Utah’s Goosenecks State Park is tucked away in a remote location on the Colorado Plateau, not far from Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, and Monument Valley. The star attraction here is the entrenched meanders carved into the sandstone by the San Juan River, which snakes its way through the desert more than 1,000 feet below the park’s viewpoint. Goosenecks State Park showcases one of the most impressive views of entrenched meanders in North America, so it’s certainly worth a visit when you’re in the Four Corners region.
Why Visit Goosenecks State Park in Utah?
There are several excellent reasons to make Goosenecks State Park part of your Four Corners trip itinerary.
First and foremost are the spectacular views of the entrenched meanders of the San Juan River, called goosenecks for the sinuous way they curve. If you look closely, you may see rafters and kayakers far below following the San Juan toward the Colorado River.
Day Use and Picnicking
Enjoy the picnic areas while you bask in the quiet of this remote area and the stark beauty of the river. Wonder at the layer upon layer of sandstone and bedrock revealed by erosion caused by the river and wind over millions of years.
The area to the right of the entry station as you enter the park is for day use and includes picnic tables along with a great viewpoint from which to peer over the edge to the river below.
Photography
Photography is another activity you’ll enjoy at Goosenecks, whether you’re clicking a selfie with the goosenecks in the background, composing a Golden Hour photo of the river, or trying astrophotography during the dark of night.
Primitive Camping at Goosenecks State Park
Many people choose to camp at Goosenecks State Park. After you pay your $10 per night fee at the entry station, you’ll be told to “Pick a spot and start camping!”
Goosenecks State Park in Utah offers primitive camping with the only amenities being vault toilets, trash cans, and some fire pits. There are eight designated campsites, half on the river side of the park with picnic tables and fire rings and half with with tables, fire rings, and shade covers on the side away from the river.
Then, as you work your way down the gravel road along one of the meanders, you can choose to park and camp anywhere you’d like as there are no tables or established campsites . . . just great views of the river from the side of the road.
International Dark Sky Park
Camping provides the opportunity to enjoy another special feature of Goosenecks State Park: the fact that it was designated an International Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International (formerly called the International Dark Sky Association), meaning there is little light pollution and on a clear night, you can enjoy a view that includes millions of stars and our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
Camping Fees and Details
The fee is $10 per night per campsite and the park is open year-round. Pay at the pay station or if the ranger is not on duty, at the self-service fee tube. It’s all first-come, first-served. Be sure to bring wood if you want a cozy evening fire and drinking water as there is no water available at the park.
Geology and Formation of the Goosenecks
As you gaze far down the canyon walls to the San Juan River, you’ll notice that the meanders are quite close together. In fact, if you kayaked this part of the river, you’d travel six miles, but if you were a raven flying across the same distance, skipping the meanders, you’d only progress a mile and a half toward Lake Powell. (We’d say “as the crow flies,” but there are more ravens here than crows!)
As part of the Colorado Plateau, 300 million years ago, this area was a shallow sea. When it receded, the sea left layers of sediment. The tectonic and volcanic forces of the earth thrust the Colorado Plateau thousands of feet above sea level and then erosion caused by water and wind, freezing and thawing, did the rest. Today, we can watch as the river continues to erode the sandstone to deepen the entrenched, or incised, meanders.
Hiking at Goosenecks State Park
This isn’t a park to visit if hiking is your primary goal, although you can walk along the gravel road past the established campgrounds and by the even more primitive sites. It ends at a bend in the river, so you turn around and come back. The distance is a little less than a mile each way.
You can also “hike” about a tenth of a mile from your car to the viewpoint above the San Juan River!
Honaker Trail: A Nearby Opportunity
However, if you’re serious about hiking and would be up to tackling a nearby trail that takes you from the canyon rim to the river below, you can try the Honaker Trail. The trailhead is about 15 miles from Goosenecks State Park and the trail is considered to be challenging as there are a few places you’d have to scramble and the hike back up is strenuous.
The Honaker Trail should not be attempted during the heat of summer, and if you hike it at any time, take plenty of water and sun protection. One hiker said it was difficult to find the trailhead but that once they discovered it, rated it among their favorite hikes.
Rafting the San Juan River
You may wonder how to experience rafting or kayaking the San Juan River through the Goosenecks. Some rafters put in near Bluff, Utah, at Sand Island and take out near Mexican Hat, for a rafting distance of about 26 miles, which takes three or four days. The river is generally mild in this section, with rapids from Class I to Class III. It’s considered a good beginner trip and many companies offer guided rafting tours through the region.
Location and Directions to Goosenecks State Park
Goosenecks State Park, a Utah State Park, is about 25 miles from Bluff, where you can fill up your gas tank. Take U.S. Highway 163 west from Bluff for 25 miles. Then go west on Utah State Route 261, then southwest on Utah State Route 316. On the way, you’ll go past the eastern entrance to Valley of the Gods.
Visiting the Surrounding Area
There’s a lot to do in the surrounding area. If after visiting Goosenecks State Park you are continuing to Monument Valley, it is less than an hour away. On the way, take a look at the upside-down sombrero called Mexican Hat and stop at Forrest Gump Point to snap an iconic photo of Monument Valley from the place where Forrest decided he had run far enough.
Conclusion
Goosenecks State Park is an inexpensive place to camp while visiting this part of the Four Corners and provides both stellar views and basic services near iconic locations like Monument Valley, which can be seen in the distance. If you’re visiting Valley of the Gods, which is only about 30 minutes away, and want access to vault toilets, this could be the place to camp.
It’s also easy to visit for just an hour or so if you’re on your way to another location. Stop for the views of this classic location, enjoy a picnic, and head on to more of the exciting locations in the Four Corners region. Remember, it’s open year round and where else can you enjoy views from more than 1,000 feet above the San Juan River?
Park fees are $5 per vehicle for day use and $10 per site for camping.
For more information about Goosenecks State Park, visit the park’s website or call the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum at 435-678-2238.
