Hike to Horseshoe Bend Arizona: Overrated or Bucket List-Worthy?
I’ve never been through the desert on a horse with no name, but I have driven a minivan full of kids through the Arizona desert on an equally memorable journey. I had a sabbatical from work and we decided to take a long road trip through southern Utah, Arizona, and southern California to check off some bucket list adventures along the way. First on the list was a hike to Horseshoe Bend Arizona. It’s an accepted fact in our family that the Lake Powell area has the best sunsets so we hit the road hoping to arrive in time to watch one of Arizona’s trademark painted skies.
After a long day of driving and lots of unplanned pit stops (that’s road trip life with kids), we arrived at the trailhead around 7:00 and made it to the overlook just as the sun was dipping over the horizon. I was worried we wouldn’t make it in time but we were rewarded with quite the spectacle. The sky was on fire and kept burning long after the sun went down. Then we turned around to hike back and there was a super moon rising in the East. Is Horseshoe Bend overrated or bucket-list worthy? For me, the view took my breath away and it was one of those moments you just want to freeze in time. I’d recommend it to anyone, even if it is crowded.
Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about a hike to Horseshoe Bend!
Expect Crowds at Horseshoe Bend Arizona
I’ve been a fan of landscape photography for a long time and remember seeing some incredible photos of the snaking Colorado River well before I even knew it was a place called Horseshoe Bend. For many years, it was a local hidden gem. I even visited Lake Powell a couple times with no clue that this now-famous landmark was just five minutes from our hotel in Page. Crazy, right? And then sometime in the late 2010s it blew up on Instagram. Now it’s so popular that it costs $10 to visit and around 4,000 people do so everyday, which comes out to over 2 million people per year. Mind blowing!
I’ll admit I was late to the party but when I finally learned where it was, I added it to the top of my bucket list. I was a little worried it would be over-hyped because of how popular it is, but after seeing it for myself I think it’s still a worthy inclusion on anyone’s bucket list.
What is Horseshoe Bend?
Horseshoe Bend is an area of the Colorado River where the river meanders and makes nearly a 180-degree turn. Over the last five million years, the Colorado River carved this horseshoe-shaped bend into the sandstone walls of Glen Canyon. Today it’s one of the most recognizable and most visited places in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Where is Horseshoe Bend Arizona?
Horseshoe Bend is located just outside the town Page in northern Arizona, near the Utah/Arizona border, approximately 5 miles downriver from the Glen Canyon Dam. It’s only a 15-minute drive from Wawheap Marina and Antelope Point Marina, so if you’re visiting Lake Powell it’s easy to make a quick detour to hike to Horseshoe Bend. It’s also less than 10 minutes away from the famous Antelope Canyon. Page, Arizona is just full of some amazing natural wonders.
Make sure to check out other adventurous things to do in Page as well as our budget-friendly guide to Lake Powell!
Parking Info for Horseshoe Bend Arizona
You will need to park at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook Parking Lot, which costs $10 for cars and RVs. It’s open from sunrise to sunset. There is no overnight parking and it is illegal to park along Highway 89 or to get dropped off at the entrance and walk in. If you want to hike to Horseshoe Bend, you have to pay the fee.
Is the Hike to Horseshoe Bend kid friendly?
The trail itself is only 0.6 miles each way with very little elevation gain. It’s also paved, so it’s wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly. The hike to Horseshoe Bend is fairly easy but the summer heat can be oppressive. Do not underestimate the need for water! Bring lots of water for everyone in the party because there is no shade to rest and heat exhaustion is a real problem. As long as you’re well prepared, it’s an easy hike even for kids.
What about the overlook? That depends! What makes Horseshoe Bend so spectacular is the sheer 1,000 foot drop off from the top of the cliff to the bottom where the mighty Colorado River carves its way through the canyon. A wrong step or a slip would mean certain death and it does happen, unfortunately.There is one small section of the overlook that has a metal fence to prevent people from falling. Many people venture out beyond the fenced overlook for the ‘gram but exercise extreme caution if you do.
So, is Horseshoe Bend kid friendly? As long your kids are the kind of kids that will listen to you, stay near you, and stay behind the fence without wandering to the edge of the cliff, then yes. If they like to run free and aren’t cautious about things, then I wouldn’t recommend it.
Respect the land at Horseshoe Bend Arizona
Horseshoe Bend sits on land that belongs to the Navajo Nation and is managed by the City of Page. As you can imagine with a small place like that’s getting millions of visitors each year, not everyone is respectful of the land. I was always taught as a kid to leave places in nature better than you found them. Do your best to not leave any trash behind and maybe go the extra mile and pick some up if you see any.
When is the best time to hike to Horseshoe Bend Arizona?
Because of the nearby Lake Powell, the busy season lasts from Memorial Day to Labor Day when the water is warm. It’s too cold for boaters in the winter but prime time for doing some hiking without the crowds. You can’t go wrong trying to hike to Horseshoe Bend any time of year.
The busiest times of day in the parking lot are from 9:00-11:00 and 4:30-6:30. Sunset is especially popular because the sun sets directly behind the bend and like I said earlier, Arizona has some spectacular sunsets. If you want to avoid crowds, try going mid-day – just be aware of the heat and bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Also, the sand gets very hot in the summer so wear closed-toed shoes and don’t wear sandals.
Tips for the best photos at Horseshoe Bend
The best tip I can give is just to be aware of the different times of day and how it will affect your shot.
Evening golden hour – I opted to go at sunset and loved it. However, the cliff walls are entirely shaded. Unless you know what you’re doing, it might be hard to get the lighting just right.
Mid-day – This is usually not a good time for photography but at Horseshoe Bend it actually works fairly well. It’s a good time to go to avoid crowds and the cliffs will be fully illuminated.
Morning golden hour – For one, it’s the most peaceful and relaxing time to shoot this famous landmark because the hordes of tourists won’t arrive until around 9:00. Second, the lighting is amazing because of the way the morning sun lights up the canyon walls. This is when serious photographers go.
Also, try shooting with a wide angle lens. The latest iPhones have one built in – just tap the 0.5x button at the bottom of your camera screen. If you don’t have that, then the GoPro is a great affordable wide angle lens and actually my favorite travel camera. It does more than take videos of extreme athletes – it can take awesome photos like the one below. If you’re considering buying one, use our Amazon affiliate link.
Other ways to see Horseshoe Bend Arizona
If you really want to experience the majesty of Horseshoe Bend Arizona in a way that few people do and get away from the crowds, then the only other way to see it is on the water. That’s right! You can kayak, paddleboard, or ride a boat up and down the Colorado River. There are rental companies like Kayak Horseshoe Bend that will pick you up at Lee’s Ferry (generally considered the beginning of the Grand Canyon) and give you a ride to an area just below the Glen Canyon Dam, then you paddle for 6-7 hours around Horseshoe Bend back down to Lee’s Ferry. Besides the famous bend, you’ll also see some Anasazi petroglyphs along the way. This is still something on my bucket list that I haven’t check off yet but I think it sounds like an amazing adventure.
Where to stay in Page Arizona
Our favorite place to stay in Page is the Courtyard at Lake Powell by Marriott. Page is a small town and doesn’t have any luxury hotels, so the Courtyard is as good as it gets. It’s a nice, family-friendly 3-star hotel with an outdoor pool. It sits right on a golf course with a view of Lake Powell. And it’s less than 10 minutes from the marinas, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend. It’s relatively affordable but the best part is you can frequently book a room for less than 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, meaning when you sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy credit card you can get 3 free nights!
Use this referral link to get 3 free nights at hotels like the Courtyard at Lake Powell.
Where to Next?
If you’re heading North from Page, you’ll pass through Kanab, which is the most underrated town in Utah, in my opinion. Check out our Kanab itinerary to learn about all the adventures that await.
If you’re heading South from Page towards Phoenix, make sure to check out our top 10 things to do with kids in Phoenix.
Enjoy your journey through the desert!
–JJ 🤘🏻
