San Rafael Swell, Utah
Goblin Valley Desert Experience
Four days off the grid in the San Rafael Swell — towering hoodoos, slot canyon narrows, primitive desert camping and no cell service. Co-ed, 18+.
Oct 22 – Oct 25, 2026 · $75 per person · $23 deposit today · 3 of 12 spots left
- Dates
- Oct 22 – Oct 25, 2026
- Cost
- $75 per person
- Group size
- 12 people
- Due today
- $23 deposit
Trip brief
What this trip actually is
Some places you have to earn. This is one of them. Over four days, Girls Gone Hiking is heading deep into the San Rafael Swell, one of Utah's most remote and jaw-dropping desert regions. Think towering hoodoos, slot canyon narrows, ancient rock formations, and a campsite so far off the grid there's not a bar of service to be found.
This isn't a hotel hike. This is primitive desert camping the way it's meant to be, sleeping under the stars, cooking over fire, and waking up to a landscape that doesn't look real.
Led by Tiffany Soriano, who knows this terrain like her own backyard, this weekend is built for people who want to go farther and stay longer. Spots are capped at 12. If you've been waiting for a trip that actually goes somewhere, this is it.
What's included: Thursday dinner and Friday breakfast as group meals at camp, Goblin Valley State Park entry fee, full trip coordination, logistics and on-the-ground leadership by Tiffany Soriano, and access to GGH's vetted, intentional outdoor community.
Itinerary
Day by day
Day 1 — Thursday, October 22
Arrival + camp setup
Drive to the campsite (4WD required — exact coordinates shared after registration). Arrive, set up camp, meet your fellow adventurers. Group dinner around the campfire to kick off the weekend right.
Day 2 — Friday, October 23
Ding and Dang Canyons + Little Wild Horse Canyon
Ding and Dang Canyons for technical slot canyon exploration with scrambling and narrows. Afternoon in Little Wild Horse Canyon, one of the state's best slot canyon hikes, with narrow twisting walls and surreal light. Evening back at camp with group dinner.
Day 3 — Saturday, October 24
Goblin Valley State Park
Roam through thousands of sandstone hoodoos in one of Utah's most otherworldly landscapes, then Tiffany's personal camp hike — off-trail, no service, pure desert. Evening campfire, a visit to Swasey's Cabin (a Utah landmark right near camp), and the kind of night sky you don't forget.
Day 4 — Sunday, October 25
Pack up + departure
Morning camp breakdown and Leave No Trace cleanup. Safe travels home, and bragging rights for life.
Photos
Good to know
- Trail level
- intermediate
- Chapter
- Minnesota
- Daily distance
- Varies
- Elevation
- Varies
- Meeting point
- Primitive campsite in the San Rafael Swell — exact coordinates shared after registration (4WD required)
- Trip lead
- Lex Bengston
The deets: 4 days, 3 nights · Co-ed, 18+, no dogs · Difficulty moderate to high — comfortable hiking 5–10 miles in desert terrain required · Primitive desert camping with no hookups and no running water at camp · No cell service at the campsite · 4-wheel drive required for all vehicles · Bathrooms are a 5 minute drive from camp · Firewood not provided, bring your own · No water at camp, bring all water for the trip · October weather runs 65–75°F days and 30–45°F nights, so come prepared for cold, wind and possible rain or snow. 12 spots, no waitlist.
Cost
What you pay, and when
Deposit at booking
$23
Paid by card now — this is what holds your place.
Final payment
$52
Due by August 15, 2026. Your trip lead sends a reminder.
Total per person
$75
Flights and personal spending aren't included.
Cancellation policy
The $23 deposit is non-refundable at the time of registration. 30+ days before departure (before Sept 22, 2026): full refund minus the deposit. 15–29 days before departure (Sept 22 – Oct 7): deposit only, no additional refund. Less than 15 days before departure (Oct 8 and after): no refund. Spot transfers to another eligible participant are allowed with prior notice to GGH. Questions? Email mjeske@girlsgonehiking-usa.com.
You don't need to know anyone. Just show up.
GGH trips have a way of turning strangers into people you're texting about the next one. $23 deposits are open now — 12 spots, no exceptions.