Name: Big Chief
Rating: 4.7

Toolbox

Plan in onX Backcountry

Driving directions
Download GPX File

Know This Trail?

Upload a photo

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Allowed

Description

After a few small technical hills to start with, and some interesting "alligator back" rock riding, you level out on the rim with MILES of amazing views. The trail is particularly fast and flowy, especially for desert riding. Continue out to the Big Chief Overlook with views of the potash mine 2,000' below (and all of Moab and the La Sal mountains).

The trail then doubles back on itself on a higher level of the mesa. Great views continue, including good ones of the Henry mountains to the west.

Contacts

Land Manager: Dead Horse Point State Park

Shared By:

Nick Wilder

Full Details

Trail Ratings

4.7 from 59 votes

#1

in Dead Horse Point State Park

#123

Overall

4.7 from 59 votes

5 Star		69%
4 Star		27%
3 Star		3%
2 Star		0%
1 Star		0%

Trail Rankings

#1

in Dead Horse Point State…

#21

in Utah

#123

Overall

12 Views Last Month

5,780 Since Mar 18, 2014

		0%
		9%
		87%
		2%
		2%
		0%

Add a Photo

Photos

Mar 18, 2014 near Moab, UT

On our way out to the Big Chief Overlook

Mar 18, 2014 near Moab, UT

Riding around the Big Chief trail is visually distracting...

Mar 18, 2014 near Moab, UT

Oct 22, 2020 near Moab, UT

Big Chief is mostly fast and flowy like this

Mar 18, 2014 near Moab, UT

Enjoying the views near the start of the Dead Horse Point Tour

Oct 24, 2019 near Moab, UT

0 Comments

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 38 days ago

Update Conditions See History

Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

May 23, 2026

Anonymous

Super fun and technical, first trail on the Django! 3.7mi

Nov 26, 2025

Justin Scott

Sep 15, 2025

JSchroeder

Sep 15, 2025

Anonymous

Jul 28, 2025

Anonymous

Mar 24, 2025

I D

May 18, 2024

Rachel Bowler

May 8, 2024

Nikki LC

Mar 27, 2024

Jason Anderson

Mar 9, 2024

Kenneth Lieb

Outstanding views and small technical sections (almost all doable by intermediate level rider) mixed in with flowy pieces. Highly recommended. 14mi

May 10, 2023

Matt Hage

3.7mi

May 7, 2023

Scott Byerly

Apr 9, 2023

Beck Nelson

Sep 19, 2022

Matthew Goldatein

Apr 5, 2022

Private User

Nov 25, 2021

Megan Jean

Sep 23, 2021

Todd Wydeven

Jun 4, 2021

Nikki LC

Jun 3, 2021

Mantha Hwoah

May 23, 2021

Logan Hubbard

Great romp through DHSP with jaw-dropping views!

Mar 25, 2021

Tony Fagan

Mar 6, 2021

Andy Summers

Mar 6, 2021

Rhi Campbell

Jan 11, 2021

Chanse Beinke

Dec 5, 2020

Lost Justpastnowhere

Nov 4, 2020

Timothy Howard

2nd trail of the day at DeadHorsePoint. Long and varried terrain, got off my bike several times. — 0h 32m

Oct 30, 2020

Stephanie Striefel

went clockwise, w/ chris and the kids; beautiful views, lots of people; kids did awesome!

Sep 30, 2020

Ryan Hogan

Sep 28, 2020

Marc Barnes

Such a great ride I did it twice. 8mi — 1h 00m

Sep 27, 2020

David Helder

Sep 23, 2020

Paco Fernandez

Aug 15, 2020

Charlie Shew

Mar 26, 2020

Todd Long

Beautiful weather and the park is empty. Trails are in great condition today. Dry and smooth.

May 8, 2019

Hiro Protagonist

Fun, walked one or two obstacles. Trance

Apr 12, 2019

Luke Harris

Nov 20, 2018

Zach Langsley Norman

Nov 19, 2018

Brian Thomas

3.7mi

Oct 20, 2018

Thomas Pyke

Sep 29, 2018

Fabio Mello

Jun 17, 2018

Kathryn Keen

Jun 17, 2018

Lucy Fagan

Jun 5, 2018

Linda Lee

May 11, 2018

Doug Renton

Mar 25, 2018

Holly Godsey

What an amazing ride! Lots of fun swoopy stuff, a few technical spots and views to die for. I think this is my all-time favorite ride! 8.1mi — 1h 40m

Oct 24, 2017

Valerie Sloniker

Slick rock, small table rocks, some sand. Almost all ride able. 5mi

Oct 15, 2017

CRyanDean

Jun 27, 2017

Maryse Aucoin

May 29, 2017

Nicole Lapka

May 8, 2017

Cameron Russell

Mar 31, 2017

Tony Fagan

Amazing views, nice easy trail.

Mar 18, 2017

Gregg Smith

Oct 21, 2016

Nick Thomas

Oct 9, 2016

Tony Fagan

Oct 4, 2016

Pamo W

3.7mi

Jul 14, 2016

Antoine Parent

3.7mi

Jun 29, 2016

Marc Helfer

May 6, 2016

Gee Toe

Apr 15, 2016

Rick Powelson

3.7mi

Oct 17, 2015

Pat Grewe

Mar 8, 2015

Tanya Kunde

3.7mi

Nearby Recommended Routes

Jackson

2.3 mi 3.8 km • 30' Up 9.24 m Up • 646' Down 196.76 m Down

Moab, UT

The final stretch of Captain Ahab is rowdy, fast and fun.

Amasa Back / Cliffhanger

8.8 mi 14.2 km • 1,327' Up 404.53 m Up • 1,328' Down 404.89 m Down

Moab, UT

Poison Spider Loop Route

17.7 mi 28.5 km • 1,975' Up 602.11 m Up • 1,960' Down 597.41 m Down

Moab, UT

Captain Ahab has some amazing views west towards Canyonlands.

HyMasa/Captain Ahab

9.0 mi 14.5 km • 1,216' Up 370.51 m Up • 1,213' Down 369.69 m Down

Moab, UT

There are some pretty unique features along the Chisholm Trail.

Hey Joe Safari Bikepack (RESTRICTED)

99.0 mi 159.3 km • 5,545' Up 1690.05 m Up • 5,550' Down 1691.55 m Down

Moab, UT

Bar M Loops

10.9 mi 17.6 km • 720' Up 219.4 m Up • 719' Down 219.28 m Down

Moab, UT

Your Rating:
Your Difficulty:
Your Favorites:	Add To-Do · Your List

Big Chief

“On a 5-star scale, this one is a 6! ”

3.7

5.9

6,020' 1,835 m

5,928' 1,807 m

199' 61 m

138' 42 m

2%

9%

Toolbox

Know This Trail?

Dogs No Dogs

E-Bikes Allowed

Description

Contacts

Shared By:

Trail Ratings

#1

#123

#1

#21

#123

Photos

0 Comments

Comment Type:

Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Check-Ins

Nearby Recommended Routes

Jackson

Amasa Back / Cliffhanger

Poison Spider Loop Route

HyMasa/Captain Ahab

Hey Joe Safari Bikepack (RESTRICTED)

Bar M Loops

Join the Community! It's FREE