction: an open basin of mushroom-shaped hoodoos you are free to wander off-trail. The longer you stay, the stranger it gets.
Goblin's Lair (Chamber)
A hike to a hidden slot chamber that doubles as a popular canyoneering rappel for those with gear and skills.
Carmel Canyon and Curtis Bench loops
Short marked trails that frame the valley with badlands, fins, and long views toward the Henry Mountains.
Move exposed miles to the morning and keep water, shade, and storm checks ahead of the wish list. For one day in Goblin Valley State Park, make Valley of Goblins the non-negotiable, add Goblin's Lair (Chamber) only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Carmel Canyon and Curtis Bench loops as the flexible finish.
Turn Goblin Valley's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Goblin Valley State Park. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions this park changes: footing, weather, camping, and water.
Kit Authority
Goblin Valley State Park packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
One researched pick
For a first campground setup, a fast pitch and real rain coverage matter more than premium materials.
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THE CAMPGROUND PICK
The Skydome's pre-attached poles fold out and lock into corner sleeves without guesswork, making it one of the most foolproof setups at any price. Nearly vertical walls add 20% more headroom than a traditional Coleman dome, and the full-coverage rainfly version includes an 8 x 3.5 ft vestibule for gear storage.
The buying guides that match what Goblin Valley asks of your kit, with our current top picks across budget and use case.
The park has one small campground plus two yurts inside the gate, and they book out fast for spring and fall weekends. Hanksville is the closest town for fuel and basics, Green River is the nearest larger highway base about an hour north, and many visitors fold Goblin Valley into a Capitol Reef or Moab trip and sleep elsewhere.
Camping reservations
Goblin Valley has a single small campground and two yurts, so overnight space is the scarce resource, especially on spring-break and fall weekends.
Reviewed June 11, 2026
Booking window
Utah individual campsites are generally available on a four-month rolling reservation window, and group sites open further out. Book the moment your window opens for peak weekends.
Where to book or verify
Official Utah State Parks page with alerts, hours, fees, and camping details.
Official Utah State Parks reservation portal for campsites and yurts, or call 1-800-322-3770.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Campgrounds to know
Plan the last mile as carefully as the destination.
Airports, roads, entrances, and local movement belong in the same plan.
Getting there
Arrival note
Goblin Valley sits in central Utah's San Rafael Swell, reached by a paved spur off State Route 24 between Hanksville and Interstate 70.
Car strategy
A car is required, the final stretch is remote with no services, and the closest gas is in Hanksville, so top off before the drive in.
Pair this with lodging: the simplest base is the one that removes a real morning problem, not just the one nearest the map pin.
The Utah Film Commission assists but does not permit; cities, counties, BLM, and Utah State Parks each permit their own ground, and the Mighty 5 gateway state parks all require Special Use Permits for commercial work.
From our photography sister site, Aperture Authority. Verified 2026-07-01.
Day use does not require a reservation, but you pay a day-use fee of about $20 per private vehicle. Camping and the two yurts should be reserved through the Utah State Parks system because the campground is small and fills on busy weekends.
Yes. The Valley of Goblins is an open, off-trail area where you are encouraged to wander among the hoodoos. The park asks visitors not to climb on or topple the formations.
Spring and fall offer the best hiking weather. Summer is very hot with almost no shade, so plan early-morning or late-afternoon visits and carry plenty of water. The dark-sky nights are excellent year-round.