Goblin Valley State Park holds 24 campsites and two rentable yurts, making it one of the harder reservations to secure in Utah. The campground sits at the edge of the park's signature rock formations, with exterior loop sites backed directly against the cliffs. All pads are paved and level, split between pull-through and back-in configurations, and every site comes with a covered picnic table, side shelter panels, and a fire ring. Those shade structures are largely optional in November but genuinely necessary from late spring through summer, when heat and occasional monsoon activity roll through the high desert.
No electrical, water, or sewer hookups are available at the individual sites, despite what some listings suggest. Potable water spigots are distributed throughout the campground, and a dump station sits on the south side near the exit. Flush toilets and showers are available in the main bathhouse, though both have been closed during winter visits in late November and December, with only a pit toilet near the yurts remaining open off-season. Cell service is essentially absent on both major carriers, so download maps and trail information before arriving.
The hoodoo formations in the Valley of the Goblins have no marked trails, so campers can move freely across the terrain. As Lee D. notes, there are also "several moderately challenging hiking trails, including one directly from the campground." The Caramel Canyon Loop involves canyon scrambles that multiple reviewers found manageable, and the Goblin's Lair trail runs roughly three miles out and back. Designated mountain biking trails and horseback riding in the Red Canyon Primitive area round out the activity options.
The park is roughly 12 miles off Highway 24, between Hanksville and camping near Hanksville to the south. That remoteness means resupply is a real consideration: one reviewer noted a boil advisory on the water supply during a summer visit, and the nearest town with services is a 30 to 45 minute drive. Campers wanting more flexibility can look at Goblin Valley Dispersed Camping or Wild Horse Butte BLM Dispersed -- Goblin Valley to the west as alternatives if the state park is booked. Reservations are strongly recommended; Terry K. calls it "one of the hardest campgrounds in Utah to book." The dark sky designation makes new moon weekends worth planning around if stargazing is part of the draw.
Description
The campground at Goblin Valley State Park consists of 25 sites and two yurts. Goblin Valley camping is divided into ten walk-in tent pads, fourteen RV spaces, and one group site able to accommodate up to 35 people. Showers and flush toilets, as well as a communal water and dump station are all available free of charge. All sites contain a picnic table, metal fire ring, and shade shelter. Cowboys searching for cattle first discovered secluded Goblin Valley. Then in the late 1920s, Arthur Chaffin, owner/operator of the Hite ferry, and two companions were searching for an alternative route between Green River and Caineville. They came to a vantage point about a mile west of Goblin Valley and were awed by what they saw, five buttes and a valley of strange-shaped rock formations surrounded by a wall of eroded cliffs. In 1949, Chaffin returned to the area he called Mushroom Valley. He spent several days exploring the mysterious valley and photographing its scores of intricately eroded creatures. The area was acquired by the state of Utah and in 1964 was officially designated a state park. Goblin Valley State Park is a showcase of geologic history. Exposed cliffs reveal parallel layers of rock bared by erosion. Because of the uneven hardness of sandstone, some patches resist erosion much better than others. The softer material is removed by wind and water, leaving thousands of unique, geologic goblins. Water erosion and the smoothing action of windblown dust work together to shape the goblins. Bedrock is exposed because of the thin soil and lack of vegetation. When rain does fall, there are few plant roots and little soil to capture and hold the water, which quickly disappears, in muddy streams without penetrating the bedrock.
Warning 4 Alerts are In Effect
There are 4 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 4 Alerts are In Effect
There are 4 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!
Visit stateparks.utah.gov to learn current conditions, fire restrictions, and other important information for each individual state park. Refunds are not given for changing park conditions such as changing water levels or fire bans.
All campsites and yurts are available for reservation on a four-month rolling basis. For example, on January 10 individual sites are available for reservation through May 10. You can book a maximum of 13 days beyond the last date of the reservation window. For more information please contact our Reservation Call Center at 800-322-3770 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Monday through Friday. The call center is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
All Reservations that extend beyond The Furthest Arrival Date Must Wait 21 Days Before Changes Can Be Made
By a vehicle having a camper or RV, that means it is a camping unit, not an extra vehicle.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsGoblin Valley State Park Campground is located in Utah near Hanksville
Directions
Located 48 miles southwest of Green River, Utah, via State Road 24.
Address
PO Box 478
Green River, UT 84525-0637
Coordinates
38.57247476 N
110.71191628 W
Connectivity
T-MobileNo Coverage- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 6/13/26
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 6/13/26
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
- Yurts
Features
For Campers
- Reservable
- Showers
- Electric Hookups
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 30 Amp Hookups
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 14 min from Grand Junction, CO
- 3 hrs 1 min from Provo, UT
- 3 hrs 31 min from Salt Lake City, UT
- 4 hrs 20 min from St. George, UT
