Place · 0.2 mi away
What to expect
Raven Roll is the **easiest loop in Dead Horse Point’s Intrepid Trail System**—a lollipop of packed dirt and short slickrock that clocks in at **1.7 miles total, loop and connector included**. Starting steps from the Visitor Center, it rolls through pinyon–juniper woodland before skirting the mesa rim for quick panoramas into Shafer Canyon and the Colorado River nearly 2,000 ft below.
Trail feel
The tread is smooth and mostly flat, with about **75 ft of total climbing** and only a few 2–3 inch ledges. Expect two-way traffic: beginners on bikes, families pushing strollers a short distance, and hikers out for a sunset leg-stretch. Wayfinding is fool-proof—every junction is signed—and the loop can be lengthened by jumping onto Prickly Pair or Great Pyramid.
Worth it?
If you want a **low-stress sampler of rim views without committing half a day**, absolutely. The payoff-to-effort ratio is high, and ravens often draft the thermals right overhead. Skip it if you’re hunting solitude or serious mileage—the proximity to the visitor hub means you’ll have company.
Pros
- Ravens frequently soar at eye level along the rim
- Trailhead has water, bathrooms, and shady picnic tables
- Grades stay under 4 %, great for kids' first desert ride
Cons
- Very little shade after the first quarter-mile
- Heavy bike traffic midday can break the flow
Parking
Park at the Visitor Center; trail starts at the north end of the lot.
Caution
Share the narrow tread with bikes and carry plenty of water—sun exposure is total.
