Dead Horse Point State Park

Dead Horse Point State Park sits on a stunning promontory overlooking a gooseneck bend of the Colorado River, with Canyonlands National Park stretching to the horizon. The 5,362-acre park is named for a legend about wild mustangs that were once corralled on the narrow mesa — left behind, they perished within sight of the river below. The dramatic history matches the dramatic landscape: sheer cliffs dropping 2,000 feet to the river, layered red and white sandstone formations, and a vast desert panorama that has been called one of the most photographed vistas in the American West.

The park features 16.6 miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, ranging from easy rim walks to more challenging singletrack. The main Dead Horse Point Overlook is a short, paved, wheelchair-accessible walk from the parking area, making the signature view available to virtually everyone. The visitor center provides interpretive exhibits on the geology, ecology, and human history of the region, including the park's famous cameo as the Grand Canyon stand-in in the 1991 film Thelma & Louise.

Camping options include 56 individual campsites across two campgrounds (Kayenta and Wingate), plus nine rentable yurts with electricity and heating. In 2016, the park was designated an International Dark Sky Park, and rangers regularly lead full-moon hikes, telescope viewings, and night-sky programs.

Whether you come for the views, the trails, the stargazing, or the solitude of the high desert, Dead Horse Point delivers an experience that rivals any national park at a fraction of the crowds.

32 miles from Moab (40 min). Drive north on US-191 for 9 miles, turn left onto UT-313, follow for 23 miles to the park entrance. Same road as Canyonlands Island in the Sky.

Day use does not require reservations. Campsite and yurt reservations via reserveamerica.com or 1-800-322-3770.