About The Region

About the Region

Goblin Valley is a breathtaking and extraordinary valley of towering mesas and wind-carved rock formations some believe resemble goblins. For a peek at the country you will be traversing, please log on to the Utah parks website. There you will find information, pictures and a video of the park. For more information, please visit the Utah State Parks website.

The San Rafael Swell is an incredibly wild and seldom visited area of desert canyons in the southeastern corner of Utah. Slot canyons, towering mesas, scenic washes offer plenty of solitude in a harsh but starkly beautiful setting. Several rough but passable scenic drives are available for the adventurous, and family backcountry hiking is popular here. The San Rafael River through the “Little Grand Canyon” makes for a pleasant flat-water trip by raft or canoe, but only from May to June, when the water is high.

Weather and Elevation:

Weather in late October and early November can range from a low of 30°F to a high of 60°F. Abrupt changes will happen, including strong winds, rain, hail and yes, even snow. Be prepared with layered clothing and change of gear. Goblin Valley State Park sits at 5,000 feet or so in elevation. The course elevation ranges from 4,600 to 5,100 feet. For those of you coming from low elevations, altitude sickness may be a problem. Symptoms are headache, nausea, shortness of breath, decreased coordination. Please let aid stations know if you are feeling unwell.

Toilet Facilities:

The start/finish area will have extra toilet facilities for the event, and there will be port-a-potties spread out along the course. In case of emergency, you may discreetly use nearby bushes out of the park area. Please have with you the supplies needed for such emergency. When using the great outdoors, remember to bury your deposits.