Our first visit to one of the many Utah State Parks, will be to Goblin Valley. Goblin Valley is in the middle of nowhere, literally. It is home to "hoodoo's" often referred to as Goblins. Hoodoo's are mushroom looking formations formed by erosion over 165 million years from water and wind to sandstone sitting on top of a softer layer of sandstone. Goblin Valley has the highest occurrence of hoodoo's of anywhere in the world! It's in the middle of the San Rafael desert, and there are hardly any plants. Sandstone and sand like you're walking on the beach is all there is around, as far as you can see.
Goblin Valley is rare in that you can climb all over the rock formations - nothing if off limits. It's a playground for older kids! It was very unique and very fun to visit.
About 10 miles from Goblin Valley, is the Mars Desert Research Station. This is the most "Mar's like" area in the world. The Mars Desert Research Station is for scientists and researchers to simulate what it would be like living on Mars. The rugged terrain, and desert like environment is thought to be the most similar to Mars. The station is self sustaining and when the scientists/researchers go outside, they wear the same gear they would wear if they were on Mars.
After Goblin Valley, we went about 5 miles out of the park to Little Wild Horse Canyon - which is a very very cool slot canyon. And long! Full of turns, and steep walls, and hidden coves. It was very fun and we enjoyed it a lot!
Where are we going? Does this road go anywhere? Hope we don't run out of gas!
I see something! We are getting close!
We made it! The valley is actually fairly small - you can walk all over the place and climb as much as you want.
Here's a couple of videos. It's not windy, but it sounds like it is:
Another:
One More:
We are going on about a 2 mile hike to the "Goblin's Lair" and pretty big cavern hidden in the small mountain
Jacob & Hannah looking at the "small grand canyon"
Of course Jacob climbed this large formation
Hannah adding to the trail markers
The only sign.
There isn't much of a trail - much of the "trail" was through sand like on the beach
It's pretty remote and desolate out here! Lucky we came in the spring when it wasn't so hot
We think this is the way up to the cave. There are no signs
Up we go!
We found it! People sometimes spelunk down from the top
Looking up from the entrance
Jacob and Hannah at the bottom
Heading back
Trail marker - we are on the right path!
See Jacob and Hannah up there?
Jacob on the top
It's amazing these stay up like this! It's just soft sandstone on the bottom
Super good place to plan hide and seek!
Now we're starting the hike to Little Wild Horse Canyon. It's about 1/2 mile to the canyon
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