Pros & cons
PROS
- Loop stacks difficulty from easy to moderate so beginners can bail early
- Multiple signed spur overlooks give photo-worthy river vistas without extra mileage
- Built by local volunteers and funded by Intrepid Potash—cool back-story for trail nerds
CONS
- Two-way travel means blind corners; constant vigilance required
- Sparse shade—midday in summer feels like an oven
- Trail direction signs conflict with online maps, causing minor confusion
Park at the main lot just southwest of the Visitor Center; trailhead kiosks and maps are 50 yd from the curb.
Carry water and sun protection; desert rescues are common. Watch for riders coming the opposite way on blind slickrock corners.
The Intrepid Trail is the gateway loop of Dead Horse Point’s single-track network, offering roughly **10 miles** of smooth, mostly flat riding and hiking on packed dirt and slickrock. Designed as an introduction to the area’s terrain, it strings together the Intrepid, Raven Roll, Great Pyramid and other short segments into one continuous **counter-clockwise loop**—though signs let you pedal or walk it either direction.
What to Expect
Expect narrow, well-marked singletrack that rarely feels exposed yet runs alarmingly close to the sheer canyon rim. Juniper, pinyon and open slickrock alternate beneath your feet, with quick detours to overlooks of the Colorado River far below. Elevation change is modest (±600 ft total), so the main challenge is the desert sun, not the grade.
Who Will Like It
Newer riders, mixed-skill families and hikers who want canyon vistas **without committing to a brutal climb** will have a blast. Veterans can still enjoy the flowy tread—just link outer loops like Big Chief or Whiptail for extra distance.
Nuts & Bolts
- TOTAL distance: ~10 mi loop (no connectors required)
- Typical time: 2½-3 hr on foot or bike, longer with photo stops
- Surface: packed dirt and slickrock, occasional 2-6 in rock ledges
- Direction: signed as “generally counter-clockwise,” but two-way traffic is legal—stay alert.
Worth it? If you crave technical slickrock, look elsewhere; but for easy mileage plus blockbuster views, this is a sure thing.
Where it starts
38.4889, -109.7362Near Intrepid Trail
All places →All trails →
0.3 mi awayKayenta CampgroundSmall, quiet rim-top base with hookups and stellar dark skiesTrailhead · Restroom
0.5 mi awayWingate CampgroundMesa-top campsites with hookups, big views and dark-sky nightsCampground · Restroom
0.6 mi awayBasin OverlookQuiet rim perch with big views over Shafer BasinScenic Viewpoint
0.7 mi awayEast Rim OverlookQuiet rim viewpoint with big canyon-and-river vistasScenic Viewpoint
0.8 mi awayBig Horn Overlook TrailShort spur to horn-shaped rim overlook with pothole pools and solitudeEasy · 3 mi · 1.1 hr
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
