Summary
The park is situated on a plateau overlooking the Colorado River and offers many hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and camping opportunities.
One of the main reasons to visit Dead Horse Point State Park is to witness the breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding canyon and mountains. Visitors can venture out on several hiking trails, including the popular Dead Horse Point Trail, which takes you along the edge of the canyon to a stunning viewpoint. Other points of interest to see include the Shafer Canyon Overlook, the Gooseneck Overlook, and the Colorado River Overlook.
Interesting facts about the area include the park's name, which comes from a legend about wild mustangs being chased by cowboys and ending up trapped on the point, where they eventually died of thirst. Additionally, the park was once used as a filming location for the final scene in the movie Thelma and Louise.
The best time of year to visit Dead Horse Point State Park is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the park is less crowded. However, visitors should be prepared for hot, dry conditions during the summer months.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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Dead Horse Point State Park
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Yurt
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Group Site
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Musselman Canyon
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Cowboy Camp Camping Area
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Cowboy
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