Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway
State: Utah
Length: 35.0 mi / 56.3 km
Time to Allow: 30 minutes minimum, but 2-3 hours recommended to enjoy the state and national parks.
The view from Dead Horse Point looks down on the oft-photographed panorama of the Colorado River Canyon.
Stories
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Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway Overview
Jun 15, 2005
An intriguing name for an intriguing place: Dead Horse Mesa is so named because in the mid-1800s, cowboys installed wild mustangs here, on the natural corral, a small plateau 2,000 feet above the Colorado River. Unwanted culls or "broomtails" were left behind on the plateau to find their way off the point. For some reason, although able to see water and brush below, the horses remained on the desolate plateau and died. At the end of the Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway, this sight remains one of interest yet instills something of awe and misgiving in the visitor.
Local Information
Moab Information Center
435-259-1370 or 800-635-6622
800-635-6622
- Arches National Park:
- The official park website includes directions, photos, visitor information, and more.
- Canyonlands National Park:
- The official site on Canyonlands National Park
- Moab: Where Adventure Begins:
- The official website of the Moab Area Travel Council in Moab, Utah. It provides visitor information for the town of Moab, in addition to information relating to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park.
