Temple Mountain Boondocking and Into the Goblins Lair!

Although we’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time at Klondike Bluff, it’s time to head west again. We had a lovely sunrise and spotted a hot air balloon as we departed on Sunday, 5/7, to make our way to Goblin Valley State Park. As we had expected, there were no spaces available when we arrived. We paid the park entrance fee to dump tanks and take on water and then went in search of a place to call home for the next two nights. Rog had read about some boondocking opportunities on Temple Mountain Road, about 7 miles from the park entrance.

Klondike Bluff sunrise.

Wow. Wouldn't this be fun?!

Temple Mountain Road was paved for several miles so we didn’t bother to unhitch the mule and go scouting. We saw camping spots along the way, but they were either occupied or the access wasn’t very big rig friendly. The paving ended and we proceeded along a dirt road, wondering if maybe we should have scouted before heading in with the short bus. Just before the road started to wind up a steep hill we saw a large camping area with firepits, two pit toilets, and even some covered picnic tables. There were a few campers in the area, but it was mostly empty. Hmmmm. We pulled in to check it out. It was a free BLM day use/camping area. Score! We opted for a large, level gravel spot with absolutely stunning views of Temple Mountain.

Ok,  this is hard to beat!

 There were information boards telling the mining history of the area and the ruins of old stone buildings and mining equipment all around the camping area. They mined uranium here for Madame Curie and also for the WWII war effort. Very interesting.

Old mining building with Temple Mountain framed in the window.

The view from inside, with the short bus in the distance.

We did have some “energetic weather” while we were here. Both evenings right about suppertime the winds went wild. Sunday we had thunder, lightning and a couple rain squalls. Monday evening it was just the crazy winds. The microburst lasted about 20 minutes or so and then the sun came out painting the surrounding hills and Temple Mountain with the most beautiful golden light.

Crazy winds blowing dust and rain. Feeling sorry for the tent campers!

Storm is gone and evening light is lovely.

Temple Mountain at last light.

We do so love our boondocking spots. Rog and I were laughing that we’ve found the amount of money we pay for a site is usually inversely proportional to our enjoyment. Free boondocking – love it! Forty bucks a night in a private campground parked within touching distance of a decrepit trailer with a leaky sewer connection – not so much. Lol.  Sometimes location or the need for a mailing address limits our options, but we revel in the relative solitude and natural beauty of the BLM dispersed camping when we can.

Since we’d already paid the entrance fee for Goblin Valley State Park we headed back over after lunch. On the ranger’s advice, we started off with a hike to the Goblin’s Lair. Oh my! The hike took us behind a series of sculpted stone cliffs and we had the whole trail to ourselves.

All this awesomeness, all to ourselves. Lol. 

On the trail to the Goblin's Lair.

We were warned there was a boulder scramble up to the opening of the lair and another to get into it. I spotted a way in and started climbing down, but it turned out to be a bit trickier than I’d anticipated. About half way down, I got stuck. Seriously stuck. Help, come get me stuck. Please just bring food and forward my mail stuck. From my new permanent residence precariously perched on a boulder (no way to turn around or go further without risking a 20’ header into the lair), I could see another way down that looked much safer. Rog went that way and was able to give me a hand. I have no pride (ok, maybe the whimpering was a bit much) and didn’t mind being rescued. Although my hero might have earned a few extra points if he hadn’t stopped to take pictures of the cavern before coming to get me! Lol.

Up the trail on the left and then a scramble.

Descending into the Lair.
I'm still smiling, this is before I got stuck. Lol. 

Oops. This is way we should have come in.
I can see it, but I can't get to it. Rog to the rescue!

The lair is a natural cavern hollowed out of the hill. There were a couple of “skylights” illuminating the cave and it was awesome! The ranger said people rappel down through the holes into the cave, which is at least a 60-foot drop. Yeah, I’m thinking the boulder scramble was plenty for me. 😊

Looking into the Lair.

(Crazy) Folks rappel down from the skylights. 

On our way out. Survived the Goblin's Lair.

It was fun to explore the Goblin’s Lair and Goblin Valley was an absolute blast. It looks like the result of a collaboration between Dr. Seuss and J.R.R. Tolkien after a few too many beers. Lol. Just let your imagination run wild. There are three interconnected Goblin Valleys and you can wander among the goblins, climb, play and just generally have a ball. It’s one of those places that leave you with a huge grin plastered on your face.

Goblin Valley.

The Goblin King! Lol.

A goblin frog and a goblin duck. :)

The geology is interesting too, about 170 million years ago the area was a tidal flat with alternating layers of harder sandstone and softer siltstone and shale. The deposits have been eroded by wind and water to form the thousands of stone goblins inhabiting the valley. But that seems so mundane for such a magical place, I much prefer to think they all wake up and play after the last tourist has left for the day. 😊

Maybe, a goblin castle.

Remember those dancing mushrooms from Disney's Fantasia?? They're here! 

Love the layers!

This has got to be a Dr. Seuss creation! Lol.

I told Rog I thought the scene on the left looked like the Woman's March on DC.
He said, "Turn around, there's the inauguration crowd." Lol!

And finally, a full moon in Goblin Valley. Lol!

Next on our agenda is a slot canyon hike that gets rave reviews. Stay tuned.