Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
The trick here is that the mesa is narrow enough to walk both edges in one morning. The East Rim is nearly flat and gets most of the traffic; the West Rim is more primitive, cairn marked across slickrock, and usually much quieter, and stitching them together at the visitor center gives you the 5 miles. The point itself sits about 2,000 feet above a gooseneck of the Colorado River. Wear real shoes, because a lot of the tread is uneven sandstone rather than dirt.
The Trail
Rim views the whole way - every overlook better than the last.
Heat note: desert country - in summer start at dawn and carry more water than feels reasonable.
Pack Loadout (Easy)
Water bottle, sunscreen, hat, snacks, comfortable shoes.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Kayenta Campground (Dead Horse Point) (Camping, 0 mi) · Willow Flat Campground (Camping, 11 mi) · Ken's Lake Campground (Camping, 17 mi) · Big Bend Campground (Camping, 18 mi)
More hikes nearby: Corona Arch (Hike, 8 mi) · Mesa Arch (Hike, 10 mi) · Upheaval Dome Overlook (Hike, 11 mi) · Grand View Point (Hike, 14 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Dead Horse Rim Loop hike?
- 5 miles round trip with 449 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Dead Horse Rim Loop?
- Easy. Kid rating: 4 out of 5.
- When should I hike Dead Horse Rim Loop?
- Best season: All year.
- Why hike Dead Horse Rim Loop?
- Because the payoff starts at the parking lot and never lets up. Dead Horse sits on a narrow mesa about 2,000 feet above a bend in the Colorado, so both rims deliver, and the loop stays gentle enough for kids. Dogs are allowed if leashed the entire time, and the route starts and ends at the visitor center.