Dead Horse Point State Park Overlook
Dead Horse Point State Park Hike Guide

Dead Horse Point State Park Hike Guide

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Dead Horse State Park is located 35 minutes West of Moab and offers over 8 miles of hiking trails and 17 miles of mountain biking trails. The most common loop in this park is between 5-7 miles and visits several overlooks of the massive canyons below. Most of the viewpoints in this state park can be accessed with fewer miles by car but the hiking is very easy and suitable for hikers of all skill levels.

Dead Horse Point State Park Overlooking the La Sal Mountains

Dead Horse Point State Park Quick Facts

Dead Horse Point State Park Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Stars)

Virtual Trail Guide: Dead Horse Point State Park Loop

Distance: About 24 miles of trails, however most will hike 5-7 along the Rim Loop. 

Elevation Start: 5,882ft

High Point: 6,000ft

Total Elevation Gain: Under 300ft

Estimated Time to Complete: Most Trails will take you between 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete.The main park loop will generally take between 2-3 hours.  

Difficulty: Walk in the Park to Easy What does this mean?

Class: Class 1 – What does this mean?

Season: Year Round – Most popular times to visit are around the holidays during the Winter months. 

Weather: Check the Weather Forecast

Crowds: Moderate

Directions to Dead Horse Point State Park

Trailhead: Park Visitor Center

Getting Here: From Moab, take US191 11 Miles North and then take UT313 about 19 miles until you reach the park entrance. Once inside the park, head another mile or so to reach the visitor center.

Parking: There are several spots to park within Dead Horse Point State Park. None of them should present any issues with capacity since the turnover in most areas is very quick. There are restrooms scattered throughout the park and at the Visitor Center.  

Permits/Fee: $20 as of 2025 – Read more about fees here.

Dead Horse Point State Park Canyon

Summary

Dogs: Dogs are permitted in Dead Horse State Park and unless it’s a very hot day, I think this is a great place to bring your pup. Please keep your dog leashed and of course, pick up after them. 

Camping: There are several ways to spend the night inside of the park including campgrounds and yurts. Read more about all of those options here. If you do not want to pay for camping, there are hundreds of dispersed camping options in this area and closer to Moab. 

Make it a Loop: The most common hike in Dead Horse Point State Park is a loop. 

Trail X Factors: Overlook Detours

If you plan on hiking the main park loop in Dead Horse Point State Park, its about 5 miles. However, if you decide to add on all of the overlook detours (I recommend doing this) your hike will be closer to 7 miles. Although this makes a longer day, I highly recommend it for the unique viewpoints that most of these spots offer. 

Hike Tip(s): Bring lots of water on your hike, even in Winter months the combination of the sunlight and temperatures require lots of hydration. 

Best Views: Dead Horse State Point State Park is a fantastic place to watch the sunrise and sunset due the sweeping vistas on both the East and West sides of the park. Generally speaking, this entire park is stunning in all directions.

Dead Horse Point State Park Canyon Overlook

Gear Needed

Dead Horse Point State Park Sunset

Dead Horse State Park Loop

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