Traverse Out-Of-This-World Terrain in Utah

Goblin Valley: Exploring the Land of Mushroom Rocks

When you take your first peek at Goblin Valley from the park’s observation point, you’ll understand why early settlers named this area Mushroom Valley. And while the name would eventually change to Goblin Valley (later explorers thought “goblins” would stimulate more curiosity than the word mushrooms), one thing has always remained the same: this intriguing valley in the Utah desert is filled with thousands of otherworldly rock formations that go on as far as the eye can see.

Utah Unexpected

The formation of Goblin Valley’s unique rocks began about 170 million years ago, when the area was covered by a tidal flat — a type of environment that is submerged during high tide and exposed during low tide.