Goosenecks State Park Guide
San Juan County, Utah is full of hidden gems and roads less traveled, and while you've probably seen the Horseshoe Bend in Arizona, this view might just put it to shame. About ten minutes up the road from the small town of Mexican Hat is Goosenecks State Park, where the San Juan River has cut more than a few horseshoe bends into the rock, creating some deep and spectacular canyons.
When to Visit
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Goosenecks State Park is open year-round, and in this Utah desert you have the opportunity to experience the most extreme of extremes. Summers are quite hot, and winters can bring colder temperatures and even snow; fall and spring are on the milder side. Summer sunsets and sunrises are spectacular, and a blanket of snow in the winter makes for an amazing and rare sight.
How to Get There
The Goosenecks are certainly remote, though not difficult to access. From the nearby town of Mexican Hat, take route 163 heading north for several miles, making a left onto route 261 with a sign directing you to Goosenecks State Park. Another quick left after this onto route 316 will take you straight into the park.
Goosenecks State Park
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Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour.
Distance: N/A.
There's a $5.00 fee to enter the park, and if there's no one working the entrance station, a drop box is just past it. This is a state park, so the Federal Annual Pass won't work here. Immediately upon entering is a large parking lot, a pit toilet, a few picnic tables and campsites. If you're looking to camp, it's $10.00 per night, first come, first served.
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The park is pretty much one big overlook of the river and canyons below--and it is massive. What's even more impressive is how far it goes on beyond the initial view, with many more goosenecks in the distance, and the buttes of Monument Valley even showing themselves further out.
There's no official trails in the park, but for those itching to get to the bottom, the steep and primitive Honaker Trail is nearby, and at around 5 miles roundtrip, will take you to the bottom. Observe a variety of fossilized creatures in the rock on the way down, and a small beach at the bottom. The catch? Getting to the Honaker Trail is no easy feat, especially if you don't have a 4x4 vehicle: turn off of route 316 before entering Goosenecks State Park, and onto 244, or Johns Canyon Road. Take the dirt road until it bisects near a water tank, making a slight left. Take this until you reach the parking area located near the trailhead.
About Me
Hi there, I'm Dan: videographer, travel-addict, and beer-lover. I left corporate life behind to start my own video business and travel the world. Want to know more about me and Dan Treks?
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What Else?
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Look, I get it, it probably doesn't sound like its worth driving out to such a remote area to pay $5.00 for nothing but a view. If you want an even higher view of the Goosenecks and surrounding area, consider checking out Muley Point nearby. You'll also glimpse the Valley of the Gods on your way into Goosenecks, a completely free area with scenery similar to Monument Valley. Goosenecks is amazing, but it should be little more than a stop in your adventure around San Juan County: there's plenty more to see and do.
The Valley of the Gods.