Horseshoe Bend has quickly become one of the most popular stops on a road tripper’s route through northern Arizona. This u-shaped bend in the Colorado River presents travelers with dramatic views and iconic photo opportunities from above. It’s the perfect midway stop on a trip from Bryce or Zion in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. I stopped here on my epic southwestern United States road trip and I’m excited to share my guide to visiting with you
Ready for a road trip? Here’s my guide to visiting Arizona’s famous Horseshoe Bend!
Stay in Page, Arizona
The best place to stay when visiting Horseshoe Bend is the city of Page, Arizona. Only a few miles north of the Horseshoe Bend overlook, Page is a great base for sightseeing in this area. It’s about a 2.5 hour drive from Bryce, Zion, and Grand Canyon National Parks, making Horseshoe Bend the perfect addition to your National Parks Road trip. Page has plenty of hotels, restaurants, and gas stations, as well as a Walmart Supercenter, so it’s the perfect place place to buy any necessities and to fill up your gas tank before hitting the road again.
Try A Local Restaurant
I love seeking out local restaurants when I’m traveling and Page provides diners with some great choices. The first one I’d suggest is Big John’s Texas BBQ, a casual restaurant offering outdoor seating with patio heaters, live music, and some of the best barbecue beef brisket I’ve ever had. They do close for the winter season, so be sure to check the opening dates before you go.
Slackers Quality Grub is another laid back spot offering typical American pub food. Their burgers and crispy curly fries are definitely worth a stop and are very reasonably priced. If you have a craving for a burger while in town, this is the place to go.
Go To Horseshoe Bend Overlook At Sunrise
You may be wondering when is the best time of day to go to the Horseshoe Bend overlook? Although there are many different opinions on this topic, I think that visiting at sunrise is the way to go for a few reasons. First, it will be less crowded. Most people tend to visit later in the day, so if you go in the early morning hours you’ll arrive with only the dedicated few. Second, because the overlook faces west, the sunrise will be behind you, and you’ll avoid dealing with the sun in your eyes as you enjoy the scenery.
On the downside, the river will be in a shadow until mid to late morning, so that’s also something to consider. However, I didn’t mind this because I’d still much rather visit during golden hour than mid-day, under the harsh glare of the sun. Of course, it’s completely a matter of personal preference and more importantly which time works best for your itinerary. Getting the opportunity to see this iconic spot is a treat no matter what time of day.
A Few Notes On Logistics
- Parking- The Horseshoe Bend Overlook parking lot is located off U.S. Highway 89, about four miles south of Page. If you visit during high season, it’s best to arrive before 9:00 am because the lot can fill up quickly. Parking along Highway 89 is prohibited, so if the lot is full when you arrive, you’ll have to return another time.
- Hours – Horseshoe Bend is open all year from sunrise to sunset.
- Entrance Fee – Because the parking lot is located on city land, National Park passes aren’t valid here and everyone will have to pay to enter. When I visited the cost was $10 for passenger vehicles.
Tour A Slot Canyon
Touring a slot canyon is something you shouldn’t miss if you to decide to stop in Page. A slot canyon is a narrow channel formed through solid rock by water and wind over millions of years.
Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are two of the more well known slot canyon tours in Arizona, but I’d recommend touring Antelope Canyon X with Taadidiin Tours instead. Antelope Canyon X offers the same amazing views as Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, but with one distinct advantage – a much smaller crowd. Because it’s located on the Navajo Nation Reservation, a tour is necessary in order to go to the canyon. Taadidiin Tours is the only company operating here, which also contributes to a much quieter and more comfortable visit.
Stop At Glen Canyon Dam Overlook
If you stay in Page and you’ve got some extra time, the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook is another scenic viewpoint that’s worth a quick stop. Located behind the Home 2 Suites by Hilton hotel, there’s a small parking lot which is free to enter. Because it’s so convenient to the hotel, it’d make a nice evening walk for guests at sunset.
Do you have any tips for visiting Horseshoe Bend? Leave a comment below!
