Great Pyramid

Pros & cons

PROS

Loop begins and ends at the visitor center—no shuttle logistics
Gradual 3 percent grade suits mixed-ability groups
Colorado River Overlook only minutes from the trailhead

CONS

Zero shade; brutal in midday sun
Small rock ledges can fluster absolute beginners or mobility devices

PARKING

Park in the main Dead Horse Point Visitor Center lot; trailhead is at the lot’s north end.

CAUTION

Fully exposed slickrock—bring ample water and sun protection; expect short rock shelves that may require dismounting.

Why go

Great Pyramid is the *easy button* of Dead Horse Point’s Intrepid Trail System—a 3.8-mile **loop** that starts right behind the visitor center, skims the west rim for wide-angle Colorado River vistas, then circles home on gently rolling desert singletrack.

What to expect

The route is signed for counter-clockwise travel: a short connector reaches the Colorado River Overlook, then the loop proper cruises over hard-packed dirt and low slickrock domes. Elevation gain is a mellow ±200 ft, but two-to-six-inch rock shelves pop up often enough that brand-new riders or hikers with strollers may pause or detour. Shade is nonexistent; carry more water than you think and aim for dawn or dusk if you’re heat-averse.

Plan on **about 2 hours on foot** (well under an hour on a bike) to complete the full circuit. No special permits are needed beyond the standard park entrance fee.

Worth it?

If you want a quick, family-friendly taste of Moab slickrock without committing to the park’s longer rim hikes, Great Pyramid delivers plenty of eye-candy for minimal effort. View-chasers and photographers will linger; hardcore mileage seekers may finish and immediately jump onto the adjacent Intrepid or Big Chief loops.