Dead Horse Point State Park — Attraction in Four Corners States

This is a great location to stay if you are planning to visit Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park because it's right between them. It's about 15 minutes from the Island in the Sky entrance to Canyonlands, but you'll have to drive around quite a ways to the entrances of the other sections of Canyonlands. And it's about an hour to the entrance for Arches. Dead Horse Point State Park also has interesting trails and sites to visit, though we weren't there long enough to see everything. If you don't have much time, at least visit the Overlook, which is a short drive from the Visitor's Center with lots of parking. There's a spectacular view overlooking the canyons. We recommend visiting at sunset, it was amazing! There are large metal structures for shade and cover from the strong wind and rain at the top of the canyons. There are short trails along the edges to get better views of each side. The overlook is definitely worth your time! We camped at the Wingate Campground in the last week of April. The weather can change quickly in the desert in the spring. Morning through early afternoon is beautiful and clear. By the afternoon clouds start rolling in and it can get windy and start raining out of nowhere! If you're camping in the desert in the spring, just make sure to set up your rainfly and stake and tie down all your guylines because you'll get rained on and blown around quite a bit. And watch for lightning, it happens a lot during desert storms! Keep your tent windows and gear covered because the fine red dust gets everywhere, especially when it's windy! When nights are clear, it's great for stargazing because it's nice and dark out there. The Wingate Campground is only a few years old. It has tent sites, RV sites with power, yurts, some vault toilets and some flushing toilets with sinks. The bathrooms are individual ones instead of public with multiple stalls. That was nice for privacy, though it limited bathroom space. Not all the tent sites are drive up, ours was a parking spot by the bathroom and then you carry your gear down a short path, but it wasn't bad. The campsite has a sturdy metal pavilion with two walls over a metal picnic table. This was especially nice when the wind and rain picked up, and it kept our gear relatively safe and dry. We found ourselves saying constantly, "I'm so glad we have this pavilion!" The tent pad was soft fine red dirt (it gets everywhere!) with enough room for two average tents next to each other. There was also a metal fire pit with a grill attached. The tent sites are pretty close to each other so you can hear your neighbors if they get rowdy (like ours did), but they are usually faced away from each other and the pavilions are oriented to mostly block them from one another. You have to buy firewood at each campground because they don't want foreign organisms from outside wood to affect the delicate desert ecosystem. And stay on the trails to protect the wild desert landscape around the camp sites so everyone can enjoy the experience of camping...

Dead Horse Point State Park: Utah’s Dramatic Desert Masterpiece 🌄✨

Perched 2,000 feet above the Colorado River near Moab, Dead Horse Point State Park is a jaw-dropping symphony of red-rock cliffs, deep canyons, and endless desert horizons. This iconic park is Utah’s answer to the Grand Canyon, but with a wild, untamed vibe that feels like stepping onto another planet.

What Makes It Legendary? The Overlook: The park’s namesake viewpoint offers a heart-stopping panorama of the Colorado River’s hairpin turn, carving through rust-colored mesas and spires. Sunrise and sunset here are religious experiences—the sky ignites in neon oranges, pinks, and purples, reflecting off the river below. The Haunting Name: Legend says cowboys once corralled wild mustangs on the point, accidentally leaving them trapped to perish. Morbid? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely. Cinematic Vibes: Featured in Thelma & Louise and countless Instagram feeds, this place is a photographer’s nirvana. Every angle feels like a NatGeo cover.

Why Visit? Hiking & Biking: Trails like the East Rim and West Rim serve up easy-to-moderate hikes with nonstop views. Mountain bikers rave about the Intrepid Trail System’s slickrock challenges. Stargazing: With minimal light pollution, the Milky Way blazes overhead like a diamond spill. 🌌 Peace & Quiet: Less crowded than nearby Arches or Canyonlands, it’s where solitude meets spectacle.

Pro Tips Go Early/Late: Beat the heat (and crowds) for golden-hour magic. Pack Water & Sunscreen: The desert doesn’t play nice. Pair It Up: Combine with Canyonlands National Park (just 30 mins away) for a desert double-header.

Verdict Dead Horse Point isn’t just a park—it’s a soul-stirring encounter with raw, unfiltered Earth. Whether you’re chasing adrenaline, serenity, or that perfect shot, this place delivers. Utah’s crown jewel? Absolutely.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5) Tagline: “Where the desert whispers secrets and the views steal your breath.” 🏜️💫

#DeadHorseMagic #DesertDreams...

Don't miss this State Park, 9-miles north of Moab on US 191 and then 23 miles south on SR 313. This is a fee area and the National Parks Pass doesn't work here, nor will admission purchased here work at the National Parks. We paid $15 for our car with two adults. Park hours are 6AM-10 PM year round. Camping is available by reservation. There are 21 places, with additional ones opening soon. Pets are allowed if leashed. The story behind the name involves some 1800’s cowboys and the natural corral they constructed on the point of the river's oxbow. It was used as to corral the wild horses in the area. The round-up herded the horses across the narrow neck and onto the point. The Cowboys culled the horses they wanted from the herd and left the others behind. The point was waterless and the horses charged the rim 2,000 feet below, due to their thirst. There is a lovely Visitor Center and the drive begins there. We stopped at the Neck and again at the Dead Horse Point Overlook traveling between them on a nice well-kept road. We did do the shorter of the two dedicated hiking trails, the 1.5-mile Dead Horse Viewpoint Trail, which leaves from the Visitor Center. Both trails are easy, fairly level and paved in crushed rock. The shorter one was even suitable for the tour busload of seniors with walkers. There is a picnic shelter there but no restrooms. Farther on, there are two solar evaporating ponds for a potash mine. Water is pumped into the ponds, and when it evaporates, huge ‘truck’ scrapers ‘harvest’ the salts, which are converted into potash and used in...