Events

March

Basin Bound! Nature Journey
Saturday, March 14th at 4:30pm

Join a Park Ranger on a guided afternoon hike out to the Basin Overlook along the East Rim Trail of Dead Horse Point State Park, and experience unforgettable views of the Colorado River Basin! Along the way, we’ll discuss the wildlife, ecology, and natural history of the Dead Horse Mesa, and explore the ways the Colorado River, 2000 feet beneath our feet, continues to shape the landscape! Bring hiking shoes, water, and warm, active clothing! Our Basin Bound! Nature Journey will be held Saturday, March 14th, from 4:30pm to 6:00pm, beginning at the steps of the Visitor Center. We will be hiking approximately 2 miles over the course of 1.5 hours.

Bighorn History Hike
Thursday, March 19th at 5:30pm

How did Dead Horse Point get its name? Why do the roads deep down in the canyon seemingly lead to nowhere? What evidence does the park still hold of those who’ve come before us? Bring all these questions and more when you join a Park Ranger in a hike out to Bighorn Overlook and discuss the history of Dead Horse Point and the wild west! Please bring hiking shoes and plenty of water! Our Bighorn History Hike will be held Thursday, March 19th, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, beginning at the steps of the Visitor Center. We will be hiking approximately 3 miles over the course of 2 hours.

Astro Arts
Saturday, March 21st at 9:30am

In this family fun program, learn about the stars, and take home your very own astronomy craft! We’ll be building gemstone star charts, and discussing how the night sky can inspire wonder, creativity, and storytelling! This activity is open to all ages and abilities! Astro Arts will be held Saturday, March 21st, from 9:30am to 10:00am at the Dead Horse Point State Park Visitor Center! Then, after you explore the park, come show off your creations and explore the stars by night in our Constellation Quest that same evening!

Constellation Quest! Orion the Hunter
Saturday, March 21st at 8:00pm

Come explore the night skies above an International Dark Sky Park! Learn how to identify major winter asterisms and discover the stories of their associated constellations with the aid of lasers, binoculars, and a telescope. In this month’s Constellation Quest, we’ll discuss Orion the Hunter, known for his prominent belt, joined by his companions Canis Major and Canis Minor on the hunt for their prey, Lepus. The exciting tale of the fate of Orion is written on the stars, and with the help of a Ranger, you can read it too! Our Constellation Quest will be held at the Mountain Bike Lot on Saturday, March 21st, from 8:00pm to 10:00pm.

Telescopic Geo-Tour
Friday, March 27th at 6:30pm

Rock formations visible from Dead Horse Point State Park tell the story of millions of years of local geological history, revealing the past lives of our high desert landscape. Previous deep ocean floors, rolling desert ergs, and raptor-ravaged ravines now stand before us as thousands of feet of stone. With the aid of a telescope, we’ll get up close with the mountains, canyons, laccoliths, fins, arches, buttes, and mesmerizing landscapes surrounding the park. Our Telescopic Geo-Tour will be held Friday, March 27th, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm, meeting at the Dead Horse Point Overlook Shade Shelter.

Scorpion Search
Saturday, March 28th at 8:00pm

Dead Horse Point State Park is home to several species of scorpion, from the fearsome Arizona Bark Scorpion down to the tiny Sawfinger Scorpion. One thing these critters have in common is that, under UV light, they glow a brilliant green! Following a brief Park Ranger presentation on these fascinating creatures, grab a UV flashlight and search the Intrepid Trail for scorpions! How many can you find? This Scorpion Search will begin at the Dead Horse Point State Park Visitor Center. Attendees will begin their search together, and may search an area of up to 2 miles wide. If you have your own UV light, you are welcome to bring it! Red lights and head lamps are also encouraged! Please dress for cool weather, and bring water! This event begins at 8:00pm, and will last about one hour!

April

Luna in the Lens
Wednesday, April 1st at 8:30pm

A telescope in a Dark Sky Park like Dead Horse Point is a great way to capture the majesty of the full moon in your camera’s lens! Take home a crystal-clear image of the moon’s many maria, craters, and ejecta rays, and learn all about Earth’s oldest satellite in this fun, hands-on program! Our Park Rangers will guide you through the basics of both lunar geography and digital photography and equip you with skills to share fun facts about the moon with all your friends! Luna in the Lens will be held at the Visitor Center on Wednesday, April 1st at 8:30pm. Telescopes will be available for use until 9:30pm!

Lounge & Learn: A Decade of Dark Skies
Saturday, April 4th at 3:00pm

Did you know that Dead Horse Point was the first State Park to be certified as a Dark Sky Park in the State of Utah? Earning this designation in 2016, we’re proud to be celebrating a decade of Dark Skies this year! Join us on Saturday, April 4th, at 3:00pm, for an indoor Park Ranger presentation on the history of Dark Sky certification, what it means to be a Dark Sky Park, and why we continue to be a world-class astrotourism destination! We’ll also share more information about what you can do to help defend the night sky, and guide you through Dark Sky locations and events across Utah! Meet upstairs at the Visitor Center at 3:00pm! This presentation will last about one hour.

Constellation Quest
Saturday, April 11th at 8:30pm

Come explore the night skies above an International Dark Sky Park! Learn how to identify major seasonal asterisms and discover the stories of their associated constellations with the aid of a Park Ranger. In this month’s Constellation Quest, we’ll discuss Castor and Pollux, twin protectors of horsemen and travelers, and their constellation, Gemini, in which Jupiter will be centered on this night! Throughout the evening, our telescope will be centered on the planet Jupiter, while our lasers will trace out the constellations. Our Constellation Quest will be held at the Visitor Center on Saturday, April 11th, from 8:30pm to 10:30pm.

Astro Arts
Saturday, April 18th at 10:30am

In this family fun program, learn about the stars, and take home your very own astronomy craft! This activity is open to all ages and abilities! Astro Arts will be held Saturday, April 18th, from 10:30am to 11:00am at the Dead Horse Point State Park Visitor Center! Then, after you explore the park, come show off your creations and explore the stars by night in our Star Party that same evening!

Star Party: Orion’s Retirement Party
Saturday, April 18th at 9:00pm

Stop by Dead Horse Point State Park to celebrate the annual retirement of everyone’s favorite constellation, Orion the Hunter! While Orion will remain in the sky for a few more nights, the season of his dominance is coming to a close, soon to be followed by the rise of his sworn enemy, the Scorpion! In this Ranger-led program, we’ll explore distant nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies in and around Orion as we discuss principles of astronomy, the motion of the stars, and the changing celestial landscape. Bring a telescope and a favorite deep sky object if you’d like to contribute to the festivities, a retirement card for Orion to be displayed at the Visitor Center, or just your curiosity! Orion’s Retirement (Star) Party will be held on Saturday, April 18th, from 9:00pm until 11:00pm at the Visitor Center.

Dark Desert Nature Journey
Wednesday, April 22nd at 8:30pm

Ready to explore the desert after dark? Visit Dead Horse Point State Park on Wednesday, April 22nd, at 8:30pm for a Ranger-led hike down the Desert View Trail! We’ll discuss the importance of the night for desert dwellers, how different species have used the darkness to adapt to this harsh environment, and why Dark Sky Parks like Dead Horse Point are a vital resource to preserve the delicate ecosystem of the high desert! While hiking, we’ll use a bat detector to identify species of bats present in the park. If we’re lucky, we may even come across a few other cool critters! Bring a red light, hiking shoes, and water! We’ll be hiking approximately one mile across rough, uneven desert terrain over the course of one hour. Meet at the steps of the Visitor Center!

Scorpion Spotlight
Saturday, April 25th at 8:30pm

Dead Horse Point State Park is home to several species of scorpions! Did you know that they glow under UV light? Join a Park Ranger and grab a UV flash light as we search the trail for scorpions! During our search, we’ll highlight facts about the Scorpion of the Month! This month, it’s the Sawfinger Scorpion! Do you think you can find one? Come find out! Join us at the steps of the Visitor Center on Saturday, April 25th, at 8:30pm!