Round Trip Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
MTB Skill level:
Elevation: 5847 - 5969 feet
Cellphone: 2-4 bars
Time: 2 hrs.
Trailhead: Dead Horse Point Visitor Center
Fee: $10/vehicle
Attractions: Scenic canyon views
The Great Pyramid Loop is located in the Dead Horse Point State Park near Moab, Utah. The trail is one of 3 loops, the Intrepid, Great Pyramid and Big Chief, in the Intrepid Trail System that provide hikers and mountain bikers the opportunity to explore the northeast area of the park. A group campsite is located on the Big Chief Loop for parties of 25-30 people.
The trailhead is located at the north end of the Visitor Center parking area.
Most of the trail is a dirt single track with a few rock shelves. The entire length of the trail is well worn and easy to follow.
About a half mile from the trailhead the loop begins. The suggested direction of travel it to take the right fork and follow the trail in the counter-clockwise direction.
There are 3 main overlooks in the trail system. The first one encountered is the Colorado River Overlook.
While the trail isn't completely flat most of the hills have gradual changes in elevation making them fairly easy.
The Great Pyramid is the second overlook in the Intrepid Trail System.
Once past the overlook the trail heads away from the rim and after traveling through a pleasant secluded basin the trail begins climbing the hill where there are a few larger rocky shelves.
Back on top of the main mesa the trail splits with the Big Chief Loop following the right fork and the left fork cutting across to the return side of the loop.
Parts of the cutoff trail are wide enough for a double track as it appears to be an old 4-wheel drive road. After about a half mile the cutoff trail rejoins the Big Chief Loop where a left turn leads back to the Visitor Center.
Most of the views on top of the mesa are limited to the wide expanses of sagebrush and juniper trees but towards the end of the loop the canyons once again come into view.
