The state park on the way
Dead Horse Point, and the pass that does not work there
Two thousand feet above a gooseneck in the Colorado River, on the same road as Island in the Sky, and it catches visitors out every single day for one reason: it is a Utah state park, so the federal pass in your glovebox is no use at the gate.
The short answer
Dead Horse Point is a Utah state park, not a national park. Your America the Beautiful pass does not work here, and neither does the $55 Southeast Utah Parks pass that covers Arches and Canyonlands.
Entry is $20 per private vehicle for up to eight people. Reservations are not required. The overlook sits about 2,000 feet above a bend in the Colorado River and is a short walk from the car park.
The gate
What it costs, and what will not work
| Entry | Price | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $20 | Up to eight people |
| Each person beyond eight | $2 | High capacity vehicles |
| Motorcycle | $10 | Per motorcycle |
| Utah senior, 65 and over | $15 | Per vehicle |
| Walk in or bike in | $10 | Per four people |
| Commercial group | $5 | Per person, for tour operators |
Utah State Parks day use rates, checked September 2026. Reservations are not required for entry and you can pay online or on arrival.
This is a state park run by Utah, not by the National Park Service. An America the Beautiful pass, a Senior Pass, an Access Pass and the Southeast Utah Parks annual pass all cover Arches and Canyonlands and none of them cover this gate. Budget the $20 separately.
The commercial rate is the interesting line for anyone comparing tours. At $5 per person, adding Dead Horse Point to an Island in the Sky itinerary costs an operator very little, which is why so many Canyonlands trips include it and why it is worth asking whether yours does.
The park
What is actually up there
The draw is one view, and it is a good enough view to have made the park famous well beyond Utah.
- The overlook
- About 2,000 ftabove the Colorado River
- Park hours
- 6am to 10pmyear round
- Visitor centre
- 9am to 5pm435 259 2614
- From the car park
- A short walkto the point itself
The point looks down on a gooseneck, a place where the Colorado River doubles back on itself in a near complete loop, with the canyon country of Island in the Sky filling the distance behind it. Because the overlook is close to the parking area, this is one of the few big views in the region that does not require a hike.
Beyond the point there is a rim trail system that follows the edge of the mesa in both directions, and a mountain bike trail network. Neither is why most visitors come, and both are quieter than they deserve to be.
The mesa top sits higher than Moab and catches the wind, which makes it noticeably cooler in summer and genuinely cold in winter. There is no shade at the overlook. Carry water, because the same heat rules that apply to every trail around Moab apply to a viewpoint with a car park.
Guided options
Which tours include it
No Moab operator sells a Dead Horse Point only tour, because the park is a viewpoint rather than a day out. It appears instead as a stop on Canyonlands itineraries, which the geography makes almost free to add.
- Moab In A Day list their three hour sunset tour as covering Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point, published at $139, and their Discover Moab day as covering Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point at $349 to $429. Both are capped at nine passengers.
- Island in the Sky tours from most operators pass the turning. Whether they stop is down to the itinerary and the time of day, so ask rather than assume.
- Sunset trips are where the point earns its place on a tour. The light works with the view and the temperature drops out of the dangerous range in summer.
If Dead Horse Point matters to you, name it when you ring. It is a cheap stop for an operator to include and most will accommodate it on a private trip. What you should not do is assume a Canyonlands tour covers it, because Island in the Sky has enough viewpoints of its own to fill a day without ever leaving the national park.
We do not run trips, own gear or employ guides, and no operator pays to appear here or to appear higher. Details below are from each company's own published material, checked September 2026. Full disclosure.
The obvious pairing
Dead Horse Point and Island in the Sky
The two sit on the same road. The turning for Dead Horse Point comes off the highway to Island in the Sky, which means you drive past one to reach the other and the only cost of doing both is the state park fee and about an hour.
| Stop | Walking | Rated | Why it is worth it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Arch | 0.6 miround trip | Easy | The most photographed arch in Canyonlands, best at sunrise |
| Grand View Point | 1.8 miround trip | Easy | The long view along the rim, worth the full walk |
| Murphy Point | 3.4 miround trip | Easy | Quieter than the rest of the district |
| Dead Horse Point | Short walkfrom the car park | Easy | The gooseneck, and the best sunset of the three |
Trail distances and ratings for the Canyonlands stops from the National Park Service. Dead Horse Point is a Utah state park with a separate fee.
Costed out for two people driving themselves, that day is $30 for the Canyonlands vehicle fee, or nothing if you already hold the $55 annual pass, plus $20 at the state park. For a group of four on a guided trip it is a different sum entirely, and that comparison is on the combination day page.
Practicalities
Getting it right on the day
- Budget the $20 separately. It is the single most common surprise at this gate and it is avoidable.
- Go for sunset if you can. The park is open until 10pm year round, so a summer sunset sits comfortably inside the hours.
- Check the visitor centre hours if you want water, maps or the restroom, since it closes at 5pm while the park stays open.
- Carry water anyway. No shade at the overlook, and the mesa is hotter than it feels in the wind.
- Combine it with Island in the Sky rather than making a special trip, unless sunset is the whole point of going.
Common questions
Questions
Does a national park pass work at Dead Horse Point?
No. Dead Horse Point is a Utah state park, not a national park. An America the Beautiful pass, a Senior Pass, an Access Pass and the $55 Southeast Utah Parks annual pass all cover Arches and Canyonlands, and none of them cover Dead Horse Point. Entry is charged separately.
How much does Dead Horse Point cost?
$20 per private vehicle for up to eight people, $2 per person beyond eight, $10 per motorcycle, $15 for Utah seniors aged 65 and over, and $10 per four people walking or cycling in. Tour operators pay a commercial rate of $5 per person.
Do you need a reservation for Dead Horse Point?
No. Utah State Parks state that reservations are not required for entry, and you can pay online in advance or on arrival. Camping is booked separately.
Is Dead Horse Point worth visiting?
If you are already going to Island in the Sky, yes, because the turning is on the same road and the only extra cost is the $20 fee and about an hour. The overlook stands roughly 2,000 feet above a gooseneck in the Colorado River and is a short walk from the car park, which makes it one of the few big views in the area that needs no hiking.
Which Moab tours include Dead Horse Point?
Moab In A Day list their three hour sunset tour as covering Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point at $139, and their Discover Moab day as covering Arches, Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point at $349 to $429. Other Island in the Sky tours pass the turning, so ask whether yours stops.
What is there to do at Dead Horse Point besides the overlook?
A rim trail system follows the edge of the mesa in both directions and there is a mountain bike trail network. There is also a visitor centre, open 9am to 5pm, while the park itself is open from 6am to 10pm year round.
Next step
Plan the day around it
Fees and park hours from Utah State Parks, checked September 2026. Canyonlands trail data from the National Park Service. Operator details from published material.