Legend has it that during the 1800s this stone promontory was used as a natural corral for the herds of wild mustangs that once roamed the area. A herd of unwanted horses that was left to face the elements ended up dying of thirst, and the area was dubbed Dead Horse Point. Regardless of the legend's accuracy, the promontory, which sits two thousand feet above the Colorado River and is surrounded by steep cliffs, is one of the most fantastic sights in the region.
From the overlook six thousand feet above sea level, visitors get a grand-scale view of the canyon that has taken river and wind erosion 150 million years to carve out of the earth. Visitors can walk the sometimes harrowing trails that run along the unfenced cliff edge and through the meadows of the plateau. The Kayenta Campground offers day-use facilities, including covered picnic tables, barbecue grills, and modern restrooms. The Dead Horse Point visitor center provides exhibits, information, snacks, and souvenirs.
