Goosenecks State Park : Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Goosenecks State Park

State park in Utah, United States

37°10′29″N 109°55′37″W / 37.17472°N 109.92694°W / 37.17472; -109.92694Area10 acres (4.0 ha)^[1]Elevation4,500 ft (1,400 m)^[2]Established1962Visitors55,660 (in 2022)^[3]OperatorUtah State Parks

Goosenecks State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Utah, overlooking a deep meander of the San Juan River. The park is located near the southern border of the state a short distance from Mexican Hat, Utah.^[1] Millions of years ago, the Monument Upwarp forced the river to carve incised meanders over 1,000 feet (300 m) deep as the surrounding landscape slowly rose in elevation. Eroded by water, wind, frost, and gravity, this is a classic location for observing incised meanders.

Goosenecks State Park is largely undeveloped. Primitive campsites with picnic tables are scattered back from the edge of the cliff, and vault toilets are available. Campers are advised to bring their own water, food, and other necessary gear.

The park received International Dark Sky Park designation by The International Dark-Sky Association in March, 2021.^[4] Night photography and stargazing are popular activities because there is little light pollution due to its remoteness.^[5]

There are no developed hiking trails in the park,^[6] but the Honaker Trail, a few miles to the northwest, provides access to the San Juan River.^[7]

Panoramic view from overlook

References

^ ^a ^b "Goosenecks State Park". Utah.com LC. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
^ "Goosenecks State Park: About the Park". Utah State Parks. Archived from the original on March 16, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
^ "Park Visitation Data". Utah State Parks. July 6, 2023.
^ "IDA has awarded International Dark Sky Park Designations to Fremont Indian and Goosenecks State Parks". International Dark-Sky Association. March 25, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
^ "Goosenecks State Park [Activities, Info & More]". www.visitutah.com. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
^ Crossley, John. "Goosenecks State Park". Americansouthwest.net. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
^ Hopkins, Ralph Lee (2002). Hiking the Southwest's Geology: Four Corners Region. The Mountaineers Books. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-89886-856-2.

External links

Media related to Goosenecks State Park at Wikimedia Commons
Goosenecks State Park

Protected areas of Utah

Federal

National Parks	Arches Bryce Canyon Canyonlands Capitol Reef Zion
NPS National Monuments	Cedar Breaks Dinosaur Hovenweep Natural Bridges Rainbow Bridge Timpanogos Cave
National Historic Parks	Golden Spike
National Recreation Areas	Flaming Gorge Glen Canyon
National Historic Trails	California Mormon Pioneer Pony Express Old Spanish
National Forests	Ashley Caribou–Targhee Dixie Fishlake Manti–La Sal Sawtooth Uinta–Wasatch–Cache
Forest Service areas	Desert Biosphere Reserve
National Wildlife Refuges	Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Fish Springs Ouray
National Conservation Areas	Beaver Dam Wash Red Cliffs
BLM National Monuments	Bears Ears Grand Staircase–Escalante Jurassic National Monument
U.S. Wilderness Areas	Ashdown Gorge Beartrap Canyon Beaver Dam Mountains Black Ridge Canyons Blackridge Box-Death Hollow Canaan Mountain Cedar Mountain Cottonwood Canyon Cottonwood Forest Cougar Canyon Dark Canyon Deep Creek Deep Creek North Deseret Peak Doc's Pass Goose Creek High Uintas LaVerkin Creek Lone Peak Mount Naomi Mount Nebo Mount Olympus Mount Timpanogos Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Pine Valley Mountain Red Butte Red Mountains Slaughter Creek Taylor Creek Twin Peaks Wellsville Mountain Zion
Wild and Scenic Rivers	Green River Virgin River

State

State Parks Northern Region	Antelope Island Bear Lake Camp Floyd Deer Creek East Canyon Echo Flight Park Fred Hayes at Starvation Great Salt Lake Historic Union Pacific Rail Trail Hyrum Jordan River OHV Park Jordanelle Lost Creek Red Fleet Rockport Steinaker Utah Field House Utah Lake Wasatch Mountain Willard Bay
State Parks Central Region	Fremont Indian Goblin Valley Green River Huntington Millsite Palisade Scofield Territorial Statehouse Utahraptor Yuba
State Parks Southern Region	Anasazi Coral Pink Sand Dunes Dead Horse Point Edge of the Cedars Escalante Petrified Forest Frontier Homestead Goosenecks Gunlock Kodachrome Basin Otter Creek Piute Quail Creek Sand Hollow Snow Canyon