Rim Trail

Dead Horse Point Rim Trail circles one of the American Southwest's most celebrated overlooks — a narrow peninsula of mesa jutting 2,000 feet above the Colorado River's sweeping gooseneck bend far below. The 6-mile loop stays close to the mesa edge, delivering nearly continuous panoramic views that many consider the most dramatic in the entire canyon country. The Colorado River, visible as a shining ribbon two thousand feet below, makes a near-complete loop around the point before continuing its carving journey toward the Grand Canyon.

The view from Dead Horse Point is so spectacular that it has been featured in dozens of films, most famously the final scene of Thelma and Louise and the opening of the television series Breaking Bad. At sunrise and sunset the canyon walls glow in shades of orange, red, and gold that shift rapidly as the light changes. The potash evaporation ponds visible in the canyon are an industrial operation whose brilliant turquoise color provides a striking and unexpected contrast against the red rock. Despite the enormous drop-off, the trail itself is easy — nearly flat with minimal elevation change. Leashed dogs are permitted. A $20 per vehicle fee is charged at the park entrance, and the visitor center offers excellent geological and historical interpretation.