Parking
Park at Kneeling Camel Overlook on the North Rim, then walk east to the spur road and old Ranger Station where the service-road route begins.
Overview
About Deadhorse Trail with Loop
Why go
- The Overlook Loop adds two canyon-edge viewpoints.
- A stock pond gives the long walk a clear landmark.
Heads up
- At 6.6 miles, this takes most of a half day.
- The unpaved route is narrow and not wheelchair accessible.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Black Canyon of the Gunnison map
Full mapElevation7,913–8,307 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Black Canyon of the Gunnison alerts
- ClosureSouth Rim Campground Partially Closed After 2025 FireSouth Rim Campground is open with only 25 non-electric sites available; some campground areas remain closed to all access because of effects from the 2025 South Rim Fire and the resulting safety and…Official details
- ClosureTomichi Route Closed; Gunnison Route Has Burned-Area HazardsDo not enter the closed Tomichi Route or other closed or burned areas; the Gunnison Route remains hazardous because of effects from the 2025 South Rim Fire.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Tour Guide
Your drive to Deadhorse Trail with Loop, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Kneeling Camel Overlook and Deadhorse Trail0:00 / 0:29
“Kneeling Camel Overlook is coming up, with a rock profile that looks like a camel resting above the canyon. You can enjoy the steep-walled view beside the parking area with almost no walking.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Black Canyon of the Gunnison Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Island Peaks Overlook
- South Rim Visitor Center and Gunnison Point
- Big Island Overlook
- Pulpit Rock Overlook
- 23 audio storiesacross Black Canyon of the Gunnison’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, Red-tailed Hawk, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 13 trails, 29 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Deadhorse Trail with Loop
Make a half day of itDeadhorse Trail with Loop is a 6.
Deadhorse Trail with Loop is a 6.6-mile out-and-back from Kneeling Camel Overlook, with the Overlook Loop folded into the hike. The main route is 2.6 miles one way along an old service road to the canyon rim; the loop adds two overlooks and turns it into a proper half-day walk. Allow about four hours for the walk and time at the views. It’s a good pick if you want a longer North Rim outing, but skip the loop if you’re watching the clock.
Follow the old service roadFrom the overlook parking, walk east to the spur road and old Ranger Station, where the old…
From the overlook parking, walk east to the spur road and old Ranger Station, where the old service road begins. About 0.75 mile in, it passes a stock pond fed by one of the springs near the rim. Around 1.2 miles, the Overlook Loop branches southwest. Finish it and continue on the main route toward the stock fence; from there, turn south and follow the fence about a quarter-mile to the rim.
Take the loop for the viewsThe loop adds about 1.5 miles and passes two overlooks near the canyon edge.
The loop adds about 1.5 miles and passes two overlooks near the canyon edge. From the North Rim, the trail looks toward Deadhorse Gulch and East Portal on the Gunnison River. The park also calls out birding here. At the overlooks, keep a bit of the near rim in your photo to show the drop toward the river.
Know the access limitsThe route enters Black Canyon Wilderness and needs no permit, but pets aren’t allowed.
The route enters Black Canyon Wilderness and needs no permit, but pets aren’t allowed. The North Rim closes in winter, and this unpaved, narrow route isn’t wheelchair accessible. The park allows day-use horseback riding only on this trail. Poison Spring Hill north of the stock fence is private property; stay on the described route. If you skip the loop, the 2.6-mile one-way trail makes a roughly 5.2-mile out-and-back.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Black Canyon of the Gunnison
49 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
67 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
11 sightingsRed-tailed HawkMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
10 sightingsCooper's HawkMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
66 sightingsCollared LizardMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
163 sightingsFence LizardMost seen around 10 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
