Goosenecks State Park is a hidden gem nestled deep within the rugged landscape of Southern Utah, outside the small town of Mexican Hat.

The main feature of this park is the “double horseshoe bend” canyon made by the San Juan River carving its way through the jagged, grey, cliffs. The dramatic vista in the park reveals layers of ancient rock. It is very Grand Canyon-esque.

Because of its close distance to Monument Valley, Goosenecks makes for a perfect, quick stop as you make your way to the movie famous Navajo-owned park. 

In this post, I will cover everything you need to know about Goosenecks State Park, including the ideal duration of your visit, the necessity of 4 wheel drive, and the various activities you can enjoy within the park.

Where is Goosenecks State Park?

Goosenecks is located just a 10 minute drive west of Mexican Hat, Utah which is down south pretty close to the Arizona border.

From Goosenecks, it is only a 40 minute drive south to Monument Valley. As a plus, as you make your way down to Monument Valley, you pass right by the famous Forrest Gump point and the iconic drive into the valley that everyone wants to see.

Above you will see a shot taken at the Forrest Gump Point (which was where a scene in the movie was filmed) which leads you into Monument Valley from Goosenecks.

How Much Does Goosenecks Cost?

There is a $5 fee to enter Goosenecks State Park. It is charged by the vehicle and accounts for up to 8 people. 

If you are coming as a tour group on a bus, expect to be charged $2 per person.

Do I Need 4 Wheel Drive?

Usually, no. You do not NEED 4 wheel drive to get to this park, but it will probably help and make the ride a lot smoother.

I do want to mention that when we visited, the Southern Utah area had just received a massive rain storm and there was a ton of flooding. 

As we were driving the road to get to Goosenecks, part of the road had literally been washed away in the heavy rain. The pavement was broken in spots and red mud was washed over it. 

A sedan would not have been able to cross this muddy part of the road. We were lucky we were in a Toyota 4Runner because it had no issues with this part of the road.

So normally, when there hasn’t been a monsoon days before visiting, a sedan would be doable on this road. You will encounter a steep hill and some rocky areas though, so a high clearance vehicle will definitely take this road easier.

If you’re taking a sedan, I would just suggest checking the forecast before you head out to Goosenecks to make sure that you will be able to make it to the park.

How Long Should I Spend at Goosenecks?

10-15 minutes

Goosenecks State Park is very small so you really can’t spend much more time there than half an hour. Unless you decide to camp in the park.

We spent probably around 10-15 minutes at the park just taking in the gorgeous views. 

This park is more like a place you would stop off on while on a road trip. Not somewhere that you would base your trip around.  

They do have picnic tables set up at the overlook so this would also be a great place to stop and have lunch during your road trip.

Scenic Overlook

The scenic overlook is the main feature of the park. It is truly a one of a kind sight to see. 

The parking lot is conveniently located just a short walk away from the amazing overlook of the San Juan River.

It’s very similar to the iconic Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona but this one actually has 2 bends which is how it gets its nickname, “double horseshoe bend”.

Hiking

As this park is so small, there aren’t really any opportunities for hiking in Goosenecks, other than the short walk to the scenic overlook.

But there is one trail available just outside the park called the Honaker Trail. 

The Honaker Trail is a 5 mile out and back trail which leads you right down to the San Juan River. 

This trail was originally constructed in 1893 for river access for goldminers.

The hike begins with a steep decline where you lose about 1,500 feet in elevation. Then, the only way back up is to hike. Similar to hiking into the Grand Canyon.

Expect several switchbacks and rocky terrain on this trail.

This is a more moderate-hard level hike, so be prepared and bring plenty of water with you if you plan on going all the way down to the river.

Since the Honaker Trail is outside of the park, you can essentially hike this trail for free. 

However, you will absolutely want 4WD for the access road that takes you to the trailhead. It is not paved like the road going into Goosenecks is.

Camping at Goosenecks State Park

If you want to camp along the rim of the canyon overlooking the San Juan River weave between the cliffs, then Goosenecks State Park is your spot.

All 8 campsites in the park are located along the rim so you’re guaranteed to have an amazing view (and to see a sky full of stars at night).

Each site has a fire ring and picnic table. Pit toilets are also available close by. No potable water at this park.

There are no reservations that need to be made to stay here, as they are all first come first serve. 

A site will cost you $10 per night and will need to be paid at the toll booth at the entrance gate.

You can tent camp or car camp here and we even saw quite a few RV campers when we visited. So Goosenecks State Park is suitable for RVs.

If you don’t want to pay to camp in the park, Valley of the Gods would be an awesome free option that’s less than 15 minutes from Goosenecks. 

Best Time to Visit Goosenecks State Park

Spring & Fall

Just like visiting other parks in the southern Utah area, spring and fall bring the most mild temperatures. 

Summer will be hot, but bearable since you really only have to be outside of the car for a short time. 

In winter this area does see snow. This could also make it hard for 2 wheel drive vehicles to get through the road and to the park. However, it would make for some beautiful scenery!

Visit in the Morning

If you’re wondering what time of day would be best to see Goosenecks State Park in the best lighting, then that would be in the morning- early afternoon hours.

We arrived to the park at approximately 9 AM and the sun was shining right on the canyon so the early morning light really lit up the rocks giving us an awesome view.

Getting to Goosenecks early is also recommend because as you drive to Monument Valley after, the sun is still at a good spot in the sky to light up the iconic red rocks in the distance. When the sun is high up in the sky around noon, this usually doesn’t provide the best lighting on the landscape for pictures.

Is Goosenecks State Park Worth Visiting?

In my opinion, yes. We stopped at Goosenecks while road tripping coming from Bluff, Utah and driving down into Monument Valley.

It’s right off U.S. Route 163 which runs through the eastern part of southern Utah and Northern Arizona.

So it was an easy stop for us that was right on the way. All it took was a quick turn off the interstate before hitting the town of Mexican Hat.

If you’re heading into Monument Valley from Southern Utah, I absolutely recommend this little stop since it’s on the way and doesn’t take too much time. It was only about a half hour total detour on our road trip.

Goosenecks State Park is more of a drive to it and walk up to the overlook type of state park. There’s not much else to do there. It’s the perfect stop if you’re just driving through the area and don’t have a whole lot of time.

If you’re planning a trip to Monument Valley and are coming down from the towns of Moab, Blanding or Bluff in Utah, then I totally recommend this detour.

If you’re driving up to Monument Valley from Arizona, then Goosenecks is a little bit out of the way so it’s up to you if you think it would be worth it to drive the extra 40 minutes up for it.

Alright and that concludes my complete guide to Goosenecks State Park in Southern Utah! I hope you were able to take away some valuable information from this article. Thank you so much for reading!