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Goosenecks State Park is a small park in southeast Utah. It provides views of one of the most incredible river meanders in the world.
Visiting Goosenecks State Park
Admission to the park is US$5 per carload up to 8 people or US$2 per vehicle for seniors age 65+ (as of September 2025). The nearest towns are Mexican Hat (8 miles) and Bluff (25 miles). Check the official website for more info.
A campsite with eight primitive first-come, first-served tent sites is located within the park. It costs US$10 for the night (as of September 2025). There are vault toilets, but you’ll have to bring your own food, water, and supplies.
Scenic Viewpoint
Goosenecks State Park, which opened to the public in 1962, is at an elevation of 4,500 feet. You can enjoy the spectacular view from the scenic viewpoint at the edge of the canyon.
The San Juan River, which flows 1,000 feet below the viewpoint, has taken over 300 million years to create the goosenecks. It flows for 6 river miles just to travel 1 ½ miles west.
Activities at Goosenecks State Park
If you look out into the distance to the south, it’s possible to see the buttes of Monument Valley. As far as activities at the park, photography, stargazing, and picnicking. In fact, it was named an International Dark Sky Park in March 2021. There are no trails within the park itself, but there are a few in the area. Specifically, the Honaker Trail, a few miles to the northwest, provides access to the San Juan River. It’s a 2 ½-mile (4 kilometer) trail built in the late 1890s and early 1900s as a supply route for gold prospectors.
