Entrada Canyon Trail - 2.1 Miles Round-Trip

The Entrada Canyon Trail runs 1.05 miles southeast from the Goblin Valley picnic area to Observation Point and the main Goblin Valley amphitheater.

The trail weaves through deep-red canyons of quaternary deposits, eroded Entrada sandstone debris that formed mounds held together by Cryptobiotic soil crusts.

Cryptobiotic soil is a living ground cover comprised of cyanobacteria and varying amounts of lichen, moss, green algae, micro fungi, and bacteria.

Cyanobacteria is one of the oldest known life forms; it's thought these organisms were among the earth's first land colonizers, and integral in the formation and stabilization of the earth's early soils.

Cyanobacteria harvest the sun's energy through photosynthesis, producing oxygen that helped convert the earth's original carbon dioxide-dominated atmosphere into an oxygen-rich one capable of sustaining life.

When wet, Cyanobacteria moves through the soil and binds rock and soil particles, forming a fibrous mesh that stabilizes the surface.

Cyanobacteria is also critical to vascular plants, which are unable to utilize nitrogen as it occurs in the atmosphere. Cyanobacteria is able to convert atmospheric nitrogen to a synthesizable form plants can use, a vital resource for native vegetation:

Begin at the Entrada Canyon Trailhead in the campground picnic area. The Entrada Canyon Trail climbs through steep red mounds to a crest at the Curtis Bench Trail split (.2 miles : 5,051').

Cross the service road and follow cairns (right) down a steep chute into the canyon. The trail levels and twists in a narrow, slot-like wash to the Observation Point parking lot (1.05 miles : 4,968'). Goblin formations appear in greater numbers along the canyon rim as you near the main amphitheater.

Stay vigilant, as there are many indistinguishable side canyons and counter-intuitive turns along the way. While difficult to become truly lost, it's easy to become disoriented and make a wrong turn.

If off-course, climb a canyon wall and look for the road or either parking lot - these landmarks are readily identifiable and should help you navigate back on track.