Dead Horse Point State Park

Perched on a mesa 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, Dead Horse Point State Park delivers one of the most iconic views in the American Southwest. This compact park in southeastern Utah offers a jaw-dropping panorama of the river's meandering goosenecks, the distant La Sal Mountains, and the vast canyon country that stretches toward Canyonlands National Park. The name stems from a grim 19th-century tale of wild horses corralled here and left to die, but today the point is a serene spot for sunrise, stargazing, and hiking along the rim. It's a must-stop on any Utah road trip, easily combined with nearby national parks.

Highlights & What to See

• Dead Horse Point Overlook – The main viewpoint, a short walk from the parking area, offers a vertiginous view of the Colorado River's horseshoe bend 2,000 feet below. It's especially dramatic at sunrise when the canyon walls glow orange and red.
• Intra-Canyon Hiking – The 1.6-mile (one-way) East Rim Trail and the 1.2-mile West Rim Trail both follow the edge with sweeping views. For a longer outing, connect to the 6.8-mile Big Horn Overlook Trail through piñon-juniper woodland.
• Mountain Biking – The park's 10-mile Intrepid Trail System offers intermediate loops with slickrock and singletrack, plus views that rival the hiking trails.
• Stargazing – As an International Dark Sky Park, Dead Horse Point has exceptional night skies. The park hosts astronomy programs, or you can simply lie on the rim and watch the Milky Way.
• Visitor Center & Museum – Learn about the area's geology, wildlife, and the legend of the dead horses. Pick up trail maps and check for ranger-led talks.

Suggested Time to Spend

Most visitors spend 2–4 hours driving in, taking in the overlook, and walking a short rim trail. If you plan to mountain bike or hike the longer Big Horn Overlook Trail, budget a half-day. For photographers and stargazers, consider arriving an hour before sunset and staying until after dark – the park's dark-sky status is a highlight. Overnight camping (there's a 21-site campground) lets you experience dawn and dusk in solitude.

Nearby Areas Worth Combining

• Canyonlands National Park (Island in the Sky District) – Just 30 minutes south, this park's mesa-top views are even grander, with the Green River Overlook and Grand View Point.
• Arches National Park – An hour north, famous for over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch.
• Moab – The adventure hub for both parks, with rafting on the Colorado River, jeep tours, and a lively downtown with breweries and gear shops.
• Potash Road / Shafer Trail – A scenic drive from Moab to Dead Horse Point, winding along the Colorado River with petroglyphs and dinosaur tracks.
• Corona Arch & Bowtie Arch – Easy hikes near Moab to massive arches without the national park crowds.

Please check official sources for current details.