Valley of the Goblins, Goblin Valley, Utah
Valley of the Goblins
Goblin Valley
170 million years ago Goblin Valley was a tidal flat between an inland sea to the north, and continental mountains and hills to the west. Eroded debris from these highlands was deposited by the ebb and flow of the sea, and compressed into alternating layers of sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Asymmetrical erosion produced spherical-shaped goblins through a process called spheroidal weathering.
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The valley's east wall is capped by towering spires and promontories
Softer sediments at the goblins' base eroded faster, creating pedestals
The goblins were carved from entrada sandstone mechanical erosion and spheroidal weathering
Quaternary deposit mounds form steep ridges that delineate the three main valleys
Scrambling and creative routing is needed to reach the 2nd and 3rd valleys
Goblin Valley was discovered by cattlemen looking for a quicker route to the Green River
Entrada sandstone's red hue primarily comes from hematite, an iron oxide
Softer shale and siltstone beds eroded faster than overlying layers, creating narrow pedestals on which the harder layers rest
There are no trails in the Valley of the Goblins - visitors are free to explore on their own
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