Tucked between the big names of Utah’s Mighty Five, Goblin Valley State Park was a lesser known stop on our itinerary. But from the moment we stepped into the valley, we realized we’d stumbled onto something magical. By the end of the day, all four of us agreed: this was one of our favorite parts of the whole trip.
Unlike the national parks, Goblin Valley doesn’t have structured trails or strict boundaries. Instead, it offers a giant open playground of strange and whimsical hoodoos, rock formations that really do look like goblins. The freedom to roam was a breath of fresh air. There were no signs telling us where to go or what not to do. It was pure exploration.
For three hours, we let our imaginations run wild. The boys played endless games of hide and sneak, ducking behind the rock goblins and jumping out with giggles. At times it felt like we’d landed on another planet, with reddish-orange rock stretching in every direction, casting long shadows as the afternoon sun moved overhead.
There was something so liberating about the unstructured adventure here. No trail maps, no hike mileage to track. Just open space, wild shapes, and the chance to be fully present in the moment. We climbed, we wandered, we made up stories, and we soaked in the quiet, otherworldly beauty of the valley.
It was a reminder that sometimes, the unplanned stops become the most memorable ones. We left energized and excited to explore our next stop, Capital Reef National Park.
Until next time,
