The Best Hidden Treasure to explore when you’re out in Utah exploring the National Parks is the Utah State Park, specifically Dead Horse State Park. A trip to Moab, Utah will bring you to the feet of two large National Park Giants – Arches National Park & Canyonlands National Park. When you’re visiting you should absolutely make a stop at Dead Horse State Park. At the minimum to witness the insane sunset that happens over the incredibly canyons & another wonderful view of the Colorado River (see below).

Its $20 to enter the park. They don’t accept the National Parks Pass, only the Utah State Park pass. If you plan on making stops at the other Utah State Parks it might be worth the slight added expense upfront, especially if you frequently find yourself hiking Utah like we do.

The park is normally open past Sunset so if you’re up for exploring after dark you can do that too. A great itinerary for a day that includes Dead horse State Park is starting at sunrise in Canyonlands, specifically the short trail to Mesa Arch. Make a few other stops in Canyonlands – I’ve already shared my favorite spots in Canyonlands here. Then head down the road to Dead Horse State Park.

Big Horn Overlook is a pretty short 1.25 trip and very popular. Just down the trail is another 1/4 mile trip to the Rim Overlook which is an extremely popular spot for Sunset, I’d say the most photographed spot in Dead Horse. As you’ve probably already seen on the Instagram Geotag. You can’t go wrong with the spot you pick for sunset.

There are barriers up along the trail, if you choose to climb over them for a photo op, like many do, do that at your own risk as it can be very icy out there in the winter time.

If you drive past the visitors center down to the start of the Big Horn Trail you’ll notice pull out spots on the right that overlook the other side of the park. We spent Golden Hour on the trail then raced back to the car, booked it over to this side to watch the sky change colors and enjoy the echoes in the canyon re-creating the scene in the Grinch where he’s talking to himself via his echo.

This day goes down in memory as one of my all time favorite sunset spots I’ve ever experienced. Hiking Sunrise to Sunset, there is literally no better way to spend a day in the parks near Moab.