The Dead Horse Point State Park is located near Moab in Southern Utah, next to the Canyonlands National Park. One of the major features of this park is its view of canyons and the Colorado River.
Due to drop offs with sheer cliffs several thousand feet tall on 6 sides, and only a narrow piece of land connecting the table to the main plateau, the canyon acted as a natural coral for horses. In the 19th century, horse thieves used the canyon to corral horses. The thieves would fence off the narrow opening, which would prevent the horses from escaping. Because of the heat and lack of water, many of the horses kept in this canyon would end up dying, which is how it got its name.
When standing on the overlook, you'll view massive canyon erosion that has taken place of the last 150 millions years. It is this erosion caused by the flow of the river that has shaped the cliffs and spires that you see today.
The Dead Horse Point Plateau is 6,000 feet above sea level and overlooks the Colorado River 2,000 below. There is little water in the area, so much of the flora and fauna exist in drought like conditions all year around. Most of the animals found in the Dead Horse Point area are nocturnal, and do not come out until the evening hours when the sun is not so hot.
The Dead Horse Point State Park is located on Hwy 313 off Hwy 191 and offers year around camping. This park has many modern amenities and features RV, as well as tent sites. Although there are flush toilets and drinking water available, it is recommended that park visitors bring their own supply of water before coming to the park, as water can be severely limited at times. During summer, the days can be very hot, sometimes exceeding 100 degrees, and although the daytime temperatures during the winter can by mild at between 40 - 50 degrees, the nighttime temperatures can get well below freezing.
Additional camping in the area includes the BLM Hatch Point-Canyon Rims Park, located on Hwy 191 to Canyon Rims turnoff. This camping area is open seasonally from April 1st though October 30th. Visitors will find more camping at the nearby Canyondlands National Park as well.
In addition to camping facilities, the Dead Horse Point State Park also features a picnic area for day use. The area around Dead Horse Point State Park offers opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing, as well as fishing and rafting at the nearby Colorado River.
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