| Related content: |
 |
|
 |
Dead Horse Point
About 2,000 feet below the stone promontory of Dead Horse Point, winds the Colorado River through one of its most famous regions — Goose Neck.
Dead Horse Point overlooks Canyonlands National Park.
Ray Boren, Deseret News |
The spectacular drop-off of Dead Horse Point and the view of the path cut by the Colorado River are the reasons why most tourists make a stopover at Dead Horse Point State Park from the nearby national parks of Arches and Canyonlands.
From the overlook, nature's work below and the incredible formations caused by erosion can be viewed for miles. Some of the more spectacular views can be seen during the winter when snow accents the red rock.
More than a century ago, cowboys herded wild mustangs to the promontory, which served as a natural corral. According to legend, a band of unwanted broomtails was left on the point and failed to find its way off. The broomtails eventually died of starvation.
Today the park is in the heart of the Moab activity center, including river rafting, mountain biking and hiking. A new visitors center offers video presentations about the park's history and ecology.
For the curious and adventurous, the steep Shafer Trail drops off the mesa to the southwest of Dead Horse Point to the Colorado River gorge below. The gully-crossing,
Shafer Trail leads down into Canyonlands National Park.
Ravell Call, Deseret News |
side-winding route that is, at times, a cliffhanger, was once used by American Indians and 19th century outlaws to move cattle to and from summer rangelands.
The drop-off exposures along the rim and on the switchbacks can be nerve-wracking to those with any fear of heights.
More information on the park is available at parks.state.ut.us/parks/www1/dead.htm.
|
|
|
