Dead Horse Point State Park
Utah · State Park · Southwest Region
Dead Horse Point is a 2,000-foot peninsula of sandstone jutting out over a horseshoe bend in the Colorado River, with the Canyonlands basin spreading to every horizon. The view is vertigo-inducing in the best way: layer upon layer of canyon, mesa, and red rock with the green ribbon of the river far below. It is one of the finest viewpoints in the American Southwest, and it sits 30 minutes from Moab with almost none of the crowds that Arches and Canyonlands attract.
- Best season
- March–May, September–November
- Permit required
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Max group size
- 100 people
Permit Information
Utah State Parks Special Use Permit required for weddings and ceremonies. $10 application fee plus $50 permit fee ($60 total). Apply at least 90 days in advance. Ceremonies typically held at the main overlook or along the canyon rim trails. No decorations staked into the ground.
Ceremony Spots at Dead Horse Point State Park
- The Point Overlook — Sunset ceremony on a sandstone peninsula 2,000 feet above the Colorado River's horseshoe meander
- East Rim Trail — Quieter rim-edge ceremony with morning light on the canyon walls and La Sal Mountain views