Everything You Need to Know to Visit Arizona’s Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is one of those “must-see” attractions when you’re traveling to the Grand Canyon National Park – it’s arguably one of the most dramatic views of the Colorado River! Horseshoe Bend is not technically near what most people think of when they envision the Grand Canyon (i.e., the South Rim), but if you follow my Perfect Grand Canyon Itinerary (post coming soon!) it’s a very doable addition to your trip! 

(For ideas on what all there is to do around Page, check out my other posts!!)

Horseshoe Bend is located roughly 4-5 miles from Page, AZ which makes it easy to catch at sunrise, sunset, midday…pretty much anytime you want!! We had a jam-packed schedule while visiting Page so we decided to catch it at sunrise – even though this meant missing the best lighting conditions. Sometimes you just have to compromise!

Ways to view Horseshoe Bend:

The most popular method is driving yourself, although you may be in for a parking nightmare depending on the time of year and time of day.  Currently, there is a Shuttle Service that will not only avoid the congested parking lot but also avoid the 3/4 mile hike (it drops you off from a private location close to the Rim).  Check out the link and see if the price is worth it to you!

Another way to view Horseshoe Bend is by air.  Currently, there are flight tours available for those wanting a bird’s eye view of this famous spot!

Still another option is to take a horse ride to the edge of Horseshoe Bend. The tour is 2 hours so think about being in the heat for that long before making a decision on this option.

The last option for experiencing Horseshoe Bend is by rafting through it from Glen Canyon Dam.  Glen Canyon Float Trips would be an awesome way to see this spot and an awesome way to spend a day in Page!

Directions: From Page, follow Highway 89 south. Between mile markers 544 and 545 there will be an exit with signs for Horseshoe Bend.  You will drive a short distance on a dirt road before coming to a parking lot.

Distance/Difficulty: There is a 3/4 mile hike to get to Horseshoe Bend.  Immediately leaving the parking lot, there will be a short uphill trek, which will turn into a descent for the rest of the way….meaning an ascent on the way back. It was not a difficult ascent, but it might be if you decide to go in the midday heat.  Please plan accordingly and stay safe!

Pets OK? Yes, as a matter of fact, there was a friendly dog visiting with everyone alive the morning we went 🙂

Crowds: Heavy, especially at sunset

Fees/Permits: Not at the time of my visit (9/2018)

Tips:

• First off, I have to address the heat.  I’m a Texas girl who grew up facing 100-degree heat with 90% humidity, so heat is nothing new to me.  Even though Arizona is a dry heat, it’ll still mess you up if you’re not careful, so you really need to be prepared! The 3/4 mile hike to Horseshoe Bend has no protection from the sun.  The overlook to Horseshoe Bend has no protection from the sun.  You need to make sure you bring plenty of water, wear a hat, shades, and sunscreen.  Some people opted to wear long sleeve shirts and pants for sun protection, but I don’t think I could handle the additional heat that would cause.  Whatever you decide to do, please plan accordingly to protect yourself from the heat. We were in Page 2 days and we did see someone received emergency medical attention due to the heat, so it’s really not something to be taken lightly.
• Parking can be an issue in peak travel months.  From what I read online, the parking lot will be monitored by police at certain times to turn people away from full parking and to prevent people from dangerously parking on the side of Highway 89.  I suggest a sunrise visit to avoid heat, crowds, and parking issues.
• There is no railing around the greater part of the Rim overlooking Horseshoe Bend.  The cliffs rise about 1000 ft from the river, so you can probably do the math on what a bad idea it would be to tumble over. Of course you want to get a great shot of you and the iconic scene, but please keep safety in mind and please be aware of your young children.
• Best time of day to visit? There really isn’t a right or wrong answer to that! From what I have read and seen online, midday is the best time for photographing Horseshoe Bend, because you don’t get the pesky shadows. If you’re wanting dramatic colors, sunset would be an ideal time for that.  I came in the morning and was not disappointed with the shots I got, and even more pleased with the multiple angles I could get due to low crowds…however, you can see from scrolling through my pics that it was not the best lighting!  Make sure and bring your wide angle lens – my 18-55 could barely fit the whole thing in the frame!

Please enjoy the pics below!!

Tips for Visiting with Kids:

• The biggest concern for this attraction is safety.  There are ample opportunities for kiddos to go right over the edge so again, please be aware of your children.
• Another concern is the heat and sun.  I went in the early morning, and even though I left before 9 AM it was already getting pretty hot.  Make sure you are keeping your kids well hydrated and keeping their skin protected from the sun. If you notice your small children are not having a normal amount of wet diapers, you may consider getting some Pedialyte to see if that helps or call your Pediatrician. Remember, kids should not be drinking an excessive amount of Pedialyte, so please follow the instructions.

Although the morning sun made for harsh lighting, I really liked seeing the colors of the canyon walls reflected in the river!

As I stated in my “Tips” section, going early meant we had a lot of room to find different angles.

Anywho, that about wraps it up for this attraction!! I was really impressed with Horseshoe Bend, it really is a marvel to see!

Don’t forget to leave me a comment! Have you been to Horseshoe Bend?? Did I leave anything out?? I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time!