Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Utah Green River Goblin Valley State Park

Goblin Valley State Park

Bizarre lunar-like landscape with thousands of large stone "hoodoos."

Green River, Utah

Added By
joel
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Goblin Valley   Matthew Dillon / CC BY 2.0
  Matthew Dillon / CC BY 2.0
Goblin Valley   Rob Lee / CC BY-ND 2.0
Goblin Valley State Park   breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   jddarcy / Atlas Obscura User
  sjkln2 / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   jddarcy / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   prutschi / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   jddarcy / Atlas Obscura User
Sept. 2018   Jamie Ourada / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
Goblin Valley State Park   Blindcolour / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The arid, sandy landscape of Goblin Valley is teeming with naturally artful, strange rock formations that come together in an intricate display of geological history.

Visitors are welcome to wander through the labyrinth of rock creatures, and feel the bizarre, ominous vibes of the goblins. The hoodoos of Goblin Valley are mushroom-shaped sandstone rocks with heights up to 50 feet. Hoodoos are typically formed in dry, rocky areas. Their shape is due to the inconsistency of hardness of the sandstone. The top of the stone is typically harder than the bottom, protecting its foundation from elemental erosion. Wind and water eroded these giant sandstone rocks over many years. The result is an army of unique hoodoo goblins.

Animals and plants are scarce in Goblin Valley because of the lack of water and food. However, the rocks, coves, and hundreds of miles of dirt roads are enough to keep any visitor awed and entertained. The valley floor is comprised of bedrock. Because of a deficiency of soil and vegetation, water is not absorbed into the ground and rainfall results in flash flooding. Also, due to the dryness and humidity, lightning often ignites wildfires in the valley. 

The goblin valley was first discovered by cowboys but its significant discovery was in the 1920s by Arthur Chaffin. In 1949, Chaffin returned to explore the spectacular location and named it Mushroom Valley. The area was claimed by the state of Utah, and officially named a state park on August 24, 1964. A key scene in the movie Galaxy Quest was filmed in the valley. 

Related Tags

State Parks Natural Wonders Martian Landscapes Geological Oddities Ecosystems Geology Nature

Know Before You Go

- 24 miles south of I-70 on Highway 24, turn at Temple Mountain junction, follow signs 12 miles to park.- 20 miles north of the town of Hanksville on Highway 24, turn at Temple Mountain junction, follow signs 12 miles to park. (from State Park website)

For amazing free camping near Goblin Valley State Park, head to Little Wild Horse Canyon. You'll find slot canyons and cool hikes there as well.

Community Contributors

Added By

leiris

Edited By

caz, Blindcolour, jddarcy, Collector of Experiences...

  • caz
  • Blindcolour
  • jddarcy
  • Collector of Experiences
  • breaingram
  • Jamie Ourada
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • prutschi
  • sjkln2

Published

May 29, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblin_Valley_State_Park
  • https://www.ytravelblog.com/goblin-valley-state-park-utah/
Goblin Valley State Park
18630 Goblin Valley Rd
Green River, Utah, 84525
United States
38.564127, -110.704832
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Kathline Rock View Area

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Mars Desert Research Station

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Carl's Critter Garden

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Green River

Green River

Utah

Places 4

Nearby Places

Kathline Rock View Area

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Mars Desert Research Station

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Carl's Critter Garden

Hanksville, Utah

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Green River

Green River

Utah

Places 4

Related Stories and Lists

You’ve Never Seen Stars Like This: Underneath Utah’s Mind-Blowing Night Skies

List

Sponsored by Visit Utah

Goblin Valley State Park

Podcast

By The Podcast Team

Why Scientists Fall for Precariously Balanced Rocks

science

By Sabrina Imbler

The Most Wondrous State Parks to Visit During the Government Shutdown

List

By Kerry Wolfe

Related Places

  • The Smoking Hills, as seen from the sea.

    Inuvik, Unorganized, Northwest Territories

    The Smoking Hills

    These hellish-looking cliffs in the Canadian Arctic have been burning for centuries.

  • A mud pot.

    Iceland

    Námafjall

    In Northeastern Iceland lies something of an oxymoron: a steaming desert.

  • Fairy Glen, as viewed from Castle Ewan.

    Isle of Skye, Scotland

    Fairy Glen

    This dramatic landscape hidden on the Isle of Skye looks as though you've stepped into the magical realm.

  • Looking down into the lava lake

    Antarctica

    Mount Erebus

    Fire meets ice at the southernmost volcano on Earth.

  • The Baigong Pipes

    Haixi, China

    Baigong Pipes

    Are these prehistoric metal pipes evidence of alien plumbers? Nope, but they are amazing nonetheless.

  • The Pinnacles.

    Cervantes, Australia

    The Pinnacles

    Alien rock formations grown from the sands of an Australian national park.

  • Badain Jaran Desert

    Alxa, China

    Booming Dunes of Badain Jaran Desert

    The tallest stationary dunes on Earth also happen to sing.

  • Sierra Bullones, Philippines

    Chocolate Hills

    Bohol's unusually shaped hills turn brown in the summer months

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.