Dead Horse Point State Park

09/01/2026

Have you seen this plant before? 🌱

This plant is known as Mormon Tea or (𝘌𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘴)

Mormon Tea is a rugged evergreen shrub native to the American Southwest.

Its appearance is pretty unique. It’s an upright shrub that can grow up to about 5 feet tall, with slender, jointed, bright green stems. These stems perform photosynthesis for the plant.

Its leaves are reduced to tiny, scale-like leaves that grow in pairs at the joints, or nodes, and quickly dry up and fall off.

Mormon Tea can also be made into a tea. Various indigenous people use the plant for traditional purposes, and Mormon pioneers also used it to make tea when other sources of tea were limited.

If you're hiking around Dead Horse Point State Park, pay close attention—you'll probably find some Mormon Tea growing throughout the park! 🌵

08/30/2026

🦂 Meet the Northern Scorpion!

Did you know that Dead Horse Point State Park is home to five species of scorpions!?
The one you’re looking at here is the Northern Scorpion.

Northern Scorpions are relatively small, with adults usually measuring around 1–2 inches long. They are well adapted to the dry environments of the Colorado Plateau and can be found in arid and semi-arid habitats, high deserts, and sagebrush plains.

During the day, these scorpions often stay hidden beneath rocks or tucked away in cracks and crevices in the sandstone. Once the sun goes down, they come out to hunt. 🌙

Northern Scorpions are nocturnal predators, feeding on small insects, spiders, and other tiny invertebrates. They use their pincers to grab their prey and their stinger to subdue it.

And here's the really cool part—under ultraviolet (UV) light, scorpions fluoresce a bright blue-green! That's why nighttime scorpion searches can be such a fun way to explore the desert after dark.
So the next time you're walking around Dead Horse Point after sunset, take a moment to look a little closer. The desert may seem quiet and empty at night, but there's an entire world of small predators becoming active right beneath your feet. You might even spot one glowing in the darkness! 🦂🌙

08/29/2026

Let's go girls. 💁‍♀️🦎

The Plateau Striped Whiptail lizard (aspidoscelis velox), found at Dead Horse Point, and across the Colorado Plateau, stands out among lizards as an entirely female species. Females produce viable eggs that mature into genetic clones, a process called parthenogenesis. The hormones that trigger egg development are released by faux mating rituals between female lizards. The speed at which they are able to reproduce allows them to quickly establish new populations despite their increased susceptibility to disease and lack of genetic adaptability.

Found through the Colorado Plateau, you can recognize these lizards by their dark body with six or seven light lines down their back. Including their tail. They can grow up to 8-12 inches long!

Post and art by Ranger Taylor.

08/28/2026

Tonight's Starlight Stories program has been cancelled due to a forecast of thunderstorms and high cloud coverage. We appreciate your understanding!

Send a message to learn more

08/28/2026

Occasional breaks in the clouds have afforded us a few precious glimpses of the lunar eclipse tonight above Dead Horse Point. Captured here is an image of moon near the peak of the eclipse, as seen through the lens of the park’s telescope.

📸 photograph captured by Ranger Jimmy

Utah Division of State Parks

08/26/2026

There are so many unique birds flying through Dead Horse Point State Park. Identifying birds can sometimes be tricky with the differences between males and females. Such as the female and male Bullock's Oriole bird species. The females are duller with yellow/orange heads and have dark wings with two white bars. While the males are bright flame orange and black with a white wing patch. Both have stunning features and are worth keeping an eye out for!

08/24/2026

What animal is that,?

This animal is called the Rock Squirrel, and you’ll probably spot them pretty often here at Dead Horse Point State Park! 🐿️

Rock Squirrels are part of the ground squirrel family. Out here in the desert, you’ll see them climbing around rocks, boulders, and even trees. They can get about 17–21 inches long and have a long, bushy tail.

They’re most active in the early morning and late afternoon. During the hottest part of the day, they usually chill out in the shade to stay cool.

They eat a mix of things like seeds, cactus fruit, juniper berries, and acorns.

If you see a Rock Squirrel in the park, just give it some space and be respectful. They’re wild animals after all! 🌵🐿

08/22/2026

Want to get a peak of the Point? Ranger Rory's right where you wanna go!

Once you reach the visitor center, continue down the road until it ends. Ample parking, restrooms, and shaded areas are available. Several overlooks branch off from the partially-paved trail, including a prominent, fenced platform. That is “the Point” where nearly 360° of views of the surrounding canyon landscape and stunning views of the sky can be enjoyed.

The next time you visit the park, remember, "Don't Miss the Point!"

08/21/2026

Please be advised, we have received numerous calls regarding a border collie spotted this week south of the Knoll along Highway 313, outside of park property. Yesterday afternoon, park rangers unsuccessfully attempted to approach this dog. No abnormal behavior or injuries were observed from a distance of 10 yards away.

Grand County dispatch has advised that this is likely a cattle dog that lives on the mesa.

Thank you to our visitors for bringing this dog to our attention.

Photograph obtained from a public social media forum.