Goblin Valley State Park Story Of Goblin Valley Plants And

Goblin Valley is Utah's skull in the sky, parade of elephants, and dance of dolls. Unique and enchanting rock sculptures carved by wind and water suggest mischievous goblins of folklore still about their secretive deeds. Add year-round solitude in a remote desert setting and you have the stuff dreams are made of. The antics of these chocolate goblins amid balanced rocks, spires, and pedestals are limited only by your imagination.

Goblin Valley State Park is located in Emery County between Green River and Hanksville . Follow Highway 24 to Temple Mountain Junction, and proceed 12 miles southwest on a paved road. Goblins of infinite design will greet you!

1 Story of Goblin Valley

Secluded Goblin Valley was first discovered by cowboys searching for cattle. Then in the late 1920s, Arthur Chaffin, owner/operator of the Hite Ferry, and two companions were searching for an alternate route between Green River and Caineville . They came to a vantage point about one 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.

Publicity attracted visitors to the valley despite its remoteness. In 1954 it was proposed that Goblin Valley be protected from vandalism. The state of Utah later acquired the property and established Goblin Valley State Reserve. It was officially designated a state park on August 24, 1964.

2 Plants and Animals

Vegetation is limited to hardy desert species that can endure blowing sand and hot dry surface conditions. Vegetation and wildlife exist on a limited supply of water in this arid desert environment. Plants have adapted by reducing the size of their leaves, smaller leaves lose less water through evaporation. Some plants have a waxy coating on their leaves that reduces water loss. You are likely to encounter Mormon Tea (joint fir), Russian thistle, Indian ricegrass, and various cacti. Nearby, at slightly higher elevations, are juniper and pinyon pine.

Animals often must travel many miles to find water or else wait for thunderstorms to provide moisture. Most animals in the area are nocturnal, venturing out only in the cooler evenings to hunt and forage for food. Some animals get water from the food they eat and go for weeks without a drink of water. Jack rabbits, scorpionA scorpion is an invertebrate animal with eight legs belonging to the order Scorpiones in the class Arachnida. Physical characteristics The scorpion body is divided into 2 main segments the cephalothroax and the abdomen, the cephalothroax consists of thes, kangaroo ratKangaroo rats : Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Eutheria : Rodentia : Heteromyidae Dipodomys about 20: see text Kangaroo rats genus Dipodomys are small rodents native to North and Central America. The name derives from their bipedal form (they hop like ts, pronghorn antelopeThe Pronghorn Antilocapra americana is the only surviving member of the family Antilocapridae and the fastest land animal in North America running at speeds up to 54 mph (90 km/h). The Pronghorn is also known as the Pronghorn Antelope but is not a true an, kit fox es, midget faded rattlers, and coyoteA coyote Canis latrans is a member of the Canidae (the dog family) and a relative of the domestic dog. Coyotes are only found in North America. Coyotes may occasionally assemble in small packs, but normally hunt alone. Coyotes live an average of about 6 ys are found within and near the park.

3 Activities

The valley of goblins lets visitors experience up close and personal the handy work of millions of years of erosional forces. Exploring in the valley creates an atmosphere of self-discovery as you meander among and in between the goblins. The park offers three trails to complement your visit:

Carmel Canyon - A 2 mile moderately strenuous loop leading from the parking area to the desert floor. Along the way, you see Goblin Valley from a different perspective and are treated to a short slot canyon on your way back.

Curtis Bench - A fairly easy 2.1 mile out and back trail that follows the Curtis formation. The trail offers a unique overview of Goblin Valley as well as spectacular views of the Henry Mountains .

Entrada Canyon - An adventuresome, moderately strenuous 1.3 mile one-way trail that goes from the campground to the valley of goblins and back. The trail follows a natural drainage that lends itself to those who enjoy discovering what is around the next corner. It's not for those who struggle with a sense of direction!

4 Geology

The wonderfully grotesque stone sculptures in Goblin Valley result from millions of years of geologic history. The goblins are made of Entrada SandstoneThe Entrada Sandstone was deposited in the Colorado Plateau, Colorado, USA, during the Jurassic Period somewhere between 180 and 140 million years ago. The sand grains and siltstones of tidal mudflats, beaches and sand dunes make up the 3 members of this. They consist of debris eroded from former highlands and redeposited here on a tidal flat (alternating layers of sandstoneSandstone is an arenaceous sedimentary rock composed mainly of feldspar and quartz and varies in colour (in a similar way to sand), through grey, yellow, red, and white. Since sandstones often form highly visible cliffs and other rock formations, certain, siltstoneSiltstone is a sedimentary rock that is intermediate in grain size between the coarser sandstone and the finer shale. As its name implies, it is primarily composed of silt, defined as grains smaller than 62 micrometres. Siltstones were at one time often r and shale). The goblins show evidence of being near and ancient sea with 1) the ebb and flow of tides, 2) tidal channels that directed currents back to the sea and 3) coastal sand dunes.

Joint or fracture patterns within the Entrada's sandstone beds create initial zones of weakness. The unweathered joints intersect to form sharp edges and corners with greater surface-area-to-volume ratios than the faces. As a result, the edges weather more quickly, producing sperical-shaped goblins.

5 Weather

Clear desert skies offer spectacular views of the desert floor and San Rafael Reef. Low humidity and sparse vegetation allow evenings to cool off rapidly.

Summer - Temperatures can be in the 90s to low 100s during the day and fall to the 50s at night. Afternoon thundershowers in late summer cool temperatures dramatically but also bring danger of lightning strikes and flash flooding in nearby slot canyons.

Spring and Autumn - Variable weather. Days are often sunny and warm, nights clear and cool. Be prepared for abrupt changes. There are often strong winds, rain, hail and occasional snow.

Winter - Colder temperatures and occasional snow. Temperatures are above freezing most days but often drop into the teens and single digits at night.

6 Safety Tips

Lightning danger is severe in exposed valley and park locations. Seek shelter in buildings or vehicles during thunderstorms.

Drink plenty of water - one gallon per person per day in summer.

Goblin Valley is a remote, rugged area. Use caution when climbing or on exposed terrain.

7 Reservations

Reservations are available for group-use and individual campsites. Individual campsite reservations may be made five days to 16 weeks in advance of park departure date. Group-use reservations may be made up to 11 months in advance of park departure date. To make a reservation, please call (801) 322-3770 within Salt Lake City or toll free (800) 322-3770.

Reservations are not required but advised. Unreserved sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

8 User Fees

Day-use and camping fees are charged. Additional fees are charged for group-use and reservations.

9 Guidelines

Please observe the followin park regulations to ensure that everyone's visit is pleasant:

Camping - Camp only in designated areas. Each permit covers one vehicle and any attached recreational equipment. There is an extra fee for additional vehicles or camping equipment. Up to eight people are allowed in a campsite.

Fires - Campfires may be built in specified areas. All sites provide charcoal grills and selected sites offer ground grills. Firewood is generally not available in state parks. Picnickers and campers should bring appropriate fuel.

Pets - Pets are allowed in Utah state parks but should be on a maximum six-foot leash. Seeing Eye dogs are the only animals admitted in park buildings. For safety and courtesy, please keep your pets under control.

Bicycles - Bicycling is permitted on established public roads and in parking area. Bicycles are not allowed on hiking trails, in the valley of goblins, or within the campground off the pavement.

Off-highway vehicles - Off-highway vehicle riding is permitted in areas nearby the park. For designated areas contact a park ranger.

Plants and animals - All plants, animals, minerals, and other natural features in state parks are protected. It is unlawful to remove, alter, or destroy them.

Firearms - Posession or use of firearms, traps, or other devices capable of launching a projectile that can immobilize, injure, or kill a person or animal, or damage property is prohibited unless the weapon or device is 1) unloaded and packed away to prevent its use, 2) being used in the legal pursuit of wildlife or 3) being used by authorized enforcement officers in the performance of official duties.

Fireworks - Unless authorized by the park manager, fireworks or firecrackers are prohibited in state parks.

Vandalism - It is unlawful to mutilate or deface any natural or constructed feature or structure. Please help keep our parks beautiful.

Speed limit - The speed limit within all park areas is 15 mph.

Waste water - It is unlawful to dump or to drain water from campers or trailers onto the ground. A sanitary disposal station is provided for registered campers.

Quiet hours - 10:00 pm to 7:00 am

10 External links

Utah state parks

<Hide>

Goblin Valley

Designation	State park
Location	Utah USA
Nearest City	Green River, Utah
Latitude	38° 30' N
Longitude	110° 45' W
Area	over 3,000 acres
Date of Establishment	August 24, 1964
Governing Body	Utah State Parks

Home > Goblin Valley State Park