Dead Horse Point State Park

Fast facts

• Size: about 5,360 acres (21.7 km²) of high desert mesa
• Elevation: about 5,900 feet (1,800 m), some 2,000 feet (600 m) above the Colorado River
• Trails: about 7 miles (11 km) of rim hiking trail linking nine overlooks, plus 17 miles (27 km) of mountain bike trail
• Camping: 52 campsites in two campgrounds, 11 of them hike-in tent sites, and nine yurts
• Opened: 1959
• Gateway: Moab, about 32 miles (51 km) by road
• Managed by: Utah State Parks

The landscape

Dead Horse Point is the tip of a mesa that juts out over the canyon of the Colorado River. From the overlook at its end, the ground falls away about 2,000 feet (600 m) in steps of red, orange and cream rock to a tight gooseneck bend in the river, with the buttes and mesas of Canyonlands National Park beyond and the La Sal Mountains to the east. The layers exposed in the walls record about 300 million years. The mesa top is pinyon and juniper woodland, sagebrush flat and bare slickrock, with shallow potholes that fill with rain and briefly hold fairy shrimp and tadpoles.

The point is joined to the rest of the mesa by a neck of land only about 30 yards (27 m) wide. According to the legend behind the name, cowboys in the 1800s fenced the neck to corral wild horses on the point, and a band left there died of thirst within sight of the river. The park is a certified International Dark Sky Park.

Best time to go

Spring and fall are the best seasons, with mild days and cold nights; they are also the busiest, and campsites book months ahead. Summer days often pass 95°F (35°C) with no shade on the trails, so hike at sunrise or in the evening, when the light on the canyon walls is at its best in any case. July to September brings afternoon thunderstorms. Winter is cold and quiet, with occasional snow that makes the slickrock and the overlook paths icy. The park is open all year.

Getting there and around

Utah Route 313 leaves US Highway 191 north of Moab and climbs onto the mesa, ending at the park; the turn for the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands is on the same road. Inside the park, the road passes the campgrounds and the Visitor Center, which is open daily, and runs 1.5 miles (2.4 km) farther to the parking area at Dead Horse Point. There is no fuel, and food is limited to a small coffee shop, so arrive with a full tank and what you need.

Things to do

The main overlook is 200 feet (60 m) from the parking lot on a paved, accessible path, with a large shade shelter at the rim. To see more, walk there instead of driving: the East Rim Trail runs 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the Visitor Center to the point, and the West Rim Trail returns in 2.5 to 3.5 miles (4 to 5.6 km), for a loop of 5 miles (8 km) or more over mostly level ground. The Bighorn Overlook Trail, a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) spur from the west side, is the quietest and has views to match the point. The west side routes cross open slickrock and are marked by cairns.

Mountain bikers ride the Intrepid Trail System, 17 miles (27 km) of singletrack loops of varying difficulty starting near the Visitor Center, where bikes can be rented. A newer set of trails along the far east rim, about 6 miles (10 km) in all, is shared by hikers and cyclists. After dark, the mesa has some of the clearest night skies in the region, and rangers run stargazing programs.

Staying safe

The rim is the hazard. Apart from the main overlook, the cliff edges are unfenced, the rock at the lip can be loose or sandy, and the drop is hundreds of feet. Keep children and dogs close and stay back from the edge, most of all when taking photographs or in wind. The mesa is the highest ground for miles: if a thunderstorm is building, leave the rim and the open slickrock and get to a vehicle or building.

In summer, heat and dehydration are real risks even on short, flat trails. Carry and drink plenty of water, wear a hat, and avoid the middle of the day. In winter, shaded slickrock and the paved overlook paths hold ice. Help is far away: the nearest fuel, food and hospital are in Moab, more than 30 miles (48 km) off, and phone signal is unreliable, so tell someone your plans.

Know before you go

Dogs are allowed on the hiking trails on a leash, but not in the yurts. The 11 hike-in sites at Wingate Campground are for tents only; camper vans and rooftop tents are turned away. Entry here does not cover Canyonlands National Park, which has its own fee. This page is a general overview, not a live conditions report, so check weather, fire restrictions and campground status with Utah State Parks before you go.

Coordinates

38.5045, -109.7273

Magnetic declination

9.5° E (2026)

Set this declination on your compass, then align it to the map's north lines; it is the angle between true north and magnetic north, refreshed each year.

How declination works, and how to navigate with a map and compass

Best seasons

Spring, Fall, Winter (quiet and cold), Summer mornings and evenings

Difficulty

Easy to moderate

Access / trailheads

From US Highway 191 about 9 miles (14 km) north of Moab, take Utah Route 313 southwest for 23 miles (37 km) to the end of the road. It is about 32 miles (51 km) from Moab, with no fuel or services on the way.

Water

Drinking water at the Visitor Center and campgrounds, but no RV fill-up anywhere in the park, so fill tanks in Moab or Green River. None on the trails; carry a gallon (4 litres) per person per day in warm weather.

Cell / satellite coverage

Limited and unreliable. Wi-Fi is available at the Visitor Center.

Nearest ranger / SAR / emergency

Emergencies: 911. Visitor Center: 435-259-2614. The nearest hospital is in Moab.

Permits & regulations

A day-use fee is charged per vehicle. Campsites and yurts should be reserved well ahead through Utah State Parks. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. all year.

Leave No Trace

Stay on the trail and off the dark, crusted soil, which is alive and takes decades to recover. Keep dogs leashed, keep lights low for the dark sky, and pack out all trash.