Goblin Valley State Park Utah USA

Unearthly landscapes, weirdly shaped rocks, and echoes of the past are not science fiction here in Goblin Valley State Park (Utah USA).  It is located 50 miles southwest of Green River about 12 miles off State Highway 24.   

Originally referred to as Mushroom Valley, Goblin Valley was officially designated a state park on August 24, 1964.  The park is about one mile across and two miles long (3,654 acres).  

Goblin Valley State Park is worth taking the time to visit.  It took millions of years for wind and water to create these strangely-shaped hoodoos but you can spend as much or as little time here as you wish.  

Our visit to Goblin Valley was an impromptu decision by my Hubby.  I had never seen any pictures or even heard of this State Park.  While we are driving west on Goblin Valley Road, I can't help but wonder, "What’s a goblin and what makes this State Park so special?" 

Bryce is Nice

If you ever get the chance to spend some time in southern Utah ... go for it.  There is so much to see and do.  National Parks offer scenic driving tours from the comfort of your car or get out of the car and take a hike for even more awesome landscape views and photo opportunities.  Among these spectacular parks is Bryce Canyon National Park.  

Bryce Canyon is not really a canyon but a collection of amphitheaters.  So, what’s the difference?  

A Capitol Good Idea - Visit Capitol Reef National Park

I love visiting southern Utah.  One of the main attractions is called the Grand Circle Tour.  Part of that tour includes Capitol Reef National Park.  The Park is located near the town of Torrey in south-central Utah in Wayne County (USA).  

The park was established in 1971 to preserve and protect the cultural history and rugged geological wonders of the area.  Originally called “Wayne Wonderland”, the name Capitol Reef came from two impressions: The first impression came from early settlers who thought the large white sandstone domes resembled the U.S. Capitol building.  The second impression also came from early travelers who faced the formidable barrier “reef” created by the sheer cliffs of the Waterpocket Fold (a long ridge in the Earth’s crust).  

We spend the night in Hanksville.  In the morning, we drive UT-24 to Capitol Reef National Park. 

The first historic building we see is the Behunin Cabin (built 1882).  The only thing here is the cabin and its history.  Elijah Behunin, his wife Tabitha, and 11 of their 13 children lived here in the 1890s.   We walk around this slightly larger than a postage-stamp size structure and wonder how so many people could live in this tiny cabin.  A little research reveals the answer.

Behunin Cabin

An All American Road - Scenic UT 12

Utah’s Highway 12 is a scenic drive between US-89 (near Panguitch) and Torrey (ending at UT 24).  The paved road passes through Dixie National Forest, scenic overlooks, state parks, small towns, and the Red Canyon area.  The road offers easy access to Capitol Reef National Park (near Torrey, Utah) and Bryce Canyon National Park (near US-89).  In 2002, this 124 mile stretch of road was designated an “All-American Road”.   So I asked myself, “What is an All-American Road?”

Burr-Raving the Burr Trail

Before we begin any trip we make sure our gas tank is full, our camera batteries are charged, and we have plenty of water and food.  We have a four-wheel drive jeep and my Hubby is anxious to explore some of Utah's back roads.  So, we check with the Visitor Center in Capitol Reef National Park for current road and weather conditions*. We learn the Cathedral Valley Road is impassable due to recent rains. However, both the Burr Trail and the Notom Road are passable and the weather forecast is sunny and dry.  

Our plan for today is to drive a loop route starting in Torrey at the intersection of UT-24 and UT-12 and drive south to the town of Boulder where we will turn east onto the Burr Trail and then north on the Notom-Bullfrog Road and finally west on UT-24 where we will return to Torrey.

**Map of Loop Drive

The Burr Trail was originally a rough cattle trail with elevations ranging between 3,900 to 6,675 feet. Today, the first 31 miles are paved and then it becomes a primitive dirt road for the next 22 miles and returns to a paved road for the remainder of the drive.  The ride might be bumpy in spots.  So, buckle up those seat belts because it's time to hit the trail ...