Amazing ONE DAY in DEAD HORSE POINT State Park, Utah

Dead Horse Point State Park is a hidden treasure located between Canyonlands and Arches National Parks that I stumbled upon during my last road trip to Utah. It sits at 2,000 feet above the Colorado River and provides breathtaking views of the chiseled pinnacles and buttes of Canyonlands National Park.

Don’t miss it! Add Dead Horse Point State Park to your itinerary. Here is how to spend one day in Dead Horse Point State Park.

The story is that the cowboys used to round up wild mustangs and herd them across and to the end of this narrow mesa. At the end of the mesa, which is only 30 yards, they built fences, creating a natural corral surrounded by cliffs.

Apparently, they chose the horses that they wanted and left the other ones to die.

Spend your one day in Dead Horse Point State Park enjoying some great hikes that meander along the rim of the mesa and offer stunning views of the Colorado River below and with Canyonlands National Park in the distance.

All the trails are easy or easy/moderate with very little elevation change perfect for everyone in your group!

Start off your one day in Dead Horse Point State Park with the East Rim Trail. Next, follow the West Rim Trail, and finish your day by watching a spectacular sunset! Here is how to do it!

East Rim Trail goes along the east rim of Dead Horse State Park. It is about 2 miles or 2.25 miles long if you add a short spur to Basin Overlook.

To start, park your vehicle at the Visitor Center and hike to Dead Horse Point Overlook. Along the way, you will pass by a short spur to Basin Overlook and the Neck.

In the distance, you will see bright blue glistening pools. These are not a mirage but are solar evaporation ponds used in the process of mining potash.

The mine is currently owned and operated by Intrepid Potash Inc., and the ponds cover about 400 acres of land 20 miles southwest of Moab.

What is potash?

Potash, a water-soluble potassium salt, is a solution mined from the Paradox Formation more than 3,000 feet below the ground.

Water from the Colorado River is injected down through a well into the potash-bearing strata, where it dissolves the salts. The resulting brine is extracted from a different well and pumped into the evaporation ponds.

Blue dye is added to the water to enhance evaporation.

“Potash” is a general term that refers to a variety of potassium salts, such as potassium chloride (KCl), that are mainly used in fertilizer products, but also in the production of soap, glass, ceramics, and batteries. Source: Utah Geological Survey

If you continue past the Neck, you will reach Dead Horse Point. The views of the Colorado River glittering below and Canyonlands on the horizon are awesome!

Next is West Rim Trail.

West Rim Trail is 3.5 miles long (one way) if you add short detours to Shafer Canyon Overlook and Rim Overlook.

The trail starts at Dead Horse Point Overlook and ends at Kayenta Overlook. Or, you can continue to Big Horn Overlook (1.25 miles one-way).

My recommendation is to combine the East and West Rim Trails for a loop.

Start at the Visitor Center and hike the East Rim Trail to Dead Horse Point Overlook.

Next, continue along the West Rim Trail when you reach Rim Overlook turn right and finish your hike back at the Visitor Center, where you started. The total distance is 5.5 miles.

Hands down, make sure to stay and finish your one day in Dead Horse Point State Park by watching the sunset! I hope the weather cooperates and you will be able to capture some stunning photos.