Goblin Valley SP (near Hanksville), Utah
2-Day Itinerary for Solo Traveler
“Petrified Army: Two Solo Days Among Goblin Valley's Hoodoos”
Thousands of rust-colored hoodoos rise from the desert floor like a petrified army caught mid-march, and in summer's brutal light the only way to meet them properly is before the sun claims the valley. This is a trip built for solitude — early starts, long silences, and the particular clarity that comes from wandering alien terrain alone.
At a Glance
Highlights
- Sunrise scramble through the main hoodoo valley before the heat and crowds arrive
- Squeezing through the cool shadowed narrows of Little Wild Horse Canyon
- A lonely backcountry drive past uranium-era ruins on Temple Mountain Scenic Drive
- Golden-hour solitude on The Separates Trail, far from the main loop
- Star-drenched night skies with zero light pollution
- A billion years of stone stacked at San Rafael Swell Overlook
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1: First Light Among the Goblins
A gentle-to-moderate day of roughly 3-4 miles total walking, easing into the valley's surreal scale before the heat peaks.
Arrive by 7am and the valley is nearly yours — dusty red-rock underfoot, the hiss of wind slipping between thousands of squat, alien hoodoos. By 9am the parking lot fills and the light flattens; before that window, the low sun rakes across the formations and turns every shadow into a canyon of its own. Wander freely — there are no marked trails through the main valley, just an invitation to get pleasantly lost among the goblins.
A short, low-effort stop that rewards disproportionately — vast open silence, rust and burnt-orange cliffs stacked like pages of geologic time. It's a good spot to catch your breath in shade near the vehicle before the day's heat peaks, and solo travelers often find a few quiet minutes here genuinely restorative.
Wait out the worst of the afternoon heat, then take this ghostly backcountry drive past uranium-era mine remnants slowly surrendering to wind and time. The washboard road crunches beneath your tires as rust-colored cliffs rise in impossible formations — a solitary, contemplative way to close a first day, and one that costs almost no physical effort after a hot afternoon.
The valley belongs to early risers. Arriving by 7am means dusty red trails and thousands of hoodoos still holding the cool of night, wind hissing faintly between the narrow slots. There's no fixed trail here, just open invitation to wander — a rare, disorienting pleasure that gets crowded and hot fast, so the early window is non-negotiable.
After the heat peaks, the pace deliberately slows: a short overlook stop for shade and perspective, then a wait indoors or in the vehicle until the worst sun passes. By late afternoon, Temple Mountain's backcountry road offers a meditative, low-effort way to keep exploring without adding real physical strain — just tire crunch on washboard gravel and rusted mining relics passing by.
As the light goes long and gold on the sunset ridge, the day winds down without ceremony — no restaurant to retreat to, so pack dinner from Hanksville supplies and eat under a sky that's just beginning to reveal its stars. Solo travelers should double back to camp or Hanksville lodging before full dark, given the near-total lack of cell service.
Day 2: Into the Narrows and the Golden Hoodoos
A more demanding day of roughly 5-6 miles total walking with sustained scrambling, best tackled early to avoid summer heat.
This is Utah's most photogenic slot canyon, and hitting it between 7-10am means near-total solitude before the walls trap the day's heat. Cool stone presses close against your shoulders, boots scrape smooth red rock, and the light drops in narrow shafts through the slot's opening overhead. It's a genuinely thrilling solo experience — physical, immersive, and utterly silent except for your own footsteps.
Trade the crowded main loop for this quieter hoodoo hike, timed for the cooling late-afternoon light. Burnt-orange rock walls frame an endless horizon, boots crunch on sand and loose shale, and the only sounds are wind and the occasional raven call. It's noticeably calmer than the main valley — ideal for a solo traveler who wants space to think, and the northern hoodoo formations around mile 2-3 catch spectacular late light.
Before the heat locks in, the slot canyon offers the day's most physical and rewarding stretch — cool stone walls, tight squeezes, and a hush that makes the whole experience feel private even though it's one of the park's most popular hikes. Getting in by 6:30-7am is the difference between total solitude and a queue of hikers at the narrowest points.
A long midday break is essential — retreat to shade, rehydrate, and let the worst heat pass before setting out again. By late afternoon, The Separates Trail offers a genuinely different rhythm: quieter, more spread out, with hoodoo formations catching long light as the day cools. This is the trip's most contemplative stretch, well-suited to a solo hiker in no hurry.
As the sun drops toward the southeast viewpoint, the hoodoos silhouette against a darkening sky — a fitting, quiet close to two days in one of Utah's strangest landscapes. With no dining options inside the park, plan to eat from packed supplies or swing back toward Hanksville before its early closing hours, and spend a few minutes after dark taking in a sky free of any real light pollution.
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Customize This ItineraryRestaurant and food availability inside and near Goblin Valley State Park is extremely limited; details on hours and offerings in Hanksville change frequently, so confirm before relying on them.
Dietary compatibility information is general guidance only. With minimal food options in this remote area, travelers with specific dietary needs should pack accordingly.
Travel and safety tips here are general guidance, not professional advice — check current weather, flash flood risk, and park conditions directly with Goblin Valley State Park before heading out.
All prices are approximate estimates and may vary seasonally or with fuel and fee changes.
