Ok so first off I'm going to just state that you don't need a FJ to do any of these trails, but its always funner. Chrissy and I like to take the kids out and explore ghost towns, mining camps and all sorts of ruins. Since the kids were in school this trip was kind of an adults only get away and test trip.
Never visiting Goblin Valley before I wanted to play it safe and book a spot at the local campground. I figured once down there we could spot out future spots outside the park. Frankly, if you're taking kids and the wife or girlfriend book the at the campgrounds. Private enclosed individual showers with hot water, full service bathrooms, fire pits, picnic shelters and lots to keep the kids entertained will help you enjoy your trip as well. Even though I booked almost two months ahead of time I wasn't able to get our first night in the campgrounds so I risked the drive down to try to get one of the six first come first serve spots, No Such Luck. Fortunately we arrived with plenty of day light and found a nice spot around the corner in Wild Horse Canyon.
Wild Horse Canyon
Goblin Valley Campground
If you've never been to Goblin Valley this is just a taste of what you're missing. I could spend multiple days just exploring the Goblin area alone not to mention all the various trails.
Goblin Valley
I planned out a full day of trail riding. In hind sight I bit off a little more than I could chew. Theres so much to see along one trail let alone trying to put two small trails and one average trail together in the same day. Here's a few shots from the Black Dragon Pictographs just north of I-70, the Three Fingers Petroglyphs just south of I-70 tucked in the San Rafael Swell, Swasey Cabin which is a small trail off of Temple Mountain Trail which leads back to Goblin Valley.
Black Dragon Wash
Black Dragon Pictographs
Road leading to Three Fingers along the San Rafael Swell
Natural pools just below the Three Fingers Petroglyphs
Canyon where Three Fingers is located. The Petroglyphs are located all around the cave on the right side of the picture. The pools are directly to the left of where I'm taking this photo.
Three Fingers Petroglyphs
Some of the locals you'll run across
Swasey Cabin
Towards the end of the Temple Mountain trail the stains up on the canyon wall caught my eye so I stopped, turned around and found these pictographs. Oddly, you can camp right at the base of them. Sadly they are in really bad shape because some people don't understand look but don't touch or shoot.
Now I know there weren't many extreme off road shots, I can only hope I've made a couple of you want to take the kids or friends and check these spots out. Oh yeah and if you do, let me know and we'll join you. There's so many more things to see slong all of these trails.
