The Ghostly Mustangs of Dead Horse Point.

White Horse Figure in Outline
 

The legend of Dead Horse Point originates in the 1800s when cowboys would round up the wild mustangs that roamed around the mesa.  They would corral them down at "The Neck", pick out the best of the herd and let the others go free.  However, for whatever reason, one day the mustangs not chosen were left in the corral and forgotten about.  They died of thirst with the Colorado River in full sight, 2000 feet below them.  We don't truly know how the cowboys felt about what they had done; we can only hope their humanity kicked in with feelings of regret and remorse. It is said that at night, campers can hear the mournful cries of the horses being carried on the wind through the canyons.  From the viewpoint, looking below, the form of a white horse can be seen; a ghost to remind us of the wild horses who tragically passed away.




The Gooseneck
 

From Moab, along Route 191, the entrance to Dead Horse Point State Park, and Canyonlands - Island in the Sky, is about 10 miles to Route 313; another 18 miles to the State Park itself.  After parking and checking in at the Visitor's Center, the Overlook is along a paved, upward incline, walkway.  The walled viewing center is shaded for the most part, but you want to get close enough to the wall to be able to see as far as the eye can see.  Straight ahead is the most photographed site of the park, "The Gooseneck" aka "The Neck". As with the Grand Canyon, the ever moving Colorado River carved out this formation; in fact, Dead Horse Point is also known as Utah's "Little Grand Canyon".  It was here that the actual Grand Canyon scene from the movie, "Thelma and Louise", was filmed. 



The Overlook is surrounded by sandstone; juniper trees, shaped by the wind, grow strong between the stones.








 


To the East is Cane Creek Anticline and the Solar Potash Collection Ponds.






Down below is Shafer Basin and Shafer Trail (originally used to bring cattle down to the water), while looking southward is Pyramid Butte and Pyramid Canyon; further on, Islands in the Sky can be spied.

 

Westward is a desert tower known as "Big Chief" keeping a watchful eye over his canyon.

 

Big Chief
 

Looking to the North, Merrimac and Monitor Buttes can be seen; they can be reached via trails from Mill Canyon Road.

 

Merrimac Butte (on left), Monitor Butte (on right)
 

 

Merrimac and Montior Buttes
 

 

Besides the Overlooks, there are many trails that can be hiked, and while camping sites are available, better make reservations or you'll be out of luck staying overnight at the park.  Invest in ATV or 4 wheel drive maps for traveling over the Basin; it doesn't hurt to carry a map of the hiking trails either.  Want more?  You can always get back on Route 313 and see what surprises Islands in the Sky has in store.  Enjoy it all !!!

Mary Cokenour

See Forever at Anticline Overlook

The third major road at Canyon Rims Recreation Area is to Anticline Overlook (CR 132), a semi-graded gravel and dirt road and at its end, well on a clear day you can see forever. From the entrance off Route 191, the road will eventually come to a "Y" intersection at 14.5 miles; go to the left for Needles Overlook, go right to get to Anticline. Don't be tempted to take Looking Glass Road, just off the Anticline road, just yet; it's full of interesting sites, but will lead full circle back to Route 191. The road to the Anticline is chock full of sites all on its own; a few trailheads too that hubby and I still have to explore one of these days like Trough Springs. Ok, get ready for this, there is a 6 mile dirt road that leads to "Canyonlands Overlook"; bad news is there is no sign and you have to guess its location even if you're using a map. Weird, I know, but that's the gist of that trail, and we just couldn't be bothered to find it this time around.

Along the way you'll see a sign "Scenic Viewpoint" and a smaller sign with a picture of a camera on it.  There is space to park along side the road; however you still have to do a little walking out to the viewpoint itself.  The road to Anticline Overlook is also called Hatch Point Road, so you'll basically be looking out at another viewpoint of Hatch Point.  It is breath taking and never gets boring to look at.


Arch hunters will appreciate this next bit of information; Wine Glass Arch and a nearby tunnel like arch that doesn't seem to have acquired a name as yet.  There is a very short dirt road that will allow you to get nearer for a better viewing of both.

Wine Glass Arch
 

Arriving at the Overlook itself, you'll be walking around on sandstone, over large rocks and gravel paths; there is a shaded viewing area at the top with informational boards.






The view from the top is "WOW"!!!  The views from right or left go on forever, or it seems to.  Almost straight ahead are the Solar Collection Ponds for potash (water soluble salt containing a potassium compound); follow the ponds to the Potash Processing Plant located on Potash Road just outside of Moab; the land stretching out below is part of the Cane Creek Anticline.



Cane Creek Anticline
 

Yes, that is the Colorado River winding its way throughout.










Just keep following the view northward and you can actually see into Arches National Park; the line following Balanced Rock to Cove of Caves and the Windows.  The views from Anticline can reach as far as Islands in the Sky and Dead Horse Point.  A further example of why I say that on a clear day, you can see forever.

Walking southward through the Anticline viewing area gives a whole other perspective of the canyon area.  You should make sure to stop at Minor Overlook to get a closer view of the formations teasing your sight.

Minor Overlook isn't minor at all; especially when you see the formations it offers up to you. It is actually named for BLM Recreation Planner Dave Minor, who cared for the Canyon Rims Recreation Area when it first opened up to the public.




Pyramid Butte
 


Pyramid Butte lies prominent before you, while the desert tower and desert wall of Lathrop Canyon is to your left.

Lathrop Canyon

 

There you have it, the third major roadway through the Canyon Rims Recreation Area.  I have to say, as much as I enjoyed traveling the other two, the Anticline Overlook road is my favorite.  Oh, I know there is so much more to see in the entire Canyon Rims itself; I'll get to it, you can bet on that.

 

Mary Cokenour