Dead Horse Point Overlook: Most beautiful sunset view in Moab

ByAdriana for Wanderlicious

If you’re looking at going to Dead Horse Point Overlook then you won’t be disappointed. We heard that if you’re staying in Moab then you must visit the three top parks which are of course the Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park and of course Dead Horse Point State Park.

The landscape is spectacular; jutting canyons, spires, pinnacles, unusual land formations and more.

When doing research we were told that the best place to watch the sunset would be a Dead Horse Point because the views are unreal and the angle at which the Sun hits the landscape transforms it completely.

I would however recommend that you don’t just go for sunset. I would recommend you go a couple of hours before sunset so you can fit in a number of incredible hikes and stop at many of the viewpoints and overlooks along the way.

Below I’ve listed the best viewpoints that you need to visit for dead horse point.

If you’re doing a bucket list Road Trip in Utah then it’s worth having a look at the guide! There’s tonnes of viewpoints for you to stop by.

Utah Road trip - dead horse point
Dead Horse Point - Utah road trip

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Quick Mini Guide To Dead Horse point

Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick mini guide to Dead Horse Point.

Dead Horse Point - Utah road trip

Where to stay

Best time to go

It’s best to go in Spring or Autumn. The summer becomes very hot at midday, so visit later afternoon.

Entrance Fee

$20 per vehicle up to 8 people.

Car rental

Public transport is limited so car rental is your best option. Consider getting a 4×4 for some dirt roads.

– Car rentals from Vegas
– Car rentals from Salt Lake City

Stay connected

Purchase an eSim with Airalo on your phone – Use discount code A&M3 for $3 off your first purchase.

Things you need to know about dead horse point

Some things I wish people told me…

You don’t need a 4×4 car; there are roads that go everywhere within the National park and you can simply drive and pull up to the parking spots in any type of car.

You don’t need to be super fit or an avid hiker to enjoy the national parks – there are lots of areas where you can pull up directly to the viewpoint and there are lots of very short walking trails such as 200m to 300 m to some of the overlooks.

Utah Road trip - Dead Horse Point
Utah Road trip – Dead Horse Point

Hotels near Dead Horse point

We actually stayed at the Aarchway Inn and it’s around 20 minutes to the entrance of dead horse point. It is also literally opposite Arches National Park and it’s very close to Canyonlands National Park too.

It’s on the main road into Moab and it’s in a really nice setting in amongst some canons. It has a lovely pool and every day they have authentic native American jewellers and artists selling wears.

It has a very cute pool where you can see the incredible landscape and Canyons nearby so I highly recommend staying here.

It’s also worth checking out Springhill Suites by Marriott.

Aarchway Inn

Dead horse point Overlook at Sunset

Dead Horse Point overlook has the most incredible landscape thanks to the Colorado River that is carved and weaved in and out of the rocky formations which has resulted in the landscape that you’ll see today.

You’ll see a horseshoe bend and some of the incredible landscape and topography – think jutting canyons, share cliff drops, deep ravines definitely a bit of wind and if you go at sunset; the most incredible views.

We spent an afternoon here stopping off at all of the overlooks and having a quick walk-through some of the shorter trails as we didn’t have loads of time and we wanted to make it to the end of the dead horse point overlook for sunset with plenty of time.

Where do I need to stop at for dead horse point?

Make sure you stop at some of the following locations on your drive down to the Dead Horse Point Overlook.

Dead Horse Point Overlook

  • Panoramic view of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park
  • Iconic viewpoint for sunrise and sunset photography

Meander Overlook

  • Stunning view of the river’s dramatic horseshoe bend
  • Great spot for scenic photos

Potash Road Overlook

  • View of the winding Potash Road and the surrounding canyons
  • Popular with off-road enthusiasts

Shafer Canyon Overlook

  • Overlooks the Shafer Trail and the deep canyons below
  • Offers a different perspective of the park’s rugged landscape

Colorado River Overlook

  • Close-up view of the Colorado River
  • Ideal for those looking to see the river from a different angle

Bighorn Overlook

  • Named for the bighorn sheep often seen in the area
  • Provides views of unique rock formations and mesas

Big Horn Mesa Overlook

  • Offers sweeping views of the mesa and surrounding canyons
  • Perfect for quiet contemplation and photography

Intrepid Trail Viewpoints

  • Multiple viewpoints along the Intrepid Trail System
  • Varying perspectives of the park’s geology and vistas

Why is it called dead horse point?

It is called Dead Horse Point due to the legends and myths that surround the area.

The name “Dead Horse Point” comes from a rather grim bit of local history. Back in the 1800s, cowboys used the area as a natural corral for wild mustangs. They would round up the horses and drive them onto the point, which is surrounded by steep cliffs and has only a narrow neck of land connecting it to the mainland. One day, the cowboys left some horses corralled on the point, but for some reason, they never returned.

The horses died of thirst, trapped on the point with no way to escape. It’s sad to note they had views of the colorado river far below which would’ve been a source of drinking water, but it would not have been possible to reach without turning backwards.

How long do you need to spend at Dead Horse Point?

Ideally at least a half a day.

If you’re visiting Dead Horse Point then there are a ton of overlooks and trails for you to stop at so give yourself plenty of time to visit here although if you’re in a rush you could probably do this in about an hour and a half but I would recommend spending a whole afternoon here so give yourself at least four hours depending on how long you wanna go on a hike for.

Dead Horse Point isn’t the biggest park in the region it’s probably one of the smaller ones but it has some of the most fantastic landscape so it’s definitely one that you don’t wanna miss.

Dead Horse Point Overlook is also perfect if you’re looking for shorter hikes as they have plenty of options – they also have longer hikes too around the Park so there is a range for all activity levels.

Hikes at Dead Horse Point

  • East Rim Trail
    • Length: 1.5 miles one way
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Duration: 1 hour

  • West Rim Trail
    • Length: 3 miles one way
    • Difficulty: Moderate
    • Duration: 2-3 hours

  • Bighorn Overlook Trail
    • Length: 1.5 miles round trip
    • Difficulty: Moderate
    • Duration: 1-2 hours

  • Big Horn Mesa Trail
    • Length: 1.5 miles round trip
    • Difficulty: Moderate
    • Duration: 1-2 hours

  • Intrepid Trail System
    • Length: Varies (1-9 miles)
    • Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
    • Duration: 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on the loop

  • Canyons Overlook Trail
    • Length: 1 mile round trip
    • Difficulty: Easy
    • Duration: 30-45 minutes
Dead Horse Point Overlook
Dead Horse Point Overlook

What do I need to pack with me to Dead Horse point?

The first thing first you definitely need to pack water. Many places in the National parks have no water – some of the information centres will have water fountains but sometimes the water fountains are on the inside of the building so after closing time which is usually around 4 pm you may not have access to water.

You will see sign sometimes that say from this point forward no more water or no drinking water available so it’s important to carry a lot more extra than you think you’ll need.

In fact, we kept seeing signs in the summer that stated: HEAT KILLS. BE SAFE.

  • As a rough guide, especially in some other people recommend having 1 litre of water per hour per person you’re outside. Bear in mind that you’re probably going to be at least 45 minutes to an hour away from the nearest store.
  • The same goes for food and snacks make sure you bring your own food with you because there are no stores and shops in the State Parks. Sometimes the visitor centres might sell a few energy bars, but don’t count on this!
  • Hiking boots or comfortable trainers
  • Suncream
  • Sunglasses – it actually gets really windy around the canyons and so you’ll find it can be quite difficult to see unless you have some sunglasses or eye protection on
  • If you’re thinking of wearing a hat, make sure it is with a string that can be securely tied on because it’s so windy most hats will fly away.
  • So this isn’t necessarily something you take with you but make sure you have enough petrol (or gas!). They always say don’t leave yourself too late to fill up. Always fill up wherever you can.
  • Lightweight clothing that’s very breathable whether you’re going in the summer or winter it’s likely that you will be doing some sort of hike and you want breathable clothing and layers!

How much does it cost to go to dead horse point?

There are a tonne of different prices depending on what you want to do.

Day-Use Park Entry Fees

Private Vehicle Fees:

  • Regular: $20.00 (up to eight people)
  • High Capacity Vehicles: $5 per person after the first eight (e.g., a van holding ten people would pay $30)
  • Utah Senior (Utah residents 65 or older): $15.00
  • Motorcycles: $10.00 per motorcycle

Commercial Vehicles:

  • $5.00 per person
  • Includes all commercial tour groups
  • Valid for only the date of purchase

Bike-In and Walk-In Fees:

  • $10.00 per person
  • Parking outside the park is limited and the road is very narrow into the park
  • Guests must park their vehicle outside of the park and enter on foot or by bike

Annual Permits:

  • $125.00 for Utah residents under the age of 65
  • $65.00 for Utah residents age 65 or older
  • Click here to buy annual permits online!

Camping and Yurt Fees

  • Campsite and yurt fees include all required park fees for one vehicle. Extra vehicles are charged $20.00 per night and vehicles must be parked on the pavement within RV campsites, by a campground restroom if camping in a hike-in tent-only campsite, or next to the yurt.

RV Campsites:

  • $50.00 per night
  • Includes a paved driveway, shade shelter, picnic table, fire ring, tent pad, 20/30/50 AMP electrical service, and access to a dump station
  • Potable water is not available to fill RV or trailer storage tanks. The nearest water is available in Moab.
  • Tents must be pitched on the provided tent pad or on the campsite pavement.
  • 8 people per campsite maximum.

Hike-In Tent Only Campsites:

  • $40.00 per night
  • Located in the Wingate Campgrounds
  • More secluded with vehicle parking by the restroom and “hike-in” up to 300 feet to access the campsite
  • Campsites have a shade shelter, picnic table, fire ring, and one 15×16 foot tent pad. Tents must be pitched on the provided tent pad.
  • Extra vehicle parking is limited for hike-in tent campsites.
  • 8 people per campsite maximum.

Yurts:

  • $150.00 per night

Sunrise and sunset at dead horse point Overlook

Sunrise and Sunset at Dead Horse Point Overlook is simply incredible. The light hits the landscape in a spectacular way, highlighting all the different canyons, the water and the colouring is simply spectacular.

Have a look at the sunrise and sunset times below.

The and turns a reddish organey hue that is simply lost at midday.

We heard that Dead Horse Point is one of the best places to watch the sunset, so we planned our whole day here!

Weather at dead horse point

Dead Horse Point Weather in January
  • Average temperature: -4°C (25°F)
  • Average rainy days: 4
  • Average daylight hours: 10
  • Average sunrise time: 7:30 AM
  • Average sunset time: 5:30 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in February
  • Average temperature: 0°C (32°F)
  • Average rainy days: 4
  • Average daylight hours: 11
  • Average sunrise time: 7:10 AM
  • Average sunset time: 6:00 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in March
  • Average temperature: 6°C (43°F)
  • Average rainy days: 5
  • Average daylight hours: 12
  • Average sunrise time: 6:30 AM
  • Average sunset time: 6:30 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in April
  • Average temperature: 12°C (54°F)
  • Average rainy days: 4
  • Average daylight hours: 13
  • Average sunrise time: 6:00 AM
  • Average sunset time: 7:30 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in May
  • Average temperature: 17°C (63°F)
  • Average rainy days: 4
  • Average daylight hours: 14
  • Average sunrise time: 5:30 AM
  • Average sunset time: 8:00 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in June
  • Average temperature: 24°C (75°F)
  • Average rainy days: 2
  • Average daylight hours: 15
  • Average sunrise time: 5:10 AM
  • Average sunset time: 8:30 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in July
  • Average temperature: 27°C (81°F)
  • Average rainy days: 3
  • Average daylight hours: 15
  • Average sunrise time: 5:30 AM
  • Average sunset time: 8:30 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in August
  • Average temperature: 25°C (77°F)
  • Average rainy days: 4
  • Average daylight hours: 14
  • Average sunrise time: 6:00 AM
  • Average sunset time: 8:00 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in September
  • Average temperature: 19°C (66°F)
  • Average rainy days: 4
  • Average daylight hours: 13
  • Average sunrise time: 6:30 AM
  • Average sunset time: 7:30 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in October
  • Average temperature: 12°C (54°F)
  • Average rainy days: 3
  • Average daylight hours: 11
  • Average sunrise time: 7:00 AM
  • Average sunset time: 6:30 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in November
  • Average temperature: 5°C (41°F)
  • Average rainy days: 4
  • Average daylight hours: 10
  • Average sunrise time: 7:30 AM
  • Average sunset time: 5:00 PM
Dead Horse Point Weather in December
  • Average temperature: -2°C (28°F)
  • Average rainy days: 5
  • Average daylight hours: 9
  • Average sunrise time: 7:45 AM
  • Average sunset time: 5:00 PM

Certainly a bucket list Utah Road Trip. Have a look at my other USA articles that you might find interesting:

Things to do in Downtown Phoenix

Best Wineries with lodging in the USA

The Bentonite Hills

Fort Zion – the Virgin Trading Post

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Hi, I'm Adriana, a multi award winning UK travel blogger!

I grew up in Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Dubai and England, and I got the travel bug from a young age. I love sharing travel guides so you know the most incredible places to visit and best places to stay.

I go out of my way to find the most beautiful spots in the world so I can share it with all of you!

I have an enthusiastic zest for life and I am the eternal optimist. I’m quick to smile, quick to love and always looking for an adventure.

I also make travel videos on social media (265k+) Instagram (@wander.licious) and TikTok (wanderlicious.adri), come say hi!

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