Where In The World Is ... Goblin Valley?

Somewhere in the world, you can visit a place where thousands of rust-colored stone boulders stand guard across a valley floor, their bulbous heads and twisted bodies creating an army of natural sculptures that seem to watch your every move.

These towering rock pillars, some reaching 20 feet tall, have been carved into shapes so fantastical that early explorers immediately dubbed them "goblins." Their mushroomlike caps perch precariously atop slender necks, while others resemble hunched figures, dancing fairies or sleeping giants. Local legends tell of these formations as ancient spirits turned to stone, forever frozen on the desert floor.

Can you guess where in the world they are?

One of the most delightful aspects of this landscape is that visitors can wander freely among these geological wonders, climbing over and around the formations like a massive natural playground.

These whimsical formations were sculpted over millions of years through the patient work of wind and water erosion acting on layers of sandstone and shale. The harder caprock on top protected the softer rock below from weathering, creating the distinctive mushroom shapes, while the surrounding material gradually washed away to reveal this enchanted stone forest.

OK, have you made your guess?

Located in south-central Utah's red rock country, Goblin Valley State Park protects this 3-square-mile wonderland of hoodoos and has become one of the American Southwest's most beloved geological playgrounds.

Would you like to visit Goblin Valley? Let us know in the comments!