Green River & Goblin Valley Kid Adventures

Goblin Valley

The little town of Green River is perfectly situated to visit both Moab and Goblin Valley.  It is a 3 hour 10 minute direct drive from Salt Lake City.  Located one hour and 10 minutes from Goblin Valley, the River Terrace Inn is the best place to stay if you are not camping.  Ask for a river view room, which will have views of the river.  The second floor rooms are quieter, and the lower level rooms have easy access to the back garden area and pool.  The Inn also offers a full made to order breakfast including individually cooked eggs of all sorts as well as bacon, sausage, cereals, and juices. 

Goblin Valley is an hour drive from Green River and is the perfect place to take young hikers.  The soft sandstone has eroded into interesting shapes, some people say they resemble goblins. In some spots the rock formations are close together and produce a maze-like playground ideal for family explorations.  There are many spots for kids to play and hide.  Visitors say the park landscape has a surreal appearance.  It has the perfect look for an alien planet. In fact Galaxy Quest was filmed in Goblin Valley. 

Entrance to the park is $7.

You can also camp at Goblin Valley State Park for $16.  Make sure you have everything you need, it is an hour drive to any stores.

Tips and suggestions:

• Pack a lunch and eat at the Goblin Valley terrace
• Take 2 way radios to communicate.
• Kids can easily get lost in the maze of sandstones, make a plan of where to meet.
• EVERY child needs a whistle, teach them to use it if they get lost.  You can also use a code of whistles to have everyone gather at a certain spot.
• Look at the maps and take a hike around the hills and mountain. 
• Take more water than you think you will need.  It can get really hot even in the spring.
• Make a family soundtrack of fun music.  Sign along with the music!!
• Take hiking shoes, AND water/sandals.

Just up the road from Goblin Valley State Park is an amazing slot canyon called Little Wild Horse.  It is a fun hike to do with kids! 

Best Tips and Tricks for Little Wild Horse:

• Go EARLY or go later in the day.  If you go at noon the rock walls get extremely hot.  If it is a warm day, don't expect to hike the whole canyon with kids.
• When you get into the canyon and the trail spits at a "Y", go right to find the slot canyon.  Use this hike as an out and back.  Go into the trail as far as time allows and then come back out.
• Take BOTH hiking and water shoes.  If there is water, sometime you don't have a way to get by the water and you will have to take your shoes off. ICK!
• Water is essential! Take double you think you will need. Both times we have gone we have run out of water.
• If you hike the canyon early plan on taking a lunch. 
• Take a camera, and a waterproof case. We dropped our camera in one of the little ponds.  It could have been prevented if we had had the camera in a plastic bag.
• WATCH THE WEATHER! The slick rock canyon surface can have flash flood very easily.  Be prepared, and don't go if there is a chance of rain.
• The canyon draws you into it with the thought "What is around that corner?"  Make a plan of how long you will hike, and then turn around when that time comes.   We hiked 2 hours into the canyon, then decided we were getting tired. It was a really long hike out with kids. Both Curt and I had to carry kids on our backs with zero water.  It could have been a really bad experience!
• There are many dogs on the trail, warn kids that there might be dogs and how to handle them.
• Keep cold ICE water in the car to come back to.  After a long dry hike it is so nice to come back to a nice cold drink.