Pros:
Goblin Valley is a long, strenuous 18 hole disc golf course that is very exposed. The course plays amid the wonderful geology of the San Rafael group and the Capitol Reef. Even if you are not into rocks, the views here are one of a kind. There are no trees, only scattered bushes. As much as I love Goblin Valley State Park, the disc golf wasn't all that.
I used bullet points for those that don't want to read my lengthy review.
Elevation Changes
The course does have some big elevation changes. Play starts on the higher plateau and winds up and around the plateau then down and around the campground. Hole 18 plays back up to the plateau to the starting area.
Heights
If you are afraid of heights, you may not enjoy some of the tee locations. Do not play 15 from the elevated tee! If you are NOT afraid of heights, the elevated tees for 8, 11, 15 and 16 are a lot of fun! If you don't like heights, you won't enjoy the walk down to target 4.
Rugged and Rocky
If you are not into rocks and geology, you will not enjoy this course nearly as much as I did. I showed some folks the photos and they are like, "Where are the trees?" The vegetation is sparse. In some places the course is very steep and rugged. In other places, it can be dusty and sandy.
All 18 in a row or not
The target for Hole 6 is close to the parking area. This is your chance to stock up on water before playing the remaining holes. Later in the round as you are walking to tee for Hole 9, you will pass by the tee for Hole 18. If you have had enough, play Hole 18 back up to your car. Otherwise, get ready to play 8 more holes around the campgounds before you get back to this tee.
Exposed
This entire part of Utah is rocky, rugged and exposed. This park is no exception. Play early in the day to avoid the heat. Park opens at 7:00am. If you stay in campgrounds you, can start playing even earlier! There are some shade shelters in the campground area close to course if you need a break from the sun.
Navigation
I updated the map here at DGCR with readable labels. The giant rock ridge in front of you is West. Hole 1 Tee is on the Southwest corner of the disc golf parking lot. Holes 1 through 7 and 18 are on the top part of the course and play among the white Curtis Formation layer. Holes 8-17 are the lower part of the course and play through the red Entrada Sandstone layer. Yellow marker flags show the path to the next tee.
Tees
The tees are all natural dirt/rock and are all marked with orange utility flags. Some tees are more developed than others. There are usually a couple of cairns at each front corner of each tee and sometimes the entire tee is designated with rocks. There are no tee signs of any kind. Yellow flags mark the path to the next tee.
Exceptionally long
This course plays over a massive area. The area for Holes 1 through 7 would cover more area than most 18 hole courses. The lower part of the course is also sprawling. There is also an extra long walk between 13 and 14. Really long, and mostly uphill. (Ok, it is not THAT uphill, but it isn't flat either).
All to yourself
Your own personal disc golf course. Because no one else is going to be walking around this exposed area of the park. Actually, there is a trailhead at the start of the course and I did see one group of hikers later in the round! I figured they must be crazy to be out here. They probably thought the same thing about me.
Restrooms
There are full service restrooms with running water in the campgrounds. There are also several natural valut toilets in the campgrounds. There are several opportunities to use these restrooms during the round. Hold out for the nice, modern set of restrooms with running water and electricity close to the 14th tee.
Kids, Carts and Strollers
No, no and no. It is too rocky and rugged for any of these. Take the kids to see the Goblins, there is a playground area there.
Epic Hole 15 elevated tee
Highlight of the round for me was playing from the elevated tee for Hole 15. Immediately after you play Hole 14, take the trail leading up the steep canyon wall. Do not attempt this tee shot if you have any fear of heights. I don't have that fear, but I did end up a little scared on the hike back down. It was far easier going up. It was a memorable top of the world shot. I can't believe some of the amazing experiences I have that would never happen if I didn't play disc golf and seek out new courses. Don't miss out on this one!
Losing Discs
There are ZERO water hazards on this course, unless you forget to bring enough water with you. There is not really enough vegetation to hide a disc, but I suppose if you don't watch carefully you might be able to lose a disc. Super bright colors are easier to find in this environment.
Poison Ivy, Oak and bugs
This course doesn't have any poison oak, poison ivy or mosquitoes! I did see a lot of harmless lizards.
On Site Camping
This is not camping nearby, this park has a full service campground located right in the middle of the disc golf course! There are campsites right next to a few tees. Many campsites have built in shade shelters. The campsites are naturally rocky and dusty. They also rent yurts if you are not into camping. I decided to camp at the super lush and grassy Green River State Park less than an hour from here.
Unique Park, Unique Landscape
Enjoy the unique geology of the San Rafael Group and Capital Reef. When you step up to the first tee you are looking due West at the massive rock ridge that extends for miles to the North and South. The layers visible in Goblin Valley State Park are from the Upper Jurassic Period. The white layer is the Curtis Formation. For Holes 1 through 7, you are standing on this very sandy layer. The layer above the Curtis Formation is the Summerville Formation. The red layer currently below you is the Entrada Sandstone Formation Holes 8 through 17 play on this layer.
The Curtis Formation
Holes 3 and 4 in the thick of it. The sand gives way to rocks and Hole 3 is a short hole that plays over a giant outcrop amid the rocky part of the Curtis Formation. Hole 4 tees from amid the white layer and plays down into an amazing white canyon. Everything is a stark white and it feels like an alien landscape. It rained in the 24 hours before I played the course, so red Rhyolite was exposed everywhere on Holes 1 through 7. All the red sand, pebbles or rocks in the photos I uploaded of these holes, is all Rhyolite.
Entrada Sandstone Formation
Hole 8 is one of several "top of the world" shots on the course. Hole 8 starts up on the Curtis Layer and plays down to the Entrada Sandstone Formation. Once you leave the plateau you get a chance to play in and around the hoodoos next to the campground. There are only a couple of hoodoos here compared to the Goblin Valley display further in the park. However, here you get the hoodoos to yourself and don't have to share with the other tourists. Be sure you take the time to go see the Goblin Valley hoodoo display further down the road. You know, the whole reason they created this park.
Cons:
Rocks
Go look at the photos I uploaded. If you don't think those are great views of rocks, you probably won't enjoy playing here. If you like rugged Western Disc golf, and think the rocks look cool, read on. The rocks can be tough on DX plastic. Bring the good stuff.
Exposed
This course is long and demanding, rugged and very exposed. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Start early in the day.
Routing
There is a super Long walk from Target 13 to Tee 14. While it is cool to play the Hoodoos on 12 and 13, these holes don't flow with the rest of the course and create an extra long walk.
Navigation
Must have map to play! Since there are no tee signs or developed tees, the tees can be tough to find without the map. Use the updated map I uploaded here at DGCR dated 9-20-2018.
Disc Golf is Secondary
The course seems it was designed to showcase the special geologic features of the park rather than to provide challenging disc golf. However, some disc golf is better than no disc golf!
Other Thoughts:
Goblin Valley State Park has four of my favorite things in life - all in one place.
1 - Disc Golf because it Rocs
2 - Geology because it Rocks
3 - Slot Canyon Hike because bucket list!
I know this is a disc golf review, but Goblin Valley State Park has an excellent slot canyon hike. Little Wild Horse Canyon is a very beginner friendly slot canyon hike that anyone in basic shape with decent boots can take. (This is not to be confused with Wild Horse Canyon Trail where you park to play disc golf.) "Little" Wild Horse Canyon/Bell Canyon Trail starts on the other side of that amazing rock ridge and takes you through some spectacular Capitol Reef scenery. Bucket List Win! I made a special trip to Goblin Valley on a Disc Golf Road trip many years ago, when there was ZERO disc golf in this park just to hike Little Wild Horse Canyon. When I found out they added disc golf, I knew I had to return.
4 - Galaxy Quest
Galaxy Quest is a parody of the StarTrek series and is one of my all time favorite movies. Some of the funniest scenes from the movie were filmed in Goblin Valley State Park. The scenes where the crew transports to a mining planet for a replacement Beryllium Sphere. Eventually, Commander Peter Quincy Taggart fights a rock alien among the hoodoos. Watch Galaxy Quest before your visit for even more fun! As a matter of fact, whether you plan to play here or not, go watch Galaxy Quest right now and thank me later (or curse me).
Finally: the Rating
I wanted to love this 18 hole disc golf course as much as I love Goblin Valley State Park. However, that is not the case. The amazing geology of the San Rafael Formation earns a 5. The fact Galaxy Quest was filmed here gets a fan favorite 5. The Little Wild Horse Canyon slot canyon hike gets a bucket list 5 While there are some epic elevation changes, most of the layout is unimaginative and unnecessarily long. It took a lot of time and energy to complete the course. Lack of developed tees and signs doesn't help either. I have to give it a 3. However, I would love to visit this park again and I will play this course again when I do.
While it is a very demanding walk in a very desolate environment, remember the words of Commander Peter Quincy Taggart: "Never Give Up, Never Surrender"!