Visit the Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is one of the most photographed places in America. This hairpin bend in Arizona, Western America, is an exceptional natural phenomenon that you definitely must see when you’re in the vicinity of the town of Page.
Over millions of years, the Colorado River has carved a deep bend into the red sandstone. The bend is shaped like a horseshoe, which naturally gave it its name, Horseshoe Bend.
Visiting Horseshoe Bend is free. However, parking costs $10 for a car and $5 for a motorcycle. After parking, you’ll embark on a beautiful and easy hike of 2.4 kilometers (round trip) to the viewpoint.
Many people visit Horseshoe Bend during a road trip through Western America. A common route is from Zion National Park to the Grand Canyon South Rim. Along the way, about halfway, you pass the town of Page. And near this town, you find both Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon.
Visiting Horseshoe Bend from Las Vegas
Are you in Las Vegas and want to visit Horseshoe Bend? During this fully guided tour, you will visit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in one day. You can also combine the tour with a visit to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Starting at €333, you can book the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend tour (→ view tour here). This tour departs from Las Vegas at 4:30 AM. It’s early, but if you’re still on Dutch time, it’s manageable. You’ll be on the road all day, visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend.
Starting at €215, you can book the Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend tour (→ view tour here). This is a small group tour with a maximum of 14 people. You depart from Las Vegas at 5:30 AM for a journey to the northeastern part of the Grand Canyon, where Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are located.
Things to do around Horseshoe Bend
1. Visiting the Viewpoint
Visiting the Horseshoe Bend is a very fun activity. The beautiful 15-minute walk to get there, the magnificent view. We found the Horseshoe Bend in real life to be even more impressive than in the pictures.
2. Horseshoe Bend from the Air
In addition to visiting the viewpoint, there are several other fun activities to do in the Page area. For example, you can take a helicopter flight over Horseshoe Bend (→ check out the Horseshoe Bend Air Tour here). It is also possible to fly over Horseshoe Bend in a small plane (→ check out the Horseshoe Bend Flightseeing Tour here).
3. Horseshoe Bend from the Water
Perhaps just as special as from the air, admiring Horseshoe Bend from the water (→ check out the Horseshoe Bend rafting tour here) is an incredible experience. This tour takes you on a half-day journey on the water, where you’ll enjoy a beautiful and serene boat trip on the Colorado River.
4. Antelope Canyon
A popular activity in the Page area is visiting Antelope Canyon. And it is certainly special! We did find this activity to be very touristy, though. Long lines of tourists took turns to make a walk through the Canyon. Antelope Canyon is located 15 minutes from Horseshoe Bend and is thus easy to combine during your road trip. Antelope Canyon can only be visited with an organized tour (→ check out Antelope Canyon tours).
Horseshoe Bend Helicopter Flight
A helicopter flight over one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena in the world. It’s possible at Horseshoe Bend!
The helicopter flight over Horseshoe Bend departs from Page Municipal Airport. You fly a total of 10 to 12 minutes from the airport to Horseshoe Bend and back. A unique experience!
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is located near Horseshoe Bend and is a unique rock formation with winding narrow paths.
You cannot visit Antelope Canyon independently. You can book an organized tour from Page, which will take you to the canyon in a 4×4. The tours are very popular, so book in advance.
Staying overnight near the Horseshoe Bend
We visited the town of Page twice, a perfect base for a visit to Horseshoe Bend. The first time, we stayed at the Courtyard Page at Lake Powell, a pleasant 3-star hotel on the edge of Page. The hotel is easily accessible, with plenty of parking available. The pool is very nice, especially with the high temperatures in the summer months.
Stay under the Stars
The second time in Page, we took a more adventurous approach. We spent a night in a tent at Shash Dine’ EcoRetreat. What a fantastic location!
Shash Dine’ EcoRetreat is located in the midst of the beautiful nature of Arizona and is at the same time easily accessible. It is situated on Highway 89, a 17-minute drive from Page and only 11 minutes from Horseshoe Bend.
Stay in a Tent, Covered Wagon, or Stilt House
The small-scale Shash Dine’ EcoRetreat offers various accommodations. In addition to a large and luxurious tent, you can stay in a covered wagon and a stilt house. The tent is tastefully decorated inside, and the beds are delightful.
The accommodations offer a lot of privacy. There is a central spot on the property with a campfire and sanitary facilities. In the morning, the owners of the B&B also prepare a simple but tasty breakfast here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is very accessible via Highway 89. You park your car in the parking lot (cost $10) and walk for 15 to 20 minutes to the viewpoint. Horseshoe Bend is a 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas and 2.5 hours from the Grand Canyon South Rim.
Visiting the viewpoint at Horseshoe Bend is free. However, there is a fee for parking your vehicle, $10 for a car and $5 for a motorcycle.
The viewpoint of Horseshoe Bend and the parking lot are open from sunrise to sunset. You can spend as much or as little time there as you want during these hours.
The best photos of Horseshoe Bend can often be taken during sunrise or sunset. During these times, the soft, golden light creates a beautiful effect and highlights the rich colors of the rocks and the Colorado River. The temperatures are more pleasant at these times of the day, and it is usually less crowded, giving you the chance to take a perfect photo without too many people in the background.
Colorado River
Horseshoe Bend has formed over millions of years through the process of wear and erosion by the Colorado River. The Colorado River runs all the way from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California, crossing 7 US states. From the viewpoint, you look down from a height of about 305 meters (approximately 1000 feet) onto the Colorado River.
Page, Arizona
Horseshoe Bend is located near the quaint town of Page. Page has a population of over 7,000 people and offers many facilities, such as dozens of hotels (→ Check out all the hotels in Page here), campgrounds, supermarkets, and restaurants. It serves as a base for tourists to explore Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and Lake Powell.
Own photo of Horseshoe Bend, June 2023
