Located just off the path to Canyonlands Island in the Sky, and about 30 miles from Moab, Utah, Dead Horse Point State Park is a wonderful place to go and see spectacular views of majestic canyons, mesas and buttes.
At the visitor center, you can choose from one of the numerous canyon rim trails from which you’ll get amazing vistas into the canyons. We particularly enjoyed the views of the visitor center and the lookout point from further along the path. From this vantage point you can really see the height of the vertical cliffs. The overlooks are over 2,000 ft (610m) above the Colorado River.
While you can hike all the way to Dead Horse Point Overlook along the rim trail from the visitor center, we opted to drive to the further lookout point and just hike the short trails at either end. Given more time, I know we would have enjoyed the longer hike, but we were already getting blisters in our boots and were saving our feet for Arches National Park.
The view from Dead Horse Point Overlook is one of the most spectacular and most photographed scenes in Utah, and the world! The winding Colorado River below is spectacular as it folds along a narrow gooseneck bend, almost like a huge horseshoe.
Dead Horse Point Legend
The legend of Dead Horse Point comes from the 1800’s and goes as follows: This point was used to corral wild mustangs which used to roam free in the mesa top area. The local cowboys would herd them along the narrow neck of land leading them to the point. Once there, they would fence off the narrow neck part with branches to keep the wild horses in. It is said that at one time, for unknown reasons, these poor horses were left corralled on that waterless point where they died of thirst. All that within view of the Colorado River below.
Good to know
The park is open from 6 am to 10 pm with the Visitor Center open from 9 am to 5 pm.
As a state park, our national park pass was not accepted, and a $20 (valid for two days) pass is required.
There are yurts for camping, which are considered luxurious accommodations for camping in the park. There are also spots for camping and RVs. You can reserve as much as 4 months in advance.
You’ll find a variety of mountain biking trails and hiking trails; the latter are even pet-friendly unlike those in the national parks.
For more specifics about the trails and the park facilities see: Dead Horse Point State Park — Discover Moab, Utah
Dead Horse State Park is located near two of Utah’s most iconic national parks: Canyonlands and Arches.
Goblin Valley State Park is another beautiful state park to visit in Utah.