At the end of summer 2011 we took a road trip to explore Southwestern Utah for 2 weeks. We had both been to Moab and the surrounding area when we were younger so we decided to skip the ever-popular Arches and Canyonlands and begin our adventure a bit farther West.
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| The view from Goblin Valley State Park Campground |
Our first stop was at
Goblin Valley State Park, near Hanksville, Utah and about a 50 minute drive South from I-70 on Hwy 24. The campground there was very open and not very private at all. The scenery surrounding the campsite was wonderful but you could hear every word the neighbors uttered and one couldn't help but feeling watched. The campground sits at 5,098 ft. above sea level so at the end of August, it was still in the high 80's (F) at night, which, added on to the noisy neighbors, made for a rather unfruitful night of sleep. The one bonus was heated restrooms with electricity and showers which is nice when you've been on the road for a while. The campsites cost $16 USD a night and include the $7 USD day use Park entry fee. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, and shelter of sorts to keep the sun and rain out. Because the campground is relatively flat, finding a good spot for the tent was not a problem, but be sure not to set up in the flash-flood wash areas! If you are able to plan ahead, we would recommend reserving sites GO18, GO19, & GO12 through
ReserveAmerica.com as these are the sites with the most privacy. This campground also has a few yurts (sort of tent/cabin hybrids) that you can rent for $60 USD a night.
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| Panoramic view of Campground |
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One of the yurts you can rent
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After a quick breakfast and tearing town our campsite, we headed off to the Goblin Valley, made up of thousands of hoodoos (eroded sandstone formations). There are a few trails that lead down into the Valley, but once you are down there, you can go anywhere to explore and take photos. As with most places in Utah, early morning and late evening are the best times to get the "money shots". We were there mid-morning and were still able to get lots of good photos. Make sure to wear sunscreen and a hat and bring lots of water as it gets very hot down in the valley.
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| Goblin Valley |
Once we'd explored to our heart's content, we took off and headed to the
Little Wildhorse Canyon (part of the San Rafael Swell). The turn off for the trailhead is back towards Hwy. 24, about 2 miles past the State Park fee station. We only did the short, first loop of the Canyon due to time restraints but we're already planning on going back to do the whole thing. This is a great introductory slot canyon and there aren't too many sketchy/tight sections to worry about, but I would still not recommend taking dogs or small children on this "trail". Bring a snack and lots of water as the heat can be very intense during the day.
After our jaunt into the canyon, we got back on the road and headed to Capitol Reef National Monument, which is a beautiful drive so take your time and enjoy the scenery.
The next installment will cover Capitol Reef National Park and camping at Cedar Mesa campground.
Our first stop was at Goblin Valley State Park, near Hanksville, Utah and about a 50 minute drive South from I-70 on Hwy 24. The campground there was very open and not very private at all. The scenery surrounding the campsite was wonderful but you could hear every word the neighbors uttered and one couldn't help but feeling watched. The campground sits at 5,098 ft. above sea level so at the end of August, it was still in the high 80's (F) at night, which, added on to the noisy neighbors, made for a rather unfruitful night of sleep. The one bonus was heated restrooms with electricity and showers which is nice when you've been on the road for a while. The campsites cost $16 USD a night and include the $7 USD day use Park entry fee. Each campsite has a fire ring, picnic table, and shelter of sorts to keep the sun and rain out. Because the campground is relatively flat, finding a good spot for the tent was not a problem, but be sure not to set up in the flash-flood wash areas! If you are able to plan ahead, we would recommend reserving sites GO18, GO19, & GO12 through ReserveAmerica.com as these are the sites with the most privacy. This campground also has a few yurts (sort of tent/cabin hybrids) that you can rent for $60 USD a night. 
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