Don’t Chase the Lizards in Goblin Valley

Don’t Chase the Lizards in Goblin Valley

It’s weird — every park is a bit different. They all have different signs, warning about different things. Some seem to guarantee you’ll be attacked by a mountain lion if you dare to tread on the trails, other are totally blasé about it. Mountain lions? Just don’t try to ride them. Parks warn you about ravens stealing your food or rodents or bears or ringtails or raccoons. Every park seems to have its pet nemesis.

Anyway, Goblin Valley State Park signs ask people to not chase the lizards. That was a new one. Don’t chase the lizards? Odd. It almost didn’t register on my radar until we got to our campsite.

“Get over here, you little bugger!” we hear a little girl yell. She’s chasing lizards, of course, with her brother. That’s why there are signs.

Well, other than lizard chasing, there’s a lot to see at the park. There are Goblins! (Which were formerly, and more accurately, called mushrooms.) Lisa took a bunch of great pictures.

Upper Goblin Valley from the overlook.
Upper Goblin Valley from the overlook.
Formations outside Goblin Valley.
Formations outside Goblin Valley.
Paul on a trail through a canyon of mud.
Paul on a trail through a canyon of mud.
With the power of suggestion, you start to see all kinds of things in the formations.
With the power of suggestion, you start to see all kinds of things in the formations.
Petrified sand.
Petrified sand.
Dripping mud hardened to stone.
Dripping mud hardened to stone.
In the Valley of the Goblins.
In the Valley of the Goblins.
A lone goblin.
A lone goblin.