Dead Horse Point State Park – Rim Loop

Dead Horse Point State Park Rim Loop

If you love the views of Canyonlands Island in the Sky park but don’t love the crowds. You will love Dead Horse Point State Park. You will see the signs for Dead Horse Point if you are traveling from Moab to Canyonlands and I recommend taking time to explore this beautiful state park. It also has one of the best sunsets in Moab! The main highlights of the park are East and West Rim trails, and of course Dead Horse Point. I hiked both the loop trails, which also includes the point for one of the most spectacular loop trails around. Here is my review of the Dead Horse Point State Park Rim Loop.

Getting Started

There are several spots you can get on the different Rim trails but I found that parking at Visitor Center is a perfect if you are doing this hike as a full loop. The visitor center is close to the start of both Rim trails and has plenty of parking. I decided to start with the East Rim trail and loop back on the West Rim trail but you could do either. The Visitor center also has bathrooms and snacks while open, if you are looking to get some provisions for your hike.

East Rim Loop Trail

From the Visitor Center, The East Rim trail is a natural starting point. Mostly because it takes you immediately to the side of the rim and the start of the amazing views that will lead you on this hike. While the trail doesn’t have a lot of dramatic elevation changes, what you do have seems to be mostly on the East Rim. It isn’t overwhelming though and mostly just moving up and down the cliffside. The trail does get a little hard to follow at times as it mixes between hard dirt and rocks. For a majority of the East Rim though, it just follows along the rim wall.

One thing that I kept seeing to the east were lines of water that almost looked like a mirage. After a bit of research, I found that these are called Potash Ponds. They are used to evaporate water and separate the potassium salt to be used as fertilizer. It is one of those sights that you can’t help but focusing on as you walk.

Basin Overlook

About eight-tenths of a mile into the hike you will have a chance to visit the one overlook on the East Rim trail. It does feel like the entire hike is an overlook at this point but heading down to the Basin Overlook is worth the walk. It takes you to a small point that gives views not only at the canyon below but also back towards the rim that you have been walking on.

After the Basin Overlook, you will follow the rim for a bit more and then head inland just a ways as you make the next mile towards Dead Horse Point. I found this area to be kind of cool with a bunch of old trees that were both living and dead. It reminded me of the terrain that old westerns used to show the harshness of the terrain. As you get closer to Dead Horse Point, the trail gets close to the road and you follow that to the main feature of the hike.

Dead Horse Point

Dead Horse Point is the main draw of the park and of this hike. You will notice the large parking lot as you arrive from the Rim trails and platforms built for viewing. There is a long sidewalk that leads around the point and to an elevated section on the west side. You can also hike down below the elevated platform to get to one of the best views in my opinion.

From various parts on the point, you will have about a 270 degree view of the canyon below. If you came in from the east side, this is the best views you will have of the Colorado River down below. The views at the point are also just spectacular and so big it is hard to comprehend how far the canyon goes.

As an important note for those doing the whole loop. There are bathrooms and some picnic tables available at the point and it is a great place to stop and recharge before continuing onto the rest of the hike. There is also one of my favorite benches of all time just to the west of the main viewing point.

West Rim Loop Trail

While the West Rim doesn’t spend as much time on the rim, it makes up for it with some amazing overlooks. The West Rim starts from the Dead Horse Point and starts by following the rim but takes more time cutting into the central part of the park. The three main overlooks are really the biggest feature of the West Rim. They are the Meander, Shafer and Rim overlooks. The Meander is just off the trail while the other two need a longer spur trail to get to.

The Shafer Overlook is not for those who are scared of heights. The trail to get to it is about a third of a mile off of the main trail and it leads to pretty sheer drop off with no guard rails. Be careful if you have young children or pets to make sure they don’t get too close to the edge. The views, like all of the views are pretty amazing though.

The last overlook, and my favorite was the Rim Overlook. This is also about a third of a mile out to the overlook, but instead of a narrow spot of ledge, this one is a wide section with plenty of room to move around and find your favorite views. I found a good rock to sit on and sat here for a really long time enjoying the view. I was also stalked by a raven for most a lot of the hike and he seemed to enjoy the view and sat nearby as well. (Raven Picture in the Gallery)

Finishing Up

After the Rim Overlook, the West loop cuts back across the topside of the park and leads back to the Visitor Center to complete the loop. You do have to cross the park road to get back so keep an eye out as cars seem to be a bit distracted when they get into the park. My loop ended around six miles but it can be shorter if you skip some of the overlooks or a bit longer if you explore to the pools. Overall, this was one of those hikes that just keep your eyes glued to the scenery the entire time. It really was a beautiful hike in an amazing park.

Video of the Dead Horse Point State Park Rim Loop

I have put this time-lapse video together of the Dead Horse Point State Park Rim Loop so other hikers can get a feel of what the hike is like. If you enjoy this video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest outdoor content.

Distance and Elevation

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 5.96 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 1,011 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 6,002 feet. I was also moving for a total of 2 hours and 40 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort to Hike the Rim Loop at Dead Horse Point State Park

The good news about the Rim Trail at Dead Horse Point State Park is it really can be as challenging as you want to make it. If you feel more comfortable just driving to the main viewing area, you can do that and still get the views without the hike. If you are going to do the loop you can also park in different locations to get started to minimize how difficult it is.

The difficulty for this one really comes down more to the distance. It is about 6 miles to do most of the loop. You can make it a little longer with additional spurs, but this is a majority of the loop. There are some undulations with elevations but it doesn’t feel as steep as the 1,000 feet of elevation change. Most of that is getting to the overlooks that sit lower than the main trail.

I am going to set this trail as a moderate trail due to the distance and exposure to the elements.

Terrain

The Rim Loop trail is mostly hard packed dirt and rock with some paved sections. The trail takes you around the rim of Dead Horse Point and is about 100% exposed to the sun and elements. In Utah, that can get blisteringly hot or cold depending on the season. There are a lot of shrubs around and some small trees but not much shade. I would definitely recommend sun, wind and rain gear depending on the season.

Access to The Rim Loop at Dead Horse Point State Park

There are several places you can start the Rim Loop at Dead Horse State Park but I started at the visitor center. There is a small gift shop at the visitor center as well as restroom facilities. Dead Horse Point is a state park and there is a $20 entry fee to use the park. Important note: A National Parks pass will not get you into the park. For more on the fees, click here.

Wrapping up the Rim Loop at Dead Horse State Park

The Dead Horse State Park Rim Loop was one of the best hikes I have ever seen at a state park. Almost the entire trail has an amazing view of the canyon and it takes you to Dead Horse Point as well. The trail is exposed to the elements, so keep that in mind on the hot summer days.

One of the best parts about this loop is that you can do either rim trail or the whole loop and still have a great experience. Plus, if you don’t want to put on all the miles, you could also just park Dead Horse Point to experience some of the best views in the state of Utah. No matter how you want to enjoy the park, make sure to take the time to visit Dead Horse State Park the next time you are in Utah.

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the Dead Horse State Park Rim Loop

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