Stargaze at Dead Horse Point
ScenicEasyYear-round
Visit this International Dark Sky Park after hours to see the Milky Way arching over the gooseneck curves of the Colorado River far below.
Itinerary tips
- 1Bring a red-light headlamp to preserve your night vision and navigate the cliff-edge paths safely.
- 2Plan to arrive at least one hour before sunset to secure a parking spot at the Dead Horse Point overlook and scout your photo composition.
- 3Pack a high-quality camping chair and a thermal blanket, as temperatures drop rapidly in the high desert once the sun sets.
- 4Download offline maps for the drive from Moab, as cell service becomes unreliable once you enter the park boundary.
- 5Pay your park entrance fee at the self-pay station or have your receipt ready if you visited earlier in the same day.
- 6Set up your tripod at the 'Neck' or the main amphitheater for the best panoramic views of the Milky Way over the canyon.
More in Moab
Drive the Shafer Trail Switchbacks
Navigate a white-knuckle descent on a dirt road that drops 1,500 feet from the Island in the Sky mesa to the canyon floor.
ScenicWatch the Sunrise at Mesa Arch
Peer through the 'eye' of the arch as it frames the vast canyon system of Canyonlands, illuminated by the first light of day.
ScenicHike to Delicate Arch at Sunset
Witness Utah's most iconic sandstone span glow fiery orange as the sun dips below the horizon, perfect for the cooler September evenings.
HikingMountain Bike the Whole Enchilada
Experience the ultimate 7,000-foot descent from the high alpine La Sal Mountains down to the Colorado River, a bucket-list ride that is prime in September.
Adventure
