Photo by Wally Pacholka / AstroPics.com.From protecting night skies to promoting eco-friendly lighting, all of IDA’s successes start with the dedication and passion of members like you.Don’t miss out!
Dead Horse Point State Park and Goblin Valley State Park received this designation during the summer of 2016; followed by Antelope Island State Park in the spring of 2017, and Steinaker State Park on January 2018. Gaze earthward at Goblin Valley’s gaggle of gnarly gargoyles, gathered grotesquely in a gully of gothic garishness. Join the IDA Monthly Moonrise Club to help provide the sustained resources needed for IDA to fight light pollution and keep the stars shining bright.Recognize and honor friends, family members and loved ones with a gift to IDA.By becoming a Brand Partner, your company is helping to advocate for responsible lighting and natural night skies. Contact Get in the Wild Adventures for more information Utah State Parks and Recreation

Utah is home to nine International Dark-Sky Association–designated Dark Sky Parks — that’s more than any other state or region in the world — meaning the utter absence of light pollution in those spots makes the stargazing top-notch. You’ll need some technical gear and canyoneering skills, as well as a backcountry permit.The Wild Horse trail system is comprised of five trails that are all perfectly suited for novice riders but still super fun for the self-proclaimed experts.To make Goblin Valley even spookier, it has one of the clearest, darkest night skies in the world. Your support of IDA's work puts you at the center of critical night sky conservation initiatives underway across the globe and close to home.

But another thing that makes certain skies more attractive is what’s underneath them.

In order to attain designation as a dark sky park, Goblin Valley needed more than just a pristine night sky. Light blue is full moon. The state park also needed to commit to protecting its own natural darkness by removing extraneous light fixtures and shielding others so that light is projected only downward to where it …

The structures, known locally as “goblins,” take on a variety of fantastical shapes and stand as high as several meters.

Goblin Valley State Park is situated on 1,479 hectares (3,654 acres) of land at the edge of the San Rafael Swell in southeastern Utah, U.S. Journey to this strange and colorful valley, which is unlike any other in Utah. Many Utah state parks have entered into the International Dark Sky Park designation process. The Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy rise over the eponymous landforms of Goblin Valley State Park. Why limit your astro-tourism to the nighttime?

Rappel into Goblin’s Lair, a 70-foot natural sandstone cave on the east side of Goblin Valley, accessed by a short hike through the goblins.
Explore the geology, and camp among the nooks and gnomes.

Along with Bryce Canyon National Park, 300 kilometers (185 miles) to the southwest, Goblin Valley has some of the highest densities of hoodoos anywhere in the world.

Goblin Valley State Park is situated on 1,479 hectares (3,654 acres) of land at the edge of the San Rafael Swell in southeastern Utah, U.S. Deep blue shows interference from moonlight. The landscape, covered with sandstone goblins and formations, is often compared to Mars. It is best known for its remarkable local topography, much of which consists of thousands of ‘hoodoos’, freestanding erosional pinnacles capped by durable sandstone rock layers protecting material beneath them. Utah Travel

Goblin Valley State Park Clear Sky Chart legend page: Image Control; 1. You’ll need some technical gear and canyoneering skills, as well as a backcountry permit. Turquoise is twilight. It shows when the sky will be dark, assuming no light pollution and a clear sky. All rights reserved. The Park’s location in a remote corner of the Colorado Plateau and away from major urban centers yields a dark-sky resource that is comparable in quality to several Gold-tier IDA Dark Sky Parks in the region, such as

Climbing and exploring the melting red rock monsters ought to keep you busy until the sun goes down and you can get back to astronomical business. You’ve got your standard tent sites, sites with RV hookups, group sites, and… Group Sites: $85 for up to 35 people, $3/person after that (8 vehicles / 4 RVs max)You can spend as much time as you’d like wandering through the hoodoos, or you can choose to hike one of the designated trails:Rappel into Goblin’s Lair, a 70-foot natural sandstone cave on the east side of Goblin Valley, accessed by a short hike through the goblins. Why stargaze somewhere that’s ugly in the daytime when you’ve got a Dark Sky Park like Goblin Valley in central Utah?When the pesky sun is up and the atmosphere scatters blue light that obfuscates your celestial view, go ahead and look down. It is best known for its remarkable local topography, much of which consists of thousands of ‘hoodoos’, freestanding erosional pinnacles capped by durable sandstone rock layers protecting material beneath them. Not all skies are created equal. Here’s how to do your trip right.There are several campsites. Industry Website Black is a dark sky. That’s not the end of the road though. Renew your membership now to ensure you keep getting timely updates on IDA and night sky protection. Make sure to download your stargazing apps before your trip — there’s a strong correlation between how much light pollution and cellular reception you’ll find in a given place.Goblin Valley includes an area where soft sandstone has eroded into interesting shapes, somewhat resembling goblins Find info on camping and oher attractions.Get In The Wild Adventures specializes in backpacking, scrambling, canyoneering, and snowshoe classes for all ages.Copyright © 2020 Utah.com.