Place · 0.2 mi away
What to Expect
A true rim walk, the East Rim Trail hugs the cliff edge from the Visitor Center south toward Dead Horse Point. The footing is mostly flat but uneven slickrock, so the hike feels more like roaming a stone patio than pounding dirt single-track. Big payoff? Continuous 2,000-foot views into a looping bend of the Colorado River.
Distance & Logistics
Plan on **about 3 mi TOTAL** (out-and-back). Many hikers fold it into the 4–5 mi West/East Rim Loop, but the pure east-side out-and-back keeps things short. Allow roughly **2 hr**, including gawking time. Parking, water, and restrooms sit steps away at the Visitor Center.
Why Go / Why Skip
Go for a kid-friendly, dog-friendly sampler of the park’s signature vistas without calf-burning climbs. Skip it if you dread full sun—shade is nonexistent—and be ready to hunt cairns where the route fades across bare slickrock.
Need-to-Know
Carry extra water; summer temps regularly top triple digits. Watch small children and pets near the rim—there are no guardrails. Brown posts and blue-diamond cairns mark the way, but the path briefly vanishes on rock slabs, so keep your eyes up.
Pros
- Dog friendly rim walk
- No guardrails—uncluttered photos
Cons
- Zero shade after first 200 yd
- Cairns easy to miss on slickrock
Parking
Large lot at Dead Horse Point Visitor Center; trail starts behind building.
Caution
Extreme sun and heat; bring more water than you think, watch footing on sloped slickrock near cliff edge.
