National park
State park · Eastern Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park
A narrow mesa-top overlook 2,000 feet above a gooseneck of the Colorado River. One of the most photographed views in the Southwest, minutes from Canyonlands.
Photo: Clément Bardot · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Dead Horse Point juts out from the mesa like a peninsula connected by a neck only about 30 yards wide. At the tip, the Colorado River makes a tight horseshoe bend 2,000 feet below, with the layered cliffs of Canyonlands stretching beyond. Legend says cowboys once corralled wild horses on the point, where they died of thirst within sight of the river.
Rim trails link a string of overlooks on both sides of the mesa, and a newer mixed-use trail system on the east rim adds more viewpoints. The Intrepid Trail System is a favorite for beginning and intermediate mountain bikers. The park is also an International Dark Sky Park with yurts and campgrounds for overnight stays.
Don't miss
- Dead Horse Point OverlookThe classic view of the Colorado River gooseneck 2,000 feet below.
- East and West Rim trailsEasy walks between viewpoints along both edges of the mesa.
- Intrepid Trail SystemSingletrack mountain bike loops for all levels on the mesa top.
- Yurts and campgroundsSleep on the mesa and watch the stars in a Dark Sky Park.
- Sunrise and sunsetThe canyon walls light up in layers of red and gold.
Good to know
- Pair it with Island in the Sky in Canyonlands; the turnoff is on the same road.
- Yurts and campsites book up months ahead for spring and fall.
- There is little shade on the rim. Bring water and sun protection.