Goblins.............

In addition to some excellent national parks, Utah has some wonderful state parks to explore, and they get rave reviews from many people we've talked with during our travels. Between Moab and Torrey lies Goblin Valley State Park (and Little Wild Horse/ Bell Canyon). For more information, click here. It is one of Utah's most popular parks and is fun for kids of all ages. It has been described in the brochures as unearthly and otherworldly, with mushroom-like rock sculptures that resemble goblins. The movie Galaxy Quest was filmed here. The drive into the park is quite beautiful as well.

pronghorn relaxing

very pretty drive into the park-lots of pronghorns

campers boondocking! Great location! (no water or electric though)

drive into the park-isn't that beautiful? I think that's the San Rafael Swell on the right

We stopped at the Visitor's Center first, as we planned on checking out Little Wild Horse and Bell Canyons as well, which is located about 5 miles from the state park. These are popular narrow slot canyons located in the San Rafael Swell. The ranger chatted with us about a plan. The popular hiking route begins at Little Wild Horse Canyon, then coming back via Bell Canyon. Its an 8-mile loop. Some people only do Wild Horse Canyon, since that is the more interesting slot. (That's all we wanted to do...just one canyon). She also explained that we would be walking in ankle-deep water for most of the hike. Other comments she said were about the trail itself...that there is about a mile of very narrow slot where there was no room for someone to pass you, so you should not turn around, but keep going. In other words, you are committed once you start that segment. Oh, and by the way, thunderstorms were expected at 1:00 and if we were interested to go right then so as to be safe. Slot canyons can be deadly due to flash floods, since there is no way to escape once you are in. So if you see it getting dark or if you hear thunder, get out as fast as you can....really, that's what she said!

With that information, we thought we'd try just the very beginning of the slot (I know), and go until the very narrow 1-mile segment, at which point we'd turn around. Sounded like a good plan! There was only one problem....I could not scramble up and over the big rock at the entrance! Try as I might, I could not pull myself up on that rock! Ugh!! So, we were going to go around the entrance by climbing above and walking around.....but my fear of heights kicked in. Ugh! I'm pathetic! Another group of hikers showed up (they missed the show of me trying to get in that canyon-hahaah). Seriously, I even tried twice to walk around on the ledge....but just froze. Poor Tom! (Actually, I don't think he was that keen on going there anyway). So, disappointed (at least, I was), we cut our loses and went on to Goblin Valley. Maybe another time.

 

heading down the wash

almost there

the entrance to the canyon-if only I was a little longer (well, okay....stronger!), maybe I could pull myself up that choke rock myself????

going around the choke

this part isn't bad

going to the edge....

 Goblin Valley State Park was like nothing I've ever seen before. I sort of wish we came here when our kids were young.....they would have had a great time here at this cool playground in the desert. Its a kids paradise! The kids we saw were going nuts! Just crazed playing in and among the goblins! Hahaha!

Mars?

The story goes that cowboys discovered this land of "mushrooms" while looking for cattle. Eventually, visitors ventured to this remote area as word got out, and it became a state park in 1964. This place is wild! The land has gone crazy here! These rock formations are millions of years old-shaped by geological forces to form these cute goblins.

so cool

so many weird formations

check this out!

We had a great time ourselves. Its really for kids of all ages! Back at the ranger station earlier, we asked about hiking trails through Goblin Valley. There are 3 different trails listed in the brochure and park information website, but she highly recommended just going down into the valley and just walking around. Which is what we did. FUN! 

walking up one of the little hills

and the view before us

going up and down and all around the "goblins"

where is Fred Flinstone?

 Parts of the valley looked like it could have been a village near Fred Flinstone! I could just imagine all these little "pods" with doorways! Your imagination starts to get away from you here...hahahaha. We had a fun time exploring this crazy area.

tons of "mushrooms"

just so cool

Jess and Chris would have loved this back in the day

pretty

can you imagine the early cowboys coming upon this!

too much fun!

the earth went crazy here

everywhere you look

should we think about going now?

look....I'm taller than one of the goblins!

so many goblins

surrounded by beautiful spires

look....some desert flowers!

heading back up the stairs

 After a while, we decided to have a late lunch before heading back to the Capitol Reef area. We walked a bit more at the top, almost like we couldn't tear ourselves away. Haha!

the view from our five-star restaurant!

are those people up there?

more views before leaving the park

pretty

oh hey kids....careful now!

getting your cell out to call for aid?

up higher than he thought?

checking out another view

I'm surprised more movies weren't filmed here!

 The drive back was beautiful, with the colors popping as the sun shone between the threatening clouds. We lucked out with the weather and had no rain until we got back home.

nice

love the colors

look at those lone goblins out there

pretty picture

 Driving again through Capitol Reef, we stopped at the Behunin Cabin. This was an early settler's cabin, which was restored by the National Park Service. The family that lived here, the Behunin's, had 10 kids! The cabin is a one room cabin-with a fireplace, a door and a window! Woah! They say only the parents and the two youngest kids slept in the house, and the other kids slept either on the rock ledge cutouts next to the house, or in the wagon. They lived in the cabin for a year, before they moved on to Fruita (another section of Capitol Reef) after a flash flood took out their crops and irrigation system. The environment is very harsh, and it makes you wonder how they did it! Frankly, I can't imagine making meals for a family of 12 everyday! The westward pioneers were amazingly tough and strong-willed to make it in the harsh environment here. The obstacles they overcame are amazing, especially when you look around and SEE where they settled. The route they came was the same as the "hike" we did the other day through the Capitol Gorge Wash....where the pioneers signed their names on the wall. That alone was quite something!

I count 11 kids!

one window, one door, one fireplace

the boys slept in these rock "beds"....

the Fremont River, right across the street

Is there an insect issue here?

not sure what that is-moths?

We traveled just a bit more through the park on our way "home" and stopped at one more scenic overlook. Just can't get enough of the views. This national park is just beautiful and seems to have it all....the rock and geological formations, as well as the verdant oasis known as Fruita. The Fremont River flows along through the park, with clear running water which we haven't seen much in the desert Southeast Utah canyonlands and red rock area!

the orchards look so healthy

Susie....did you take care of this tree???