Colorado River Overlook
Colorado River Overlook sits at mile 11 of 44 along the Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway, at an elevation of 5,186 feet. The terrain drops 1,192 feet within 600 meters of the overlook, and the view faces due east. From this point, Dry Pot Overlook lies east-southeast at 0.7 miles, while Coffee Pot Rock rises to 6,324 feet southeast at 5.6 miles. Convent, at 5,962 feet, is visible to the east at 5.8 miles, with Castle Valley Overlook 3 further southeast at 7.2 miles and Castleton Tower Overlook east-southeast at 8.4 miles, both above 6,700 feet. Because the overlook faces directly toward sunrise, morning light comes in low across the landscape; sunrise falls between 05:54 in June and 07:33 in December. Moab is 7.8 miles to the south-southwest, and Green River is 42.1 miles to the west-northwest. Dry Mesa Overlook is the next stop along the byway.
What you’re looking at
Named terrain inside the view from this overlook, nearest first.
- Dry Mesa Overlook5,294 fteast-southeast · 0.7 mi
- Coffee Pot Rock6,324 ftsoutheast · 5.6 mi
- Convent5,962 fteast · 5.8 mi
- Castle Valley Overlook 36,793 ftsoutheast · 7.2 mi
- Castleton Tower Overlook6,812 fteast-southeast · 8.4 mi
Light
This overlook faces sunrise — 0° off square to it.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Golden hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:22 | 19:30 | 18:55 |
| June solstice | 05:54 | 20:47 | 20:07 |
| September equinox | 07:06 | 19:17 | 18:42 |
| December solstice | 07:33 | 17:01 | 16:19 |
Local time (America/Denver). Computed for this exact position.
Where it is
Mile 11 of 44 along Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway.
- Moab7.8 mi south-southwest
- Green River42.1 mi west-northwest
- Loma51.1 mi northeast
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How high is Colorado River Overlook?
Colorado River Overlook sits at about 5,186 feet (1,581 m).
What can you see from Colorado River Overlook?
From Colorado River Overlook: Dry Mesa Overlook (ESE, 0.7 mi); Coffee Pot Rock (SE, 5.6 mi); Convent (E, 5.8 mi); Castle Valley Overlook 3 (SE, 7.2 mi).
Is Colorado River Overlook better at sunrise or sunset?
Sunrise. The land falls away from Colorado River Overlook toward the sunrise, so at sunset the light is behind you. Exact times shift through the year; the page shows the current window.
What is the nearest town to Colorado River Overlook?
Moab, 7.8 miles SSW of Colorado River Overlook.
What is the next lookout after Colorado River Overlook?
Dry Mesa Overlook is the next surfaced lookout along the same route after Colorado River Overlook.
Drive to Colorado River Overlook with Byway
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Byways with this lookout
Day trips start here
- Arches National Park · 6 mi
Locals make it Verified.
Colorado River Overlook — confirmed, rated, and photographed by people who actually pulled over. A local confirmation is what upgrades a lookout from Discovered to Verified. Zero hallucinations.
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