Dead Horse Point State Park

Destination Dead Horse Point State Park and what an amazing day we had. Dead Horse Point State Park is located 17 kms out of Moab and is definitely a mini Grand Canyon with views that are just as spectacular. Both Dave and I were oohing and aahing the whole time we were there.

According to one legend, around the turn of the century, the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys rounded up these horses, herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck, which is only 30-yards-wide, was then fenced off with branches and brush. This created a natural corral surrounded by precipitous cliffs straight down on all sides, affording no escape. Cowboys then chose the horses they wanted and let the culls or broomtails go free. On one haunting drive, for reasons still unknown, the cowboys chose the best horses and left the others corralled on the point. With the gate across the neck closed, the remaining horses were trapped with no way out, no water and no hope for survival within view of the Colorado River 600 m below. Those who found the remains of the unfortunate horses gave this place the name Dead Horse Point.

A view of a ghost horse can be seen in the rocks left on the riverbend.

We had read about the legend behind the name of this point however we never knew about the ghost horse at the bottom of the canyon and didn’t read this until we were about to leave the park. I, however, without knowing got a great photo of the ghost horse.

Another day of so many amazing views, so many photos and oh so many memories. We even got to see a Scrub Jay bird (he was too quick and I didn’t get a photo) and a Hopi Chipmunk.

Tomorrow is our last full day in Moab, we head to another gorgeous small town of Torrey on Thursday to explore the Capitol Reef National Park.Read more