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This secluded Utah state park is a hidden gem. It boasts amazing views, inexpensive camping, and plentiful photography opportunities.
Located near the southern border of the state, Goosenecks State Park is a small slice of Grand Canyon views in Utah. The park overlooks the meanders of the San Juan River, and canyons that have eroded over the millennia. This park is great for anyone hoping to learn about geology, get far away from civilization, or take in the natural desert beauty of Utah.
This park has primitive, first come, first serve camping sites, but getting a site usually isn't a problem if you arrive early in the day, even in the busier months of the year. Sites are equipped with a picnic table, and fire ring. Vault bathrooms are available. Beware that the area can be quite windy. Bring strong tent stakes!
Several informational signs can be found throughout the park. These signs explain both park history, and geologic history. This can be useful for anyone hoping to turn this trip into an educational adventure.
Daytime photography is a can't miss opportunity here. The orange sandstone canyons carved by the river look especially amazing contrasted against the bright bluebird skies and distant red mesas. A wide angle lens can be especially useful for those looking to capture as much of the scenery into one picture as possible.
Goosenecks has ideal conditions for nighttime photography. The skies are incredibly dark due to the lack of towns in the area. Astrophotographers can try their hand at capturing the many constellations that cover the night sky, or even the Milky Way.
If you're looking for incredible views, and amazing photography, look no further than Goosenecks. The desert scenery is sure to inspire photographers, hikers, families, and adventurers alike.
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Camp at Goosenecks State Park
Lonely night in beautiful landscape with view on monument valley! Highly recommended!
Camp at Goosenecks State Park
We planned to spend a Friday night here while passing through. We arrived around 7:30pm and the park was completely empty. There are composting toilets and the sites have a covering over the table. We ended up leaving because it was really windy and dusty and we were kinda creeped out that nobody was there. If you like quiet and isolation, the this might be your jam. Don't get wrong, the views are spectacular!
Camp at Goosenecks State Park
I rolled up to this tiny park late in the afternoon, hoping to get a campsite. All I knew was it was marked as a park on my atlas, and I hoped it would be better than staying in Mexican Hat after driving through Monument Valley. I was so pleasantly surprised by how gorgeous the view was, and I had the place to myself. The campgrounds itself is pretty bare bones and exposed, but it was such a nice spot to cook dinner and enjoy the view.
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
For a small entrance fee of $5, you have the chance to photograph a beautiful canyon view without having to hike miles and days to get to it. Enjoy this rare luxury! There is a pavilion with a picnic table for dinner while you wait for the sunset, and there are also bathrooms if you need them. There is a trail along the canyon rim that will allow you to explore multiple angles and find just...
Hike the Honaker Trail
In the days of Utah's Wild West gold rush (circa 1890s), a man named Henry Honaker decided to build a supply route from the San Juan River to the cliffs tops, roughly 1200 feet, above. The roughly hewn trail that Henry built; aptly named the ‘Honaker Trail’ was to act as a supply route for the gold miners in the area. Sadly for Henry, the gold rush was short-lived (at least in this part of the ...
Raft the Lower San Juan River
The put-in for the lower segment of the San Juan river is in the center of Mexican Hat. This is a permitted section of river run by a lottery, and you work to secure a permit through https://www.recreation.gov/permits/250986 Briefly after take off, the canyon walls begin to climb taller above the river, marking the entrance into Gooseneck State Park. Far from the rim, you're likely to see a num...
Camp at Muley Point
Muley Point on the southern end of the Cedar Mesa is one of the finest camping (and car camping) sites in North America, towering some 2400' above the San Juan River Canyon (and The Goosenecks State Park) looking south directly into the northern mouth of Monument Valley. It is a breathtakingly beautiful place and easily missed. To get there from the South, take Highway 163 north from Mexican Ha...
Camp in the Valley of the Gods
The dirt road loop is relatively smooth and can be driven on by just about any car, campervan, or RV. However, check the weather beforehand because some areas can become flooded after rain and will be a difficult mud crossing. It can be driven in either direction. One entrance is off Highway 163, 15 miles west of Bluff and 7 miles east of Mexican Hat, and the other entrance is off Highway 261, ...
Explore Forrest Gump Hill
If you are in or around Monument Valley, the drive and corresponding effort to get to Forrest Gump Hill is minimal. The location is known most notably as the spot where Forrest Gump ended his cross-country run in the movie. It's also simply an unbelievable view. From the most iconic site within Monument Valley, the Mitten Buttes, take Indian Route 42 East 3.7 miles to the West and turn right on...