Camping at Goblin Valley State Park

.Our long time SP contributor Camille, is here to share her camping experience in Gobline Valley State Park! 

If you've never visited Goblin Valley State Park before, you simply must put this place on your bucket list of "don't miss" sites in Utah.  Sure, it's a bit remote, but the landscape is jaw-dropping and other-worldly in a way that will make you think you're on Mars.

I have great memories of visiting Goblin Valley when I was a kid, and I remember it being the coolest place because of the incredible rock formations.  I wanted to share this memory with my kids, so my husband and I reserved a campsite here and headed down south for an overnight camping trip in June as soon as school was out for the summer.

After driving for about 3.5 hours (from Salt Lake City) through the middle of nowhere, via Helper and Wellington, we arrived at Goblin Valley State Park and set up our tent at site #11, which turned out to be one of the most scenic and dramatically beautiful camp sites in the whole campground.  Lucky us!  The backdrop was a gorgeous ridge of limestone and sandstone.  Each camp site has a protected picnic area, a firepit, and plenty of room to spread out, if you want to throw a football back and forth or play outdoor games.  Once we set up camp, we decided to head over to the actual Goblin Valley, which is a short, 5-minute drive from the campground.

My family and I hiked down into the valley and explored to our hearts' content.  The kids LOVED exploring and running around the awesome rock formations.  We didn't really hike any particular path, but rather walked wherever the kids decided to go.  This place is so kid-friendly: no steep paths or drop offs, just acres of amazing rocks to explore!  Goblin Valley has about 6 miles of trails to explore, ranging from strenuous to easy, but we were content to keep it easy on the kids and let them lead the adventuring.​

The first thing my family and I discovered was that even in early June, Goblin Valley is HOT!!  It's quite pleasant in the evening, but during the day, it's pretty unbearable.  My advice: plan a trip in the spring or the fall, when the days aren't quite so hot.  That being said, when we visited, we made sure to hike through the "hoodoos", or crazy rock formations in the valley, in the morning and evening hours, to avoid the intense heat of the day.  Also, pack plenty of drinking water.

Overall, my kids and husband and I had a memorable time at Goblin Valley.  I'd love to go back again in the future when the kids are a bit older!

Camille
Entrance Fee(s)
Day-use fee: $15; $10 Utah seniors 62 and older (2018)
Helpful Tips

Please confirm on the website for any updated pricing.

  • Camping fees:
  • Main Campground: $30  ($15 extra vehicle fee)
  • Yurts: $100 + tax


Group Overnight Camping:

  • Group Campground: $100 + tax for up to 35 persons, $3 per person after that.  (8 vehicles or 4 RVs max)
  • From the Utah State Parks website: 
  • The campground at Goblin Valley State Park consists of 25 sites and two yurts. The campsites are divided into ten walk-in tent pads, fourteen RV spaces, and one group site able to accommodate up to 35 people. Showers and flush toilets, as well as a communal water and dump station are all available free of charge. All sites contain a picnic table, metal fire ring, and shade shelter.
  • For those wishing to stay in a higher level of comfort, consider one of the park’s two yurts – modeled after traditional nomadic tent dwellings of Central Asia. Constructed in 2011, the yurts at Goblin Valley were the first of their kind in the Utah State Parks, and their popularity has since caught on elsewhere.
  • Each is furnished identically, and is equipped with both heat and air conditioning. Sleeping arrangements include a single bed bunked on top of a double bed, as well as a futon couch. A table with four chairs are provided inside, and reclining deck chairs are available for outdoor relaxation. For cooking, an outdoor grill is available along with propane free of charge.


Amenities

  • Bathrooms
  • Showers
  • Disc Golf course (Yup!  Don't forget your disc golf equipment!)
  • Other Information
  • A stay of 1-2 nights is plenty of time to explore all of Goblin Valley.
     
Phone
1-435-275-4584

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