Goblin’s Lair: Hike or Rappel into the Chamber of the Basilisk
BY JARED DILLINGHAM
HIKE TO GOBLIN’S LAIR
Goblin’s Lair, also known as the Chamber of the Basilisk, is part of Goblin Valley State Park.
It’s in a remote section of Southern Utah, and makes a great day trip from Moab or even Salt Lake City.
Goblin Valley and Goblin’s Lair are also popular stops for people driving between the region’s national parks, which include Canyonlands, Arches, and Capitol Reef.
What is Goblin’s Lair?
Goblin’s Lair is the name given to a cave in Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park.
A ranger told me Goblin’s Lair was once a slot canyon, which was closed off and turned into a chamber by boulders during a massive rockslide.
You can hike to the lair, or even rappel down into it from holes in its rock ceiling.
Location of the Lair
Goblin’s Lair requires a one mile hike from the main parking lot at Goblin Valley State Park.
On the map, you can see the orange line for the Carmel Canyon Trail lead around a mountain to the Goblin’s Lair Trail:
If you’re driving, here are a few mile markers:
📍 220 miles from Salt Lake City
📍 100 miles from Moab, Utah
📍 150 miles from Grand Junction, Colorado
📍 60 miles from Capitol Reef National Park
📍 190 miles from Bryce Canyon, Utah
Why it’s Called Goblin’s Lair
This part of the Utah desert was covered by a sea 150 million years ago. As the water dried up and receded, the it left layers of sand and clay behind.
Eventually, it hardened into shapes of sandstone. Wind and water have eroded silt away to leave the hardened sandstone formations, shaped like mushrooms.
The unique rock formations are called hoodoos, and nicknamed “goblins.”
That’s how the cavern at Goblin Valley became known as “Goblin’s Lair.”
Hike to Goblin’s Lair
The park’s trails are not overly-well marked, so in the parking lot it was confusing to figure out where to wander toward Goblin’s Lair.
The Carmel Canyon Trail
The Carmel Canyon Traill will lead you to Goblin’s Lair.
Start in the main parking lot, and look for the smellier of the two bathrooms in the lot. You’ll … catch my drift as soon as you get in the vicinity.
Behind the smellier bathroom, on the northern end of the parking lot, you’ll find a sign for the Carmel Canyon Trail.
The trail starts off well-marked, but as it continues you’ll have to watch for stakes and signs in the ground to follow.
The trail isn’t overly trafficked, so if it’s been rainy or windy, the footsteps of other hikers can be erased easily.
A mile in, you’ll see what looks like a rockslide (below). Climbing up the trail through the boulders will lead to the small entrance to the Goblin’s Lair cave.
The boulders are huge! They were part of the walls of the old slot canyon.
It’ll take some effort, but most hikers who’ve made the trek this far will be able to maneuver their way down through the rocks and into the cavern below.
Here’s the view from above, looking down at the floor of Goblin’s Lair:
Inside Goblin’s Lair
First of all, the lair will provide some relief from the weather! It can be brutally hot during the summer at Goblin Valley, so you’ll enjoy the cooler temperatures inside the cavern.
Aside from the temperature change, you’ll immediately notice the beams of light streaming through a series of big holes in the rocks above the lair.
The light coming through the natural skylights can be especially dramatic midday, when the sun is near its peak.
The sharp contrast between the bright daylight beaming in and the dark cave creates a challenge for photography, but to the naked eye: it’s truly stunning.
The lair is a good space to relax in and snack in for a while. If you’re lucky, like we were, you’ll be the only ones there!
After you’re done, you have the option of continuing on to the Goblette’s Lair, which you’ll see on signs. It’s another quarter of a mile hike beyond the main cave.
What to Bring to Goblin’s Lair
The biggest tip I have is to bring extra water and food. There are no concessions at Goblin Valley State Park.
While the large parking area has restrooms, there are no vending machines.
The entry booth has ice to pick up on your way in, but otherwise, you’re on your own.
We’re experienced desert hikers, and we still didn’t bring enough water to get all the way to Goblin’s Lair on a hot summer day. I’d suggest at least two liters of water per person.
Cell reception was sketchy, so having a map already pulled up on our phones well before we arrived at the park helped us follow our position as the blue dot.
Drone Use at Goblin Valley
You won’t want to fly your drone inside Goblin’s Lair, but you’re free to fly it around the wild rock formations outside!
It’s a $10 fee at the entrance to the park to use your drone at Goblin Valley.
You likely won’t encounter any other amateur drone users near Goblin’s Lair, but there’s a good chance you’ll have another person’s drone buzzing overhead in the main part of Goblin Valley.
The Weather in Goblin Valley
Weather is an important factor to consider when visiting Goblin Valley.
Summers are hot in this part of Utah, and temperatures often reach 100 degrees.
Plus, this area is impacted by summer monsoon storms. It’ll often rain several days straight in the afternoon, sometimes creating a flash flood through the park.
It’s wise to check their flash flood forecast during the summer monsoon season.
On other other hand, it gets cold and even snowy at Goblin Valley during the winter months.
Ideal times to visit would be spring or fall, but we really enjoyed our day here on a 100 degree day in August!
Rappel Into Goblin’s Lair
For more adventurous visitors, you can rappel down into Goblin’s Lair.
➡️ CLICK HERE to book a canyoneering guide to rappel into Goblin’s Lair.
It’s an extra fee of $2 per person for a rappelling permit, which you pay at the entry booth to the park.
The drop from the rock roof of Goblin’s Lair down to the ground inside is about 100 vertical feet.
You’ll either have to bring your own technical gear, or go with a local canyoneering guide.
Canyoneering Guides
If you don’t have your own gear, or just don’t want to travel around with it on your road trip to Goblin Valley, you can take a canyoneering tour or hire a guide.
They get really high ratings and great reviews.
Camping, Glamping, and Yurts
As for where to stay if you’re going to check out Goblin’s Lair, you have a variety of options.
Hanksville, Utah, is home to a few hotels. Otherwise, you can stay right in Goblin Valley State Park.
Camping near Goblin’s Lair
If you’re interested in camping, make sure to reserve a spot in advance, as Goblin Valley’s campground books up during certain weeks of the year.
In addition to the yurts, you they feature 24 campsites for tents and campers, too.
The campground has 10 tent pads, and 14 spots for RV parking.
Pricing for camping in a tent at Goblin Valley is $45 per night in 2023, plus charges for taxes, water hookups, etc.
The campground does not have an electrical hookup, but does include showers, restrooms, a drinking water station, a garbage dump, and more.
The shower facilities usually close for the winter months, so mid-October through mid-March.
Go Glamping in a Yurt
Yurts have become a popular way to stay overnight at Goblin Valley.
The two yurts available to rent were built in 2011.
They run around $150 per night in 2023, so it’s similar to what you’d pay for a hotel room.
The yurts at Goblin Valley are designed to look like nomadic tent dwellings. They’re definitely an elevated camping experience!
Each yurt holds a maximum of five people, and dogs are permitted for an extra $20 fee.
The yurts are equipped with heating and air conditioning. They have fold-out couches and bunk beds, along with other indoor and outdoor furniture.
Outside on the patio area, you have a propane grill which comes with the base fee.
Due to their popularity, there’s a reservation system you’ll have to follow to book a yurt.
The yurts at Goblin Valley become available to book four months before your desired arrival date.
So as an example, if you want to book a yurt for July 1st, you can log on and make a reservation for your stay as early as March 1st.
Hotels Near Goblin’s Lair
We found the small town of Hanksville, Utah, to be full of friendly people.
It’s about a 30 minute drive from Goblin Valley, and (by far) the closest town for any kind of accomodations.
➡️ HOTEL RECOMMENDATION: Whispering Sands Hanksville, Utah
➡️ RV/CAMPING RECOMMENDATION: Duke’s Slickrock Hanksville, Utah
We stayed at the Whispering Sands. It’s clean and efficient, and they accommodated our late arrival time by taping our keys to the door of our room.
If you’re driving in an RV, check out Duke’s RV Park in town. They get great reviews.
What Else is in the Area around Goblin Valley
Utah is so under-rated. In this part of the state alone, you have:
- Canyonlands National Park
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Arches National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
Granted, some of them are farther than others, but it’s all doable on a road trip.
➡️ JARED’S DETOURS BLOG: Utah Road Trip: Hidden Gems
There are wild and unique off-the-beaten-path places to explore, too.
➡️ JARED’S DETOURS BLOG: Bentonite Hills: Utah’s Rainbow Mountains
Consider Moonscape Overlook:
Consider Bentonite Hills:
