Goblin Valley State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Goblin Valley State Park |
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IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)
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Hoodoos in Goblin Valley
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 Goblin Valley State Park
Location in the United States
Goblin Valley State Park
Location in Utah
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| Location | Emery, Utah, United States |
| Nearest town | Hanksville, Utah |
| Area | 9,915 acres (40.12 km2) |
| Established | August 24, 1964 |
| Visitors | 268,760 (in 2017–2018 FY) |
| Operator | Utah State Parks |
| Website | Official website: https://stateparks.utah.gov/parks/goblin-valley/ |
Goblin Valley State Park is a unique state park in Utah, United States. It's famous for its thousands of strange rock formations. These rocks are called hoodoos, but locals often call them "goblins." They look like mushroom-shaped rock pinnacles, and some are several yards tall!
These amazing shapes are created by erosion. Harder rock layers sit on top of softer sandstone. Wind and water wear away the softer rock faster. This leaves the tougher rock on top, forming the distinct "goblin" shapes. Goblin Valley State Park and Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah are two of the best places in the world to see these hoodoos.
The park is located in the San Rafael Desert. It's on the edge of the San Rafael Swell, north of the Henry Mountains. Utah State Route 24 is about 4 miles east of the park. The town of Hanksville is about 12 miles to the south.
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Discovering Goblin Valley
Long ago, Native American groups lived in this area. These included the Fremont, Paiute, and Ute tribes. You can still find their pictographs (rock paintings) and petroglyphs (rock carvings) in the San Rafael Swell. Goblin Valley is known for its rock art, as well as its cool rock formations.
Later, cowboys looking for cattle found this secluded valley. In the late 1920s, a man named Arthur Chaffin and two friends were exploring. They were trying to find a new route between Green River and Caineville. They reached a spot about 1 mile west of Goblin Valley. What they saw amazed them! There were five buttes and a valley filled with strange, goblin-shaped rocks. Tall, eroded cliffs surrounded the area.
In 1949, Chaffin returned to the place he called the "Valley of the Mushrooms." He spent days exploring and taking photos of the unique rocks.
Protecting the Park
Even though it was far away, news of the valley spread. More and more visitors came to see the goblins. In 1954, people suggested that Goblin Valley should be protected. They wanted to prevent vandalism and keep the area safe.
The state of Utah bought the land and created the Goblin Valley State Reserve. It officially became a state park on August 24, 1964. In 2019, the park grew even bigger. It added 6,261 acres of land from the federal government.
Protecting Nature: A Lesson from 2013
In October 2013, a sad event happened. A hoodoo that had stood for millions of years was intentionally pushed over. This was done by a Boy Scout leader while others watched and recorded it. The men said they thought the hoodoo might fall and hurt someone. However, these formations are very old and erode very slowly. A hoodoo typically wears away only about 2 to 4 feet every 100 years.
The Boy Scout leaders involved were removed from their roles. They were also removed from the scouting organization entirely. Later, the men faced legal consequences for damaging park property. They pleaded guilty to lesser charges and received probation, along with fines. This event was a reminder of how important it is to protect natural wonders.
Plants and Animals
Goblin Valley is home to various plants and animals.
Plants of Goblin Valley
You can find plants like Mormon tea and Russian thistle. There's also Indian ricegrass and different types of cacti. At higher spots, you might see juniper trees and pinyon pines.
Animals of Goblin Valley
Many animals live in the park. These include jackrabbits, scorpions, and kangaroo rats. You might also spot pronghorns, kit foxes, and coyotes. Keep an eye out for midget faded rattlesnakes too!
How the Goblins Formed
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The amazing rock shapes in Goblin Valley are made from a type of rock called Entrada sandstone. This sandstone formed about 170 million years ago, during the Jurassic period. It was made from bits of rock washed down from ancient highlands. These bits settled on what used to be a flat area near an old sea. This area had layers of sandstone, siltstone, and shale.
The rocks show signs of old tides, channels where water flowed back to the sea, and coastal sand dunes. Over time, cracks formed in the Entrada sandstone. These cracks were weak spots. Wind and water attacked these weak spots first. The edges and corners of the rocks wore away faster. This process slowly created the round, spherical shapes we see today, which look like "goblins."
Weather in Goblin Valley
Summers in Goblin Valley are hot. Daytime temperatures often reach between 90 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (32-41 degrees Celsius). But because the air is dry and the park is high up, evenings cool down fast to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
Sometimes, in summer, there are strong thunderstorms. These can cause dangerous flash floods in the rugged landscape. The dry air, strong winds, and lightning can also start wildfires. Winters are colder, with some snow. Temperatures are usually above freezing during the day but can drop to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 degrees Celsius) at night. The park gets less than 8 inches (20 cm) of rain each year.
Goblin Valley in Movies
Goblin Valley was a star in the 1999 movie Galaxy Quest. It was used as an alien planet in the film! The unique, eroded sandstone shapes in the valley even inspired the design of the fictional planet’s rock monsters.
