Goosenecks State Park, State park in San Juan County, United States.
Goosenecks State Park is a largely undeveloped state park in southeastern Utah, near Mexican Hat, with a viewpoint at about 1,500 m elevation above a deep meander of the San Juan River. The river has cut incised meanders over 300 m (1,000 ft) deep, and from above the loops resemble goose necks, which gives the park its name.
The Monument Upwarp, a fold in the earth's crust, forced the San Juan River to carve incised meanders more than 300 m (1,000 ft) deep as the surrounding landscape slowly rose. Water, wind, frost and gravity then eroded the rock into the tight loops seen today. The park remains largely undeveloped, with primitive campsites set back from the cliff edge.
The park earned International Dark Sky designation in 2021, becoming a place where visitors come to observe stars without light pollution. This recognition highlights how the place has become important for people who want to experience the night sky as it naturally appears.
The park is reached via Utah Route 261 north of Mexican Hat, with a parking area at the viewpoint. There is no visitor center and no developed hiking trail; the Honaker Trail, a few miles northwest, is the way down to the San Juan River. Campers should bring their own water, food and gear; vault toilets and picnic tables are provided.
From the overlook the San Juan River loops back and forth across 8 km (5 mi) of channel while advancing only 1.6 km (1 mi) in a straight line, so the three goosenecks sit almost on top of one another. The tight packing of the bends is what makes the view read as a single coiled shape.
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