Utah’s ‘Eye of Sinbad’: A Hidden Petroglyph Cave with Unique Dramatic Features, Easily Accessible

With its five acclaimed national parks and gorgeous mountain scenery, Utah boasts some of the most iconic shots of the American West. Images like Arches National Park’s Delicate Arch and Zion National Park’s Angels Landing are among the most recognizable scenes in the American National Park System. But Utah is a large state with a vast, epic landscape, and it has plenty of amazing secrets to share with travelers willing to look hard enough. From cozy coffee shops with epic views just outside of Zion National Park to the sizable, rugged wilderness of the Grand Staircase-Escalante region, Utah has hidden gems that don’t get nearly the same size crowds as its most popular national park sites. One particularly worthwhile Utah gem is a stunning geological wonder known as the Wild Horse Window. 

Wild Horse Window (AKA the “Eye of Sinbad”) is a unique combination of a natural cave and a large rocky bridge of the kind found in the much more famous Arches National Park. This unusual phenomenon easily matches any national park attraction for sheer spectacle. But the hike to Wild Horse Window is also a breathtaking tour of one of Utah’s most underrated areas, complete with extraordinary views of rocky landscapes and snowcapped mountains in the background. And though Wild Horse Window itself lies in a remote stretch of federal land, the trail extends into one of Utah’s most memorable state parks!

Between its “Mighty Five” national parks, Utah has plenty of additional public lands with superb spots to explore. For example, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has a pair of connected slot canyons that make an unforgettable adventure through the Utah backcountry. Wild Horse Window is located in an even more underrated public land preserve called the Muddy Creek Wilderness, a complex wilderness study overseen by the Bureau of Land Management near the town of Hanksville. 

Muddy Creek Wilderness contains pretty much all of the distinctive geological and ecological features that make Utah such an attractive outdoor destination. However, Wild Horse Window is arguably the epicenter of the area’s intricate natural beauty. The “window” is a natural skylight in a cave within the larger canyon, formed by the natural rocky bridges overhead. For many visitors, this window to the blue skies above resembles an eye, earning it the alternative title of the “Eye of Sinbad.” The cave, rock bridge, and natural skylight are all notable sights to behold. But you might also be able to find some ancient petroglyphs etched into the cave walls by the region’s Native Americans centuries ago!

The main trail to get to Wild Horse Window is about 1.8 miles long and can normally be completed in around 50 minutes to an hour. However, do note that the trail, despite its relatively short length, contains very little shade, which can be somewhat hazardous in the hot Utah sun. The terrain can also be pretty rough at points, despite limited elevation gain, so if you’re interested in visiting Wild Horse Window, you should be prepared for a moderately challenging hike.