I’m sure you’ve seen the flashy Instagram posts of people dangling their legs over the edge as they look out at Horseshoe Bend. This destination has become one of the most recognized and visited places! You might find yourself wondering, is it worth the hype? We found ourselves asking the same question as we traversed across Arizona, Utah, and Nevada visiting some amazing places. Our answer is that Horseshoe Bend is worth a stop!
All those daring pictures don’t even capture the beauty of Horseshoe Bend. Horseshoe Bend was beyond beautiful and honestly did not even look real! It was one of those times that we repeated that phrase. We likened it to a green screen dropped in front of you. Breathtaking is the word we would use to summarize the sheer beauty of this famous geological wonder.
We visited in May 2021. Horseshoe Bend is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. It’s important to note that most people visit from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. To avoid the crowds, you can try going at sunrise or through the week as most visitors will be there on weekends.
How to Get There:
This landmark is in the city of Page, Arizona. It is a part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It’s only about 9 miles down the Colorado River that you will find the boundary line of Grand Canyon National Park. The parking lot and trailhead is located off US Highway 89, approximately 5 miles (8 km) south of the Carl Hayden Visitor Center. It’s a must do. Entrance fee is only $10 per vehicle.
There is plenty of parking and the walk from the parking lot is 1.5 miles roundtrip and is mainly flat. The sun is hot, so make sure you have sunscreen and water! The trail is accessible to anyone as it is a paved path. There are two shade structures along the length of the trail if you were to need a break out of the sun.
What's Nearby?
There are so many wonderful and road trip-worthy landmarks that are close to Page, Arizona. We made sure we hit all of these and we highly recommend these places to you!
· Horseshoe Bend is only 9 miles away from Lake Powell. Be sure to add Lake Powell to your list if you are in Page, Arizona! We loved our kayaking adventure there! This adventure is a separate blog that you must check out.
· Another great bucket list adventure is Antelope Canyon which is around only 10 minutes away! We combined kayaking and hiking at Antelope Canyon. If you want more details, check out this separate blog on our website!
· A scenic drive of 133 miles stands between you and the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park! The East Rim is an easy 1-hour drive away.
· Zion National Park is around 2 hours and 30 more minutes to Page Arizona!
Where to Stay and Eat:
As the travel budgeters we are, we decided to budget for our next stay. Often, if you travel as much as we do, you have to decide if you are vacationing or traveling… and yes, there is a difference. We stayed in Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham near Lake Powell. Was it breathtaking, fun, and exciting? No… did it do what it was supposed to do? YES. It was nice and clean…and the staff upgraded us to a balcony!
For dinner, we ate at Sunset 89. This is a must-try when you are in Page, Arizona! The cuisine is Island Pacific Rim and it is delicious. We ate every single bite. It was only a few miles from our hotel.
We hope this helps you plan your trip to the epic and famous Horseshoe Bend! As always, safe travels y’all! ~ Justin & Caitlin