[4] The park opened to the public in 1959 and covers 5,362 acres (2,170 ha) of high desert at an altitude of 5,900 feet (1,800 m).

The plants and animals of Dead Horse Point have adapted to a land of scarce water and extreme temperatures.

Plants grow slowly due to the extreme conditions and usually have small leaves with a waxy coating to reduce evaporation.

Some plants in the park include singleleaf ash, cliffrose, Utah juniper, Mormon tea, blackbrush, claret cup cactus, pinyon pine and narrowleaf yucca.

Safety concerns include the relative isolation of the park (gas, food and medical care are over 30 miles (48 km) away in Moab), lightning danger and unfenced cliffs.