Following the Detour
After wrapping up our time exploring some of Utah’s more well-known stops—and already feeling like we were falling a little in love with this state—we weren’t quite ready to move on just yet. There was still so much we hadn’t seen, and something told us to keep exploring beyond the usual must-see lists.
That’s how we ended up at Goblin Valley State Park.
This stop wasn’t even on the original plan. I stumbled across it while searching for things to do in Utah beyond the National Parks—and what we found ended up being an absolute gem… and Trygg’s new favorite place.
A Landscape Like Another Planet
It’s hard to even describe this place without sounding dramatic, but it truly feels otherworldly. Think “Mars-like” landscape, filled with thousands of mushroom-shaped sandstone formations—called hoodoos, or as they’re better known here, “goblins.”
It honestly might be nature’s coolest playground. Kids can climb, explore, and let their imaginations run wild… and let’s be real, adults can too.
Where We Called Home (For a Few Days)
We boondocked about 10 miles from the park on BLM land, which worked out really well for us. It was definitely busier than we expected, but it still gave us the space and flexibility we needed for our five-night stay.
The Wild Horse Window Adventure
On our first day, Derek found a hike called the Wild Horse Window trail. It was listed as a 1-mile round trip… but the route we took definitely felt more like a mile each way.
The trail itself wasn’t super difficult, but it was a little tricky to follow at times. Still, the payoff made it completely worth it. At the end, you reach a cave with an opening at the top, and it was such a fun spot to explore.
Trygg loved testing out his echo, and one of the cave walls had really well-preserved petroglyphs, which was incredible to see up close.
Endless Exploring
The real highlight of Goblin Valley State Park, for us, was just being out among the goblins. Trygg had the best time climbing all over them, and we spent hours just wandering and exploring.
We did convince him to branch out a bit and check out a nearby wash, which turned into a really fun little hike. The boys were on the lookout for fossils or hidden treasures the whole time—but no luck this round.
We loved Goblin Valley so much, we ended up going back two more times. If it’s not already on your Utah list, it absolutely should be.
A Day at Capitol Reef
While we were in the area, we took a day trip over to Capitol Reef National Park and spent an afternoon and evening exploring.
We did the scenic drive (which was beautiful, of course) and also hiked to Hickman Bridge. The trail is listed as 1.7 miles round trip… but I’m not going to lie, it felt longer. There’s quite a bit of up and down, with close to 500 feet of elevation gain.
That said—it was absolutely worth it. The arch and the views at the end were incredible. Trygg wasn’t exactly thrilled about the hike, but he pushed through and handled it like a champ.
But Utah Wasn’t Done With Us Yet…
Next up, towering arches, endless canyon views, a few unexpected challenges, and moments we won’t soon forget.
This stretch of the journey reminded us why we chose this life in the first place—to follow the detours, to embrace the unknown, and to keep saying yes even when we don’t know exactly what’s ahead.
And through it all, we are reminded that every challenge brings growth, every adventure adds to our story, and in the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.
