Dead Horse Point State ParkThe Dead Horse Point State Park is within a few miles of Canyonlands National Park. It was created on December 18 1959 and contains 5,250 acres of land.
The state park is 6,000 feet above sea level and 2,000 feet above the Colorado River. This gives this park one of the most fantastic views in Utah. From that height you can clearly see the amazing rock formations below and realize how amazing nature really is. The spot is so astonishing that the 1991 film Thelma and Louis, filmed here in place of the Grand Canyon. Wild Animals The park can reach well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit and gets on average 10 inches of rain per year. To survive in this dessert climate the animals are mainly nocturnal. So if you go to the park during the day you are likely not to see many animals. Why the Name It is kind of a sad story so you might want to stop reading this, right now. Still here? Alright, cowboys used to use the canyon to catch wild horses. They would build a gate on one end of the canyon and heard the horses into it. With a fence on one side and a 2,000 foot drop on the other the horses would be trapped. Cowboys would then pick the best horses to keep for themselves or to sell. All other horses were left behind. Without a way to escape the horse would eventually die of dehydration in full view of the Colorado River.
Park Info The Park Information is. PO Box 609 Moab, UT 84532 435-259-2614 Camping phone number 800-322-3770 Return From Dead Horse Point State Park to Utah State Parks
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