Pros & cons
PROS
- Rain-filled potholes alive with fairy shrimp and tadpoles
- Views comparable to the main point but far fewer people
- Quick detour off West Rim for campers at Kayenta
CONS
- No shade or water once you leave the Visitor Center
- Sheer drop-offs at overlook with no guardrails
Large lot at Dead Horse Point Visitor Center; trail starts behind the building.
Exposed slickrock and unguarded rim; carry ample water and watch kids and pets near the edge.
Why Hike It
A 3-mile **total** out-and-back (1.5 mi each way) that peels off the West Rim Trail and ends at a lonely perch above Shafer Canyon. For roughly an hour you stroll mostly level slickrock and desert soil, weaving through piñon–juniper before the world suddenly drops away.
The Payoff
At trail’s end a sandstone fin mimics a pair of horns, but the real stars are the 270-degree canyon vistas and a cluster of rain-fed potholes that erupt with fairy shrimp and tadpoles after storms—nature’s own snow-globe.
What to Expect
- Navigation is straightforward: start behind the Visitor Center, cross the road, follow West Rim signs, then turn right at the **“Big Horn Overlook”** post after about 0.5 mi.
- No appreciable climbing (≈150 ft of gentle rise), yet the overlook is fully exposed—bring water and sun gear.
- Bathrooms, shade, and water disappear the moment you leave the Visitor Center.
Worth It?
If you want Dead-Horse-quality views without Dead-Horse-level crowds, yes. It’s an easy add-on to a longer rim day or a perfect sunset stroll from the campground. Just know you’re trading shade and guardrails for solitude.
Elevation
3 mi · 1.1 hrWhere it starts
38.4963, -109.7479Wildlife on this trail
Near Big Horn Overlook Trail
All places →All trails →
0 mi awayBig Horn OverlookQuiet rim perch over Shafer Canyon with potholed slickrockScenic Viewpoint
0.5 mi awayEast Rim OverlookQuiet rim viewpoint with big canyon-and-river vistasScenic Viewpoint
0.8 mi awayIntrepid TrailBeginner-friendly desert singletrack loop with big canyon views.Easy · 10 mi · 3 hr
0.8 mi awayKayenta CampgroundSmall, quiet rim-top base with hookups and stellar dark skiesTrailhead · Restroom
0.9 mi awayWingate CampgroundMesa-top campsites with hookups, big views and dark-sky nightsCampground · Restroom
1.2 mi awayShafer Canyon Overlook TrailShort spur to huge Shafer Canyon views, quieter than the Point.Easy · 1 mi · 30 min
1.2 mi awayWest Rim TrailMesa-top slickrock ramble linking uncrowded overlooks and Dead Horse PointEasy · 3.6 mi · 2.5 hr
1.2 mi awayMeander Overlook TrailShort spur to a quieter rim view of the Colorado’s big U-turnEasy · 1.6 mi · 45 min
