Goosenecks State Park — Attraction in Four Corners States

Gooseneck State Park is in southern Utah near Mexican Hat off Hwy 316. We camped nearby at the Valley of the Gods the end of Oct 2019 for two days in a 38 ft 5th wheel trailer.

We drove through The Valley of the Gods, off of Hwy 163 to Hwy 261, up to the top of Moki Dugway. Then down Hwy 316 over to Gooseneck State Park. The entrance fee was $5.00 and well worth it.

The day trip around the area was great, something new to look at and photograph around every turn. The Goosenecks were fantastic to view. We would love to camp at the rims edge but our camper was already set up elsewhere. It was beautiful to look down into the river below and see how it had carved out the Goosenecks in the surrounding rock.

The road was paved all the way to the Parks entrance, it was smooth to the edge of the rim but the further down the rim you traveled the rougher the road became. You could pull a camper all the way out onto one of the horseshoe bends, just take it slow over the rocky terrain.

I would recommend anyone traveling in the area to drive the few miles to the Park. The camping is primitive, no water, no electric. There are vault toilets and a few trash cans. Truly...

Goosenecks State Park, located in southeastern Utah near the town of Mexican Hat, offers one of the most stunning and dramatic views of river erosion in North America. The park is famous for its deeply entrenched meanders of the San Juan River, which has carved its way through the desert over millions of years, forming tight, twisting curves known as “goosenecks.”

From the park’s viewpoint, visitors can gaze down about 1,000 feet into the canyon, where the San Juan River winds back and forth for over six miles, while advancing just a mile as the crow flies. This natural formation, called an entrenched meander, is a classic example of the power of geological forces over time.

Goosenecks State Park is small and remote, but it’s a favorite stop for photographers, geologists, campers, and road trippers exploring the scenic wonders of the Four Corners region. There are no formal trails, but the view alone is breathtaking, especially at sunrise or sunset.

With its raw, untouched landscape and peaceful solitude, Goosenecks State Park provides a humbling look into Earth’s natural history and is a must-see for anyone traveling through...

Goosenecks State Park On the edge of a deep canyon above the sinuous river meander known as a gooseneck, this small park affords impressive views of one of the most striking examples of an entrenched river meander on the North American continent. The San Juan River twists and turns through the meander, flowing a distance of over six miles while advancing one and a half miles west on its way to Lake Powell. Gaze at the results of 300 million years of geological activity, where the San Juan River winds and carves its way through the desert 1,000 feet below.

Park fees:

$5.00 day-use fee per car with up to 8 people

$2.00 per person fee for bus tour groups

$10.00 per night per campsite. If no ranger is on duty, pay at the fee tube using the self-serve envelopes. Camping is in 8 designated sites along the rim, where fire-ring and picnic tables are located. First come, first served site only. No reservations are accepted. Conditions are primitive, el-natural. There are no services except vault toilets. Camping, stargazing and the night skye...