I never get tired of saying Utah is a land of unbelievably strange landscapes. This land has always surprised me with its unique and beautiful rock formations carved by natural forces over time! Be it arches, canyons, natural bridges, hoodoos and 'Goblins'! For your amazement ... here is ... Goblin Valley State Park of Utah.
From Capitol Reef National Park, I drove north-east towards Green River on US-Route-24. On the way with few miles of diversion I found this place Goblin Valley. Though the place is remote the strangeness of the valley attracts many visitors. To reach the valley one has to drive on seemingly endless roads in a barren landscape. The vegetation around is only few desert bushes and cacti.
The strange rock formation is due to the erosion resistant layer of rocks over a softer sandstone. The softer layer erodes faster giving the hoodoos a mushroom like shape. These hoodoos are several meters high. It seems the sandstone were deposited during Jurassic period 170 million years ago though the goblins are much younger!
There are three short marked trails in and around the goblin valley. A short trail in the Carmel Canyon down to Molly's Castle overlook is cool. The place offers millions of opportunities for fine photography especially during the night. Due to its remoteness the dark clear skies make it possible to capture beautiful star-trails. The park is open from 7am to 10pm.
It is fun to watch the kids running around these goblins. Some play hide-and-seek, some climb up the pinnacles. It is nice to hear them laugh. The place is special and care should be taken to protect it for the coming generations to see. Few days after I visited this park, I read a news about few vandals toppled one of the rocks, carved over millions of years in a matter of minutes! How sad? Well, they seemingly had a justification for that!
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It is fun to watch the kids running around these goblins. Some play hide-and-seek, some climb up the pinnacles. It is nice to hear them laugh. The place is special and care should be taken to protect it for the coming generations to see. Few days after I visited this park, I read a news about few vandals toppled one of the rocks, carved over millions of years in a matter of minutes! How sad? Well, they seemingly had a justification for that!
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State Parks of Utah
If you want pictures please ask me :)
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Scrapbook- A Travel Blog by Kusum Sanu is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
interesting photos and info
ReplyDeleteHappy xmas and newyear
Thanks Krishna Ji.
DeleteI absolutely second your first sentence. Amazing landscapes and rock formations. Thanks for sharing these lovely landscapes.
ReplyDeleteThank you Niranjan!
DeleteStunning & fascinating rock formations. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Hope you have another fabulous travel year ahead.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr Ramakrishnan!
DeleteMerry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
ReplyDeleteExcellent pictures of what looks like a fantastic destination! I'm definitely adding this to my list of places to visit...
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and a brilliant 2014!
Yes, it is fantastic! You must visit this lace!
DeleteGreat pics!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Utah but I love the scenery from what I've seen in photos and on television.
Merry Christmas!
Yes, Utah is one awesome state!
DeleteThat is so interesting!
ReplyDeleteAmazing nature!
That is an amazing place, very nice photos. I haven't been to that part of Utah.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Utah is amazing everywhere!
DeleteWonderful photos ~ love Utah and New Mexico and Arizona ~ thanks, carol, xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol!
DeleteInteresting name and place! I enjoyed this post of Goblin Valley! Great shots..Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eileen! You have a happy week too!
DeleteOh wow. I've never heard of this park or these interesting formations. Great photos Kusum.... Michelle
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle!
DeleteTwo American hikers who toppled a historic rock formation in Utah. Goblin Valley State Park is a state park of Utah, USA. Its eminent feature is its thousands of hoodoos and hoodoo rocks, which are formations of mushroom-shaped rock pinnacles, some as high as several meters.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love Utah outdoors as well. Although I have never been there. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNice to catch up with goblins in New Year, Kusum!! Missed a lot while I was away on a holiday:)
ReplyDelete