Goblins

August 1, 2009 Goblin Valley State Park, UT

An ancient sea deposited sediments here 170 million years ago. Since then wind and rain have sculpted the sandstone into odd goblin-like formations.

They're not all goblins. Some are mushrooms. Doesn't Lloyd look like a little Smurf here?

And I think I saw toy soldiers and a few naughty forms.

Visitors can wander through the valley. Part of the San Rafael Swell in the background:

"San Rafael Swell is a wonderfully unique kidney shaped geographical anticline on the Colorado Plateau in central Utah. The "Swell" is about 50 miles in length and 30 miles in width. Only one paved road crosses through the approximately 600,000 ..."  Impressive.

Some of the San Rafael desert:

Only the hardiest of animals can live here: scorpions, midget faded rattlesnakes, pronghorns and kangaroo rats.

Few people visit this park, but we highly recommend a stop if you're driving from Moab through Hanksville or to Capitol Reef National Park.

-P