Goblin Valley State Park With Kids: 10+ Incredible Desert Adventures

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Looking for an under the radar destination in Utah? Look no further than visiting Goblin Valley State Park with kids! Utah, home of the Big 5, is known for some of the nation’s best national parks: Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Bryce Canyon.

While these popular national parks should absolutely be on your bucket list, it can be easy to miss the smaller, but just as fun state parks located in Utah. Goblin Valley State Park is one of those, and if traveling with kids, it is a must visit!

Like nearby national Parks, you can find the well known and frequently photographed Utah hoodoos in Goblin Valley State Park, but unlike those parks, kids and adults alike are free to roam about, climb up, under, and even through the hoodoo and other rock formations found in Goblin Valley! It can be likened to a natural playground for the kids!

About Goblin Valley State Park

Goblin Valley State Park features Utah’s unique hoodoos, scenic views, and lots of opportunities for play! The park sits in the San Rafael Desert in Southern Utah on 3,654 acres covered with some of the world’s largest hoodoos. Compared to other state parks, Goblin Valley is considered a smaller park, making it an easy day trip.

The hoodoos in the park are Entrada Sandstone pillars that have undergone years and years of erosion to develop into the many unique shapes that can be seen today. The sandstone was deposited during the Jurassic period about 170 million years ago

Goblin Valley is located quite remote (Warning: No internet service to be found within the park!) on Goblin Valley Road in Green River, off of Utah Highway 24 in Southern Utah. The park is located within the San Rafael Desert. The closest town to Goblin Valley State Park is Hanksville, which can be found 12 miles to the South and about a 40 minute drive.

Tips For Visiting Goblin Valley State Park

• The best time to visit Goblin Valley State Park is in the Spring or Fall months. In the summer, temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, which can be torturous for kids hoping to run, play, and climb on the goblins.
• Bathrooms are located at the visitor center and near the parking area of Goblin Valley.
• There are no trees in Goblin Valley State Park. Be sure to bring sunscreen, protective clothing, and maybe even an umbrella.
• When visiting Goblin Valley State Park with kids be sure to bring plenty of water! Goblin Valley is located in a desert and it can be hot! It is important to make sure you bring plenty to stay hydrated (there is a water station near the visitor center and in the campgrounds).
• Scorpions and rattlesnakes are sometimes seen in Goblin Valley (we didn’t see any during our visit). Be aware of this and be cautious while visiting.
• Goblin Valley State Park is a popular park, especially on weekends and holidays. Expect some delays when getting into the park. During our visit we had to wait about 15-20 minutes to get in, but it was well worth it!
• Pets are allowed in the park, but must be leashed.

Things to Do In Goblin Valley State Park With Kids

Explore the “caves” found within the structures

Goblin Valley State Park is full of rock formations and hoodoos that you can climb under, on, and through. Many of the formations have small caves in them, adding another layer of excitement. My daughter compared one of the larger formations to a castle as she enjoyed climbing through different parts of it. Throughout the formations found in the park you can find various caves of different shapes and sizes, plenty to keep the kids entertained for a while!

Admire the Views From Observation Point

Observation Point offers some of the best views in the park and is one of the best things to do in Goblin Valley State Park with kids. It is easily accessible from the main parking lot. The path to the observation point is paved, making it WC and stroller friendly. The observation area is covered, offering you some shade from the desert sun.

From the viewpoint you can look down into Goblin Valley and hundreds of unique mushroom hoodoos. From the observation area you can take a set of stairs directly down into the valley, where you can explore the hoodoos or head out for a hike through the park.

Make a Game Out of It!

While running, climbing, and playing on the hoodoos is enough entertainment in itself, making a game out of it will make your trip even more memorable for the kids! The hoodoos in Goblin Valley State Park come in all different shapes and sizes. Much like finding objects in the clouds, try to find different shapes and objects among the hoodoo formations. With the imagination of a child-this game could last all day!

Participate in the Junior Ranger Program

Goblin Valley State Park offers a junior ranger program with free booklets available to be picked up at the visitor center. The program is geared towards children ages 6-12 and after completion your kids can receive a special badge. The program includes fun activities to get kids actively involved in exploring and learning about the history of the park, making it one of the best things to do in Goblin Valley State Park with kids.

Goblin Valley State Park With Kids: Go camping

Goblin Valley State Park’s remote location makes it the perfect destination to spend the night under the stars! Camping in the park will keep you right where the action is, includes entrance to the park, and allows you to enjoy the park’s unique rock formations with fewer crowds. Once nighttime falls, you will have some of the darkest night sky views in the country, with stars, the milky way, and planets visible.

The campground is not located in the Valley of Goblins (the main area of Hoodoos), it is located nearby with plenty of unique and colorful rock formations. Goblin Valley’s campground has 10 tent sites, 14 RV spots, and one group site that can hold up to 40 people. The campground also has two yurts available for rent for those looking for a more upscale experience. There are no electrical hookups at the campsite.

Go Hiking

Goblin Valley State Park has three marked hiking trails that are perfect for families: The Carmel Canyon Loop, Goblin’s Lair Hike, and Three Sisters Loop. The Carmel Canyon loop trail starts at the north end of Goblin Valley and takes you away from the goblins. It is a moderate, 1.5 mile trail with an elevation gain of 95 ft. The Goblin’s Lair hike is a moderate, 1.5 mile hike with an elevation gain of 219 ft. The trail follows a rocky incline up to Goblin’s Lair.

The Three Sisters loop is one of the easiest and may be the best choice for families visiting with young kids. The trail is a loop trail with an elevation gain of 88 ft. Along with the easier hike, this loop also boasts some great views of the Goblin formations in the park.

But the great thing about Goblin Valley State Park with kids is that you are allowed to wander freely among the hoodoos. Extreme caution is recommended to avoid damaging the structures, but as long as you are careful you are free to climb on and explore the structures! This is one of the things that makes it such a great place for kids to explore!

Go Stargazing!

While we did not get to experience the night sky at Goblin Valley State Park (we visited during the day and had to move on to our next stop: Capitol Reef), we would be doing a disservice if we did not mention it!

Goblin Valley is an official Dark Sky Park and is labeled as a Bortle 1, meaning it has one of the darkest night skies in the country. Considering its remote location, this makes sense! Once the sun sets, you will be able to see millions of stars, planets, the Milky Way, and shooting stars if you are lucky all with the unique rock formations as your background.

While the park’s official hours are 6am to 10pm, you can enter the park after dark for stargazing. An entrance fee is required and can be paid at a self-pay kiosk.

Have a Picnic

Make your visit to Goblin Valley State Park with kids a full day trip and pack a picnic lunch! There are covered picnic tables in a pavilion just off of the parking area where you can relax and enjoy your meal overlooking the goblins sitting below. Or if you prefer you can bring a blanket and sit beside the goblins while enjoying your lunch.

Catch a Sunrise/Sunset

While the views in Goblin Valley State Park don’t need any help, catching a sunrise or sunset in the park makes those views even more spectacular! As the sun rises or dips below the horizon, the park’s famous goblin-shaped hoodoos glow in brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold.

Bring a blanket and enjoy the views, or go for an early morning/evening hike to take in the views. Some of the best places to catch the Sunrise/sunset in the park include the Three Sisters for sunrise and Observation Point for Sunset.

Goblin Valley State Park With Kids: Descend Into Goblin’s Lair

Goblin’s Lair is one of the most interesting parts of the park. Goblin’s Lair is a massive underground chamber created by the collapse of a sandstone cave ceiling. It is accessible on a 3 mile round-trip trail in the park.

It takes you to the Goblin’s Lair Cavern, which requires a little bit of rock scrambling to get down. You can do the hike without descending, but those who choose to enter the lair are rewarded with a cool, cavern-like space that feels completely hidden from the desert above.

Things to Do Near Goblin Valley State Park With Kids

Utah is full of natural wonders, so naturally one could expect there to be many more opportunities to get outdoors and explore what Utah has to offer! For some other more family fun options when visiting Goblin Valley State Park with kids, be sure to check out some of these nearby activities!

• Little Wild Horse Canyon: Located about a 30 minute drive from Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse Canyon is a slot canyon that offers hiking and climbing activities. The full trail is about 8 miles long, but you can do it in smaller sections. Be sure to enjoy the side trails and explore the canyons.
• Capitol Reef National Park: Located about an hour away from Goblin Valley State Park, Capitol Reef National Park is a great option for seeing more of Utah’s stunning landscapes. The park offers plenty of easy, family friendly trails, scenic viewpoints, and fun activities.
• Moab: About an hour and a half to the East of Goblin Valley State Park you will find Moab and more US national parks to explore. You can visit Arches National Park where you can visit the well known Delicate Arch among others or head over to Canyonlands National Park and witness more rock pillars, cave paintings, and Mesa Arch. Other fun activities in Moab include rafting, off-roading adventures, ziplining, and mountain biking.

Frequently Asked Questions

***The Navigating Mom (and this post) may contain affiliate links. If you purchase from one of these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.****