Dead Horse Point Overlook
Posted by: Groundspeak Charter Member mtn-man
N 38° 28.149 W 109° 44.391
12S E 609931 N 4258622
Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah hosts many fantastic views of the massive canyon basin carved by the Colorado River. It also plays host to a past tragedy that gives this high mesa its name. These views are breathtaking.
Waymark Code: WME51
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 06/03/2006
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Jake39
Views: 76
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Dead Horse Point Overlook sits at the southern most tip of the mesa that extends south from SR 313 between Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. The overlook at the highest tip gives a panoramic view of the massive canyons within the Colorado River basin just above the Grand Canyon. From here, you look down upon the valleys in Canyonlands National Park.

The legend surrounding Dead Horse Point is very interesting. Looking at the map shown on Main Sign in the image gallery, you can see how the mesa narrows to the south and then expands back out to a diamond shape. It is only about 30 yards wide at the narrow point, enough for the road for two cars and that is about it. The cowboys in the late 1800 had a fence across the narrow section. They would drive the wild mustangs around the mesas to the point. Once they had them on the diamond area, they would take the best ones and would break them for themselves or would take them for sale. When done they would leave the fence open and they undesirable ones, or the "broomtails", would have to find their way off the point. Legends says the gate was open but they did not find their way off the point and many horses died from thirst here. Rumors say that the fence was actually left closed though. No one really knows for sure. Hence, the legend lives on. In any case, this is certainly an extraordinary location.

There is a visitor center with a giftshop and restrooms near the entrance to the park. UT State Park fees apply.

To log this waymark succussfully, please post a picture of you at the overlook. You must have either your GPS in hand, or you may be wearing a some sort of www.geocaching.com shirt. No local orgs, it must be some sort of geocaching.com clothing. In my picture below, I am wearing the reviewer's shirt given to us by Groundspeak.

Greetings and Enjoy!

Describe - Highway or Road number: SR 313 South off of Hwy 191 North of Moab

Closest town or city: Moab, UT

Number of parking spots available: 30

Name if a website describes this location.: [Web Link]

Winter View: no

Summer View: yes

Year around access ?: yes

Comfort station on site: no

Is a photo of an "Information Sign"included?: Yes
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