Sunset View from Dead Horse Point
ScenicEasyYear-round
Stand 2,000 feet above a gooseneck in the Colorado River for a panoramic view that defines the scale of the American Southwest.
Itinerary tips
- 1Arrive at the park entrance at least 90 minutes before sunset to account for the 45-minute drive from downtown Moab.
- 2Pack a portable chair and a warm windbreaker, as temperatures drop rapidly and wind speeds increase once the sun dips below the canyon rim.
- 3Pay the state park entrance fee online or at the gate, noting that National Park passes are not valid here.
- 4Walk the easy 200-yard paved path from the main parking lot to the overlook, or explore the West Rim Trail for quieter secondary viewpoints.
- 5Stay for the 'blue hour' 20 minutes after the sun disappears to see the deep oranges of the canyon walls turn to purple and indigo.
- 6Carry a headlamp or use a phone light for the short walk back to your vehicle as the desert floor becomes dark quickly.
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.
ScenicStargaze at Dead Horse Point
Visit this International Dark Sky Park after hours to see the Milky Way arching over the gooseneck curves of the Colorado River far below.
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.
ScenicStargazing at Arches National Park
Take advantage of the long November nights in this International Dark Sky Park to view the Milky Way framed by massive sandstone silhouettes.
Scenic