Pros & cons
PROS
- Usually quieter than the main point overlook
- Fantastic side-lighting at sunrise or late afternoon
CONS
- Trail signage can be easy to miss
- Zero shade once you leave the visitor center
Large paved lot at Dead Horse Point Visitor Center; trail starts out back.
Uneven slickrock and sheer drop-offs; keep kids and pets well back from the rim.
Why go
A tiny investment (about two miles round-trip) buys you a front-row seat to everything Dead Horse Point is famous for—towering Wingate cliffs, the serpentine Colorado far below, and the La Sals floating on the horizon—without the tour-bus crowd that mobs the main point.
The route
From the Visitor Center, follow signed West Rim Trail markers past the campground and across slickrock until a short spur peels right to **Rim Overlook**. The walk is mostly level slickrock and packed desert soil; total distance is roughly **1 mile each way, 2 miles total** out-and-back. Expect 30–60 minutes of walking plus whatever gawking time you add at the edge.
Trail feel
Footing is generally easy, but the stone is uneven and there’s no guard-rail between you and a 2,000-foot void. Sun and wind are constants; shade disappears after the first few minutes. Leashed dogs are welcome, just keep them well back from the rim.
Worth it?
If you crave the big views but not the big crowds, absolutely. The overlook often sits empty while everyone else beelines to Dead Horse Point. The only real downsides are full exposure to sun and a few confusing junctions—pay attention to cairns and signs.
Elevation
2 mi · 1 hrWhere it starts
38.5054, -109.7294Near Rim Overlook Trail
All places →All trails →
0 mi awayShafer Canyon Overlook TrailShort spur to huge Shafer Canyon views, quieter than the Point.Easy · 1 mi · 30 min
0 mi awayWest Rim TrailMesa-top slickrock ramble linking uncrowded overlooks and Dead Horse PointEasy · 3.6 mi · 2.5 hr
0 mi awayMeander Overlook TrailShort spur to a quieter rim view of the Colorado’s big U-turnEasy · 1.6 mi · 45 min
0 mi awayThe Colorado Overlook TrailMicrosized stroll to rim’s signature Colorado River panoramaEasy · 0.1 mi · 15 min
0.2 mi awayDead Horse Point State Park Mountain Bike RentalsTrailhead bike rentals for scenic, beginner-friendly mesa singletrackTrailhead · Restroom
0.6 mi awayPyramid Canyon OverlookQuiet rim viewpoint on the Great Pyramid loop with big canyon viewsScenic Viewpoint
0.8 mi awayDead Horse Point State Park Entrance StationPay your fee and grab a map at the gateEntrance Station · Pullout
1.1 mi awayBig Chief OverlookQuiet rim overlook with potash mine views and distant La SalsScenic Viewpoint
