StarCast · Utah · Bortle 2

Astrophotography in Goblin Valley State Park

Goblin Valley has some of the most surreal astrophotography foreground in the American West — thousands of mushroom-shaped hoodoo formations under Bortle 2 sky in the San Rafael Desert. The otherworldly terrain makes it unlike any other dark sky destination.

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Planning guide · Bortle 2 · March–May, September–November

Where and When to Shoot at Goblin Valley State Park

The valley floor is accessible after dark from the main parking area — the hoodoos are dense enough that you can position among them for multiple compositional angles. The red Entrada sandstone picks up ambient sky glow in long exposures, creating a warm contrast against the cool blue of the Milky Way above. Spring and fall are optimal — summer heat is extreme at this low desert elevation.

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Valley of the Goblins Floor

Descending into the valley floor puts you among the hoodoo formations — the formations tower above head height and create natural framing for the sky overhead. The most distinctive astrophotography position in the park.

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Main Overlook — Rim View

The parking area overlook gives an elevated view of the full goblin field below. The hoodoos extend across the valley floor — a wide composition showing the scale of the formations under the Milky Way.

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Curtis Bench Trail

The elevated trail north of the valley gives views back over the goblin field with the Henry Mountains visible to the southwest. The bench position gives a broader landscape context for the formations.

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Wild Horse Window Area

The natural window formation near the park boundary gives an arch foreground for the southern sky where the galactic core rises. Less visited than the main goblin valley.

Season and gear

Best Season and What to Bring

Season: March–May, September–November · Summer heat extreme · New moon essential

Gear notes: Wide aperture lens, layers for desert nights, disorienting terrain — mark your path back to the parking area, no services after hours

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StarCast Push Alerts

Save Goblin Valley State Park as a location in StarCast. Get a push alert when moon phase, cloud cover, and transparency align for a high-scoring night — before you make the drive. Exclusive to the iOS app.

Common Questions

Is Goblin Valley State Park good for astrophotography?

What Bortle class is Goblin Valley State Park?

Goblin Valley State Park is Bortle 2 — strong dark sky for serious astrophotography. StarCast shows Bortle class alongside moon phase and transparency for any location.

When is the best time for astrophotography at Goblin Valley State Park?

March–May, September–November · Summer heat extreme · New moon essential. Target new moon windows — within 5 days of new moon for a full dark window. StarCast shows moon phase for any date so you can plan trips months in advance.

How do I check conditions before driving to Goblin Valley State Park?

Check StarCast for Goblin Valley State Park — moon phase, Bortle class, transparency, and cloud cover scored together into a single 0–100 night sky score. Check 3–5 days out for planning, confirm 24–48 hours before when transparency is most accurate.

What is LightCast StarCast?

StarCast scores night sky conditions using moon phase, Bortle class, atmospheric transparency, and cloud cover. Push alerts notify you when a high-scoring night is forecast. Free on web at lightcastsuite.com/starcast, push notifications in the LightCast iOS app. $2.99/month after a 7-day free trial.