Dead Horse Point East and West Rim Loop Hiking Guide
Dead Horse Point is a narrow neck of mesa ending in an overlook some 2,000 feet above the Colorado River, and it's one of the most photographed views around Moab. Unlike the national parks next door, this Utah state park lets leashed dogs on its hiking trails, and its rim loop strings together most of the park's overlooks in a half-day walk.
Permit: Dead Horse Point is a Utah state park with its own day-use fee: $20 per private vehicle (up to 8 people), and the park's fee table lists $10 per motorcycle and $10 per group of up to four people walking or biking in with the vehicle parked outside; the state's online pass store sells the pedestrian, cyclist and motorcyclist pass per person instead, so confirm that price when you buy. Utah residents 65 and older pay $15 per vehicle. Entry reservations are not required. The fee is separate from the national park entrance fees. Park hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Putting the Loop Together
AllTrails maps the East and West Rim loop from the visitor center at 5.2 miles with 393 feet of gain, rated moderate, and figures on two to two and a half hours of walking. State park staff describe it similarly, as a loop of 5 miles or more starting and ending at the visitor center. The East Rim is 1.5 miles between the visitor center and the point, mostly flat after one short hill; the West Rim is 2.5 to 3.5 miles one way depending on spurs, more primitive and usually quieter.
The Overlooks Along the Way
About seven miles of trail in the park connect nine overlooks. On the East Rim, a half-mile Basin Overlook spur drops about 100 feet to a ledge with more secluded views. At the point itself, a short paved path leads to the main shelter. Coming back along the West Rim, the Meander, Shafer and Rim spurs add about a mile and look down into Shafer Canyon and the river. The 1.5-mile Bighorn Overlook spur off the West Rim is the park's best bet for solitude, but it has short sections of cliff exposure and no guardrails.
Following Cairns on Slickrock
The park calls its trails primitive: the landscape makes them hard to mark, so rangers use cairns, curbs of lined-up rocks and pieces of wood instead. Don't add or knock down cairns, since that's how hikers end up on social trails across fragile soil. Sturdy shoes matter on the uneven sandstone, and AllTrails notes the loop can be icy and snowy in winter, with users recommending microspikes, poles or snowshoes.
Day-Use Fee and Hours
This is a state park with its own fee schedule, separate from the national parks next door. Day use is $20 per private vehicle for up to eight people, and the fee table gives $10 for a motorcycle or for a group of up to four who park outside and walk or bike in. The online pass store prices that walk-in and motorcycle pass per person, though, so check the amount at checkout. Pay online or on arrival. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. year-round, and the day-use fee doesn't extend past closing, so stargazing after 10 means a campsite or a ranger program.
Hiking Here With a Dog
Dogs are allowed on all hiking and biking trails and in the campground, on a leash at all times, and there are waste-bag dispensers around the park. The park also says pets can't be left in vehicles because of the heat, and the slickrock can get hot underfoot in summer, so this is a morning or cool-season walk for dogs.
Hiking tips for Dead Horse Point East and West Rim Loop
- Start at the visitor center and walk the East Rim first; it's the easier half and gets you to the point while you're fresh.
- Add the Basin Overlook spur on the East Rim for a quieter view than the main point.
- Keep your dog leashed and out of the car; both are park rules here.
- Follow the cairns and rock curbs exactly and leave them as you find them.
- Remember the 10 p.m. closing if you're staying for sunset and stars.
Nearby trails to explore
- Mesa Arch Trail
- Grand View Point Trail (Canyonlands)
- Corona Arch Trail
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Dead Horse Point is one of the few big Moab views you can share with your dog. Use TrailMates to find Moab hikers walking the rim loop. Download the TrailMates app to connect.