Visit Dead Horse Point State Park

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Towering 2,000 feet directly above the Colorado River you will view the mesa that is Dead Horse Point and breathtaking views of the canyon country of southeastern Utah and the pinnacles and buttes of Canyonlands National Park. The Legend of Dead Horse Point is that cowboys corralled wild mustangs on the Point, then chose the horses they wanted. But at one time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst. Let's hope that the legend is more myth than fact. One fact is true, Dead Horse Point State Park offers a drop-dead gorgeous view of the Colorado River and the eons old canyons carved from the sandstone rock.  

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ABOUT DEAD HORSE POINT STATE PARK
Millions of years of geologic activity created the spectacular views from Dead Horse Point State Park. Deposition of sediments by ancient oceans, freshwater lakes, streams and wind blown sand dunes created the rock layers of canyon country. Igneous activity formed the high mountains that rise like cool blue islands out of the hot, dry desert.

The plants and animals of Dead Horse Point have adapted to a land of scare water and extreme temperatures. Plants grow very slowly here. Trees 15 feet tall may be hundreds of years old. Leaves of most plants are small and some have a waxy coating to reduce evaporation. Most desert animals are nocturnal, active only during cooler evenings and mornings. Some have large ears to dissipate heat, while others metabolize water from food.

The Legend of Dead Horse Point
Dead Horse Point is a peninsula of rock atop sheer sandstone cliffs. The peninsula is connected to the mesa by a narrow strip of land called the neck. There are many stories about how this high promontory of land received its name.
According to one legend, around the turn of the century the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only 30-yards-wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. This created a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs straight down on all sides, affording no escape. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and let the culls or broomtails go free. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River, 2,000 feet below.

Acres - 5,362
Elevation - 5,900 feet

 

Park Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitor Center Hours: Main Season / 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Winter / 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Holiday Closures: Visitor Center closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day (park remains open)
Day Visits: $7
Camping: $15

Location: Nine miles northwest of Moab on US 191 and then 23 miles southwest on Utah 313 to the end of the highway.

GENERAL PARK RULES

Please observe the following park regulations to ensure everyone's visit is pleasant.

Camping - Camp only in designated areas.

Fires - Campfires may be built in specified areas only and gathering firewood is prohibited.

Pets - Pets are allowed in Utah state parks, but must be on a maximum six-foot leash. Service animals are the only animals admitted in park buildings. For safety and courtesy, please keep pets under control and clean up after them.

Bicycles - Bicycling is permitted on established public roads and in parking areas.

Off-highway vehicles - Off-highway vehicle riding is permitted in some parks. For designated areas contact a park ranger.

Parking - Park only in designated parking areas.

Plants and animals - All plants, animals, minerals and other natural features in state parks are protected. It is unlawful to remove, alter or destroy them.

Fireworks - Fireworks or firecrackers are prohibited in state parks.

Firearms - Possession or use of firearms, traps or other devices capable of launching a projectile that can immobilize, injure or kill a person or animal, or damage property is prohibited unless the weapon or device is 1) unloaded and packed away to prevent its use, 2) being used by authorized enforcement officers in the performance of official duties.

Speed limit - The speed limit within all park areas is 15 m.p.h.

Waste water - It is unlawful to dump or to drain water from campers or trailers onto the ground. A sanitary disposal station is provided for registered campers.

Quiet hours - 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

Accidents - Please report accidents or suspicious activities to a ranger.

Permits - A Special Use Permit is required for all special events and commercial or professional filming and photography.