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In the event you’ve seen footage promoting Arizona, or learn journey books, then I’m virtually sure you’ve a good suggestion of what the well-known Horseshoe Bend appears like.
If not, right here it’s…
This iconic scene is among the most well-known views of the Colorado River – and that’s saying one thing, as a result of the river is 2,334 km lengthy!
Drawing greater than 2 million guests a 12 months, this as soon as beloved hidden gem has change into one of the common viewpoints within the state.
So, in case you’re planning visiting Horseshoe Bend in Northern Arizona and need to make a cease previous this scenic space, this information is for you.
We’re right here that can assist you plan a visit to witness this unimaginable view of the Colorado River snaking by way of this spectacular Southwest USA desert surroundings, as a result of avoiding 2 million individuals isn’t a straightforward process!
What’s Horseshoe Bend in Arizona?
Horseshoe Bend is the place the Colorado River makes an enormous sweeping horseshoe-shaped bend within the canyon.
It’s a picturesque space on the Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation Space, and presents a large panoramic view of the Grand Canyon because the river meanders round a bend in (therefore the title).
I particularly cherished the emerald inexperienced water of the Colorado River beneath, which isn’t a colour you usually see on the Colorado River.
It was solely a few weeks after visiting Horseshoe Bend that we realized it’s really thought-about a part of the Grand Canyon East Rim space.
Not many individuals know that Horseshoe Bend can also be a part of the Grand Canyon Nationwide Park, however isn’t the primary viewpoint (extra on that later).
The Grand Canyon East Rim space isn’t just like the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, North Rim, and West Rim, whereby you’ll be able to stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon and look into it.
The east facet of the Grand Canyon is the place the Glen Canyon space merges into it, so the area round right here is taken into account a part of the Grand Canyon East.
Horseshoe Bend is a novel and totally different perspective of the Grand Canyon!
It’s the one place alongside the Grand Canyon the place you may get an up shut selfie of the Colorado River because it makes its carving transfer downstream.
The Grand Canyon East can also be mentioned to include Antelope Canyon, the Glen Canyon Recreation Space and Lake Powell.
How do I get to Horseshoe Bend, Arizona?
Horseshoe Bend is a part of the Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation Space and is about 10 minutes away from the city of Web page in northeast Arizona, near the Utah border.
The parking zone is close to the Horseshoe bend trailhead, which is positioned off US Freeway 89, roughly 5 miles (8 km) south of the Carl Hayden Customer Middle.
There are many handicap/assessable parking areas positioned close to the trailhead.
Observe, the hike to Horseshoe Bend Overlook from the parking zone is a 1.5 mile spherical journey, and is on a nicely maintained path the entire manner.
Horseshoe Bend has change into so busy, and we needed to park some methods down the highway and pay a $5 per particular person shuttle price to get to the point of view and again.
Scorching tip: If the parking space is full, have the driving force of your automotive drop everybody off at Horseshoe Bend overlook space earlier than parking your automotive and catching the shuttle. For a household of 4, that saved us $15.
Drive Instances
In the event you’re coming from Web page, the drive time is about 10 minutes to Horseshoe Bend.
From Las Vegas (273 miles) or Phoenix, Horseshoe Bend is about 4 hours half-hour away, and from Flagstaff, it might take 2 hours 10 minutes to get to the bend and from Sedona (157 miles), it’s about 2 hours and 50 minutes .
Horseshoe Bend is a 2 hour 20-minute drive from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim (114 miles).
When is the most effective time to go to Horseshoe Bend in Arizona?
If I used to be to go to the Lake Powell and the Web page Arizona area once more, I might go to Horseshoe Bend at dawn or sundown.
Dawn is among the greatest instances of day for images and could be a good time to seize the bend, because the solar will slowly start illuminating the canyon partitions.
Are you ready to get up early for it? In my expertise, it’s at all times value it!
At different instances of the day, the bend and river are in shadow. Early afternoon is a well-liked time to go to Horseshoe Bend, which suggests snapping photographs with a whole lot of different individuals.
The excellent news is visiting Horseshoe Bend may be fast and simple, and takes little greater than half-hour to hike to the overlook, snap some photographs, and stroll again.
It’s barely much less busy within the low season – operating from October by way of February. Spring or Autumn can have the most effective climate being neither too scorching nor chilly.
It’s the desert so throughout summer season there can be excessive warmth and little shade.
June till September are thought-about the monsoon season, so that you may even anticipate wet (and even stormy) climate throughout this time of 12 months.
FAQs about visiting Horseshoe Bend
How a lot time do you want at Horseshoe Bend?
It takes half-hour to stroll to the overlook and again to the parking zone at Horseshoe Bend, however you’ll want to consider time to admire the view and snap some footage – so enable 1 hour to go to Horseshoe Bend in complete.
Are you able to go to the Horseshoe Bend by yourself?
You may go to Horseshoe Bend by yourself and not using a guided tour. Many excursions move right here, however you’ll be able to park up and hike by yourself with ease.
Is it value seeing the Horseshoe Bend?
In our opinion, it’s undoubtedly value it to see Horseshoe Bend because it’s the one viewpoint the place the Colorado River is so clear and near you. In the event you time your go to for the morning when the canyon is solid in sunshine, it appears much more spectacular.
Can I do Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in sooner or later?
You may undoubtedly mix a visit to Antelope Canyon with a visit to Horseshoe Bend. You do must guide a tour for Antelope Canyon, so it might make extra sense to see that first, however because it solely takes an hour to go to Horseshoe Bend and they’re solely a 12 minute drive from one another, it’s undoubtedly doable to see each in sooner or later. Extra on how to do that beneath.
What’s the size of the path at Horseshoe Bend?
From the parking zone, there may be a straightforward 0.6-mile one-way path to the scenic overlook. The path is gravel however flat and nicely maintained, and appropriate for wheelchairs and strollers.
Is there shade at Horseshoe Bend?
There are two shade buildings on the path to the overlook, however not on the precise viewpoint.
Is it protected to go to Horseshoe Bend?
You may stroll to sure viewpoints alongside the rim when climbing to Horseshoe Bend from the parking zone, however there may be solely a small part that’s really fenced off with a barrier.
I might think about it protected to hike beneath regular circumstances, you do have to be vigilant and control your youngsters.
The path is near the sting of the cliff, which is made from sandstone, which means it may be brittle and slick, resulting in a 1,000 toes drop over the sting.
Standing on the sting of the excessive cliffs was fairly scary. I used to be amazed at how many individuals would threat toppling off the sting simply to take that coveted Instagram worthy photograph.
No thanks!
That is principally a pure landmark, so warning is paramount – we stayed nicely again and solely took photographs up shut the place there was a fence in entrance of us at Horseshoe bend overlook.
At one stage, I stepped in to drag a younger boy away from the rim. His intrepid curiosity taking him nearer and nearer to the sting. My abdomen felt sick watching and I couldn’t however entice him again.
Whereas we have been within the Grand Canyon area, two individuals really died from falling off the rim attempting to take photographs. It’s not value it. You may get loads of spectacular photographs from the realm of security.
There are various boats cruising down the Colorado River beneath and we may spy campground bogs on the banks throughout the river.
I used to be impressed to get down into the canyon both on land or by boat to discover the attitude from down there.
Horseshoe Bend Entrance Price and Hours
Luckily, Horseshoe Bend is open year-round from dawn to sundown. There aren’t any charges to enter the park, however you do must pay parking charges in your car.
- Motorbike – $5
- Automobile, Motorhome or RV – $10
- Buses as much as 14 individuals – $35
- Buses as much as 35 – $70
- Coaches of 35+ – $140
It’s necessary to notice that you just can’t park on Freeway 89 and you may be ticketed and towed! It might appear apparent to not park on the facet of a freeway, however individuals do it, so we now have to say it.
The most well-liked hours within the day are 9:00am – 11:00am and 4:30pm – 6:30pm. No in a single day parking or tenting is allowed, sorry!
What ought to I convey with me to Horseshoe Bend?
There isn’t a lot to do at Horseshoe Canyon itself, besides gaze in marvel, though it depends upon what number of photographs you need to take from a number of totally different angles.
So that you don’t really want to convey something with you apart from your digital camera – you’ll be able to go away every little thing else within the automotive. Drones will not be allowed, and I extremely advocate a large angle lens when you’ve got a DSLR as this may let you seize your complete bend.
It’s best to put on sturdy footwear, and I like to recommend closed footwear and never sandals. Since shade is minimal, convey a sunhat and sun shades, and put on solar safety.
Suggestions for visiting Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Earlier than you go to Horseshoe Bend, I’ve a number of phrases of recommendation earlier than you go.
- Arizona is scorching. Like, insanely scorching. So be ready and drink loads of water, put on sunscreen and if potential, keep out of the noon warmth.
- Pack a digital camera with a wide-angle lens. In the event you’re a photographer, you’re going to need your widest lens to have the ability to seize your complete panorama.
- Keep away from visiting in the summertime months. This isn’t solely the most popular time of the 12 months, however the wet season. July and August are monsoon seasons, and it might typically go into September. Plan your journey for the winter like January, when the climate is extra tolerable.
- Take snacks. The hike is just 1.5-miles spherical journey however the terrain is deep sand and a little bit rocky in areas. It takes some time to cowl the space due to this.
- This brings me to my subsequent tip – put on sturdy footwear. The sand may be slippery so be sure your footwear have loads of grip. Sandals and flip-flops are trendy however not a good suggestion.
- Verify for park closures earlier than visiting. You will discover this info right here.
Issues to do close to Horseshoe Bend Arizona
You’re in luck. Horseshoe Bend Arizona is surrounded by many cool points of interest within the Web page and Lake Powell area.
You may simply mix them right into a full-day expertise. I really wouldn’t make the journey to Horseshoe Bend except you have been going to do different issues within the Lake Powell/ Web page area.
Lake Powell
With its sculptured white and purple sandstone and blue waters, Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Nationwide Recreation Space is a chic place to go to.
It’s an oasis within the desert surrounded by a powerful canyon – beneath and above the water.
Lake Powell is an immense artificial lake with a great deal of leisure actions on supply. We didn’t do a lot aside from take pleasure in our tenting spot proper on the seashore at Lone Rock Seashore.
I cherished this space. It’s lovely and presents a soothing getaway.
Most of Glen Canyon sleeps beneath the floor of Lake Energy.
The higher sandstone partitions nevertheless beckon you to return play. Whereas with the Grand Canyon you’ll be able to principally simply stare with marvel and incomprehension, right here at Glen Canyon you’ll be able to boat, ski, fish, kayak, paddle board or swim among the many towering domes and cliff partitions.
We kayaked, paddle boarded and swam within the lake at Lone Rock Seashore. Nicely, solely a fast 2-minute dip because it was early April and nonetheless very chilly.
Different locations of curiosity to go to on this space embody:
- Rainbow Bridge Nationwide Monument – the world’s largest pure bridge, solely accessible by boat and excursions. And features a strenuous hike from Navajo mountain. This can be a sacred web site to neighboring tribes, so be respectful and don’t climb the bridge.
- Lease a houseboat and discover additional afield.
- Hike into Glen Canyon’s back-country.
Watch us play at Lake Powell
Watch us play and discover at Lake Powell right here:
Antelope Canyon
You may acknowledge it from the previous Microsoft display screen saver. The most costly {photograph} offered of Antelope Canyon went for $6.5 million. That’s how spectacular these polished crevices within the slot canyon are.
How far is Antelope Canyon from Horseshoe Bend?
Antelope Canyon is just about 10 minutes from Horseshoe Bend!! It makes it really easy so that you can go to these two prime Arizona locations in sooner or later!
Glen Canyon Dam
If you wish to marvel at nice engineering feats than cease in on the Glen Canyon Dam customer heart.
In 1963, Glen Canyon dam started backing up the waters of the Colorado River that now have created 1,9000 miles of shoreline at Lake Powell. There are cool free reveals explaining the way it was constructed and why. You get lovely views from right here of the Colorado River and the dam.
Prime tip: You may pay to do a guided tour of the Glen Canyon Dam and Powerplant. Study extra right here.
Web page, Arizona
Web page was based as the corporate city for the development of the Glen Canyon Dam. It’s now a vacationer and leisure heart for guests to the realm.
It’s fairly a golfer’s mecca and is a superb base for exploring the close by points of interest.
Automobile & RV Rental
In the event you don’t have your individual automotive, verify beneath for rental automotive choices from Las Vegas and from Sedona, or Phoenix. Or Take a look at RV share in case you want to lease your individual RV, campervan or motorhome.
Excursions to Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Take a look at the beneath Horseshoe Bend excursions from Las Vegas, Sedona, and Flagstaff:
The place to remain close to Horseshoe Bend: Web page, Arizona
As talked about, we camped for $12 an evening on the Lone Rock Seashore Campground on Lake Powell, which is about half-hour from Web page.
Different choices embody:
Extra American Southwest Journey Suggestions
Whilst you’re planning your journey to Horseshoe Bend, why not try these different guides for locations close by so as to add to your highway journey:
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Now it’s your flip! Are you planning on visiting Horseshoe Bend? Are you excited? Tell us within the feedback.
