Don’t Miss Goblin Valley State Park, Little Wild Horse Canyon, and Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph

These three gems of Utah make for a simply awesome day and can be visited all in one day due to their close proximity to each other.

Although Goblin Valley State Park seemingly sits in the middle of nowhere, it has two fantastic attractions within 20 minutes of it: 1) Little Wild Horse Canyon and 2) Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel.

Goblin Valley State Park and Little Wild Horse Canyon Trail might possibly be the most memorable experiences of our trip to Capitol Reef National Park, so I hope you can carve out some time to visit them if you’re even remotely close to this area.

We actually visited this area on our way to Capitol Reef from Salt Lake City, but you could also make this a day trip from your home base in Torrey, the gateway town to Capitol Reef National Park.

The drive takes about 90 minutes from Torrey and less than 4 hours (3:45) from Salt Lake City.

Too busy to plan a vacation? See our blogs “Capitol Reef National Park Is So Worth It” for detailed day-to-day plans, where to stay, recommended restaurants, tips, and more!

Map Location

A map showing a 4-hour, 51-minute route from Salt Lake City International Airport to Capitol Reef National Park via Goblin Valley State Park. The route covers 243 miles, passing through Salt Lake City, Provo, Price, and Manti-La Sal National Forest.
Location of Goblin Valley State Park. Map courtesy of Google Maps.
A map outlining a scenic driving route from Goblin Valley State Park to Little Wild Horse Canyon Trailhead and Bell Canyon Trailhead, passing the Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel—a perfect addition to your list of things to do near Capitol Reef National Park. The drive covers 13.6 miles in about 37 minutes.
Map is courtesy of Google Maps. This area is a 90 minute drive from Torrey.

Goblin Valley State Park

The photos of this unique place simply cannot capture its uniqueness and beauty. 

A vast desert landscape in Capitol Reef National Park features unique rock formations under a partly cloudy sky. Two people walk along a path, providing scale to the sprawling terrain. Among the many things to do in this park, exploring its arid and expansive beauty tops the list.
Goblin Valley State Park

Although Goblin Valley State Park offers 3 official trails and an Observation Point (a covered platform with picnic tables), the best and most fun way to explore this park is simply walking down the stairs from the Observation Point to roam among the valleys of these goblin-like sandstone formations.

A person walks through a landscape of unique rock formations under a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds. The sandy, desert-like terrain of Capitol Reef National Park offers one of the many things to do in this otherworldly atmosphere formed by large boulders.
Hiking among the goblins in Goblin Valley State Park

You can’t get lost as you can always find a way to look up to see the parking area above you in the distance. A fun game of hide and seek could also be had here!

You’ll need to pay a $20 fee at the Visitor Center to enter the park. The Visitor Center offers cold drinks and some snacks and, more importantly, restrooms with flush toilets!

Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon

Located just 20 minutes from Goblin Valley State Park, this trail offers the unique opportunity to experience a non-technical slot canyon.

A narrow slot canyon with towering, smooth, reddish rock walls awaits exploration. A person is visible in the distance walking through, highlighting the canyon's impressive height and tight passageway—a must-see among things to do in Capitol Reef National Park. The sky is bright at the top opening.
The narrowest section of Little Wild Horse Canyon

Important!!! Be sure to check at the Visitor Center at Goblin Valley State Park for weather and trail conditions as this hike is a flash flood risk. Do not hike it if there is a chance of rain. Seriously. Tip: They also have a trail brochure with directions and a map.

The hike can be an 8 mile loop combining both Little Wild Horse Canyon Trail and Bell Canyon Trail or an out and back hike on Little Wild Horse Canyon Trail.

For the “most bang for you buck”, stick to the Little Wild Horse Canyon Trail and simply retrace your steps when you are ready to turn around. 

After walking a short way (about a 1/2 mile from the trailhead) along a wide, dry riverbed and scrambling over a few rocks, you’ll eventually encounter a sign indicating to go right to continue the trail through Little Wild Horse Canyon.

Within about one easy and relatively flat mile from here, the canyon walls will continue to narrow and rise until eventually offering only a shoulder’s width passage. So fun!

  • A person in a yellow shirt strolls along a gravel path through the desert landscape of Capitol Reef National Park, where sparse vegetation and a large tree stand under a blue sky with scattered clouds—one of many captivating things to do in this stunning park.
    Beginning of Little Wild Horse Trail
  • A person stands on a rocky, narrow path in Capitol Reef National Park, surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs under a partly cloudy sky. They reach out to one of the rock walls, embodying the sense of exploration and natural wonder among the best things to do in this breathtaking park.
    The walls start to narrow

Little Wildhorse Canyon Trail is 3.3 miles long end to end and contains 3 sets of narrows with the first set being the narrowest.

With constraints on time and having explored Goblin Valley prior to this hike, we turned around once we reached a small clearing after squeezing through the first set of narrows. 

It was a spectacular hike for us, and we ended up with maybe about a 3-4 mile roundtrip hike although I didn’t track the distance and no one ever asked when it would ever end. It was that fun!

We saw only a handful of people on the trail while we there, which is unusual for this popular hike.

Perhaps it was uncrowded due to it being fall season, mid-week, and a late afternoon outing. Whatever the reason, it was lucky and fortunate for us!

Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel

Explore the ancient red petroglyphs on a rugged rock face, nestled within layers of sandstone at Capitol Reef National Park. These weathered yet distinct carvings showcase historical artwork, offering a captivating glimpse into the past among the many things to do in this stunning park.
Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel Near Goblin Valley State Park

Also nearby and a super quick and accessible stop, the Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel is found right off the side of the road. Traveling on Temple Mountain Road, you’ll see a sign pointing you to the parking area on the right. 

According to the informational sign at the parking area, the “Temple Mountain Pictograph panel is significant because it contains some of the largest prehistoric painted figures in Utah. The largest image is, at present, about 6 feet tall.” 

We found the Temple Mountain Wash Pictograph Panel on this large cliff face to be more impressive than those found in Capitol Reef, mainly because of their size.

See the Trek Planner’s blog post for detailed information on this worthwhile stop if you are in the area.

Happy Trails! Safe travels and happy hiking! If you’re visiting Capitol Reef National Park, also see our blog “Best Easy Hikes In Capitol Reef.”

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