Horseshoe Bend

Everything You Need to Know About Your Next Visit to this Geographical Wonder

Are you interested in visiting the beautiful Horseshoe Bend at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area? This will be your go-to guide for everything you will need and the limitless fun you can have!

Where is Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped landmark formed by the Colorado River, just downstream from Glen Canyon and about 9 miles from Lake Powell. The closest town to the beautiful rock formation is Page, Arizona, with the closest airport being the Las Vegas airport.

Once you get to Page, you’ll hop on Route 89 going South. After approximately five miles, you’ll see a sign saying something like “Horseshoe Bend Overlook” and a parking area.

Locals cater to tourists and try to provide fun things to do across the area to ensure everyone has a fun time. If you’re looking for other things to do near Horseshoe Bend, you could stop by Glen Canyon or the Rainbow Bridge National Monument, or perhaps stop by Antelope Canyon. Or, for something different, you could visit the Navajo Village Heritage Center or the Lake Powell Massage & Spa Boutique. This is without mentioning the quaint diners, trading posts, and hobby shops spattered across the Page area.

Horseshoe Bend is one of the most popular features of Glen Canyon, featuring winding red and orange-colored rock that visitors can walk through. The reason behind its name is the small river stream that flows and winds around a sizable red rock boulder in the shape of a horseshoe. Visitors can view this famous scene through a trailhead with featured parking through tour services outside of the park.

Pick Your Destination

First things first, you must find what area sounds best for you. Horseshoe Bend (and by extension Glen Canyon) offers a variety of different activities. Because Lake Powell is within the recreational area, visitors can bring a boat or jet ski and swim in the lake as a great family outing.

Schedule Your Travel Dates Early

Scheduling dates is crucial to make sure you reserve your spot for tours or lodging. At the very least, call ahead two weeks in advance; most travel sites will allow a reservation cancellation up until the day before the trip. So if something comes up last minute, you can feel good knowing you can still get your money back.

Scheduling in advance is especially important for any activities you hope to do, whether with friends or family. Most of the tour services offered are busy in the summer months and fill up extremely fast. It is possible to get in as a walk-in, but it’s very unlikely you’ll be able to reserve a spot for more than two people.

Best Time To Go

Some of the best times to visit the recreational area are February and March. This is when the reservoir and hiking trails will not be as full due to the offseason. After that, the peak season really picks up, and it's harder to find space. So make sure your visit is laid out well ahead of time if you want to go during the summer months.

Lodging and Travel Options

There are over 100 hotels in the Page, Arizona area that can vary in price depending on location. You can also camp within the recreation area, which is included in the cost of your entrance ticket.

Fees Involved

There are modest entrance fees to the park. Unfortunately, National Park passes will not work here since it is a recreational area. Entrance passes are valid up to 7 days and vary depending on your vehicle. Vehicle and boating entrances are $30 while biking or walking entry access is $15.

Creating an Itinerary

Some people like to wing it when they take a trip, and that’s totally fine! Making a small plan for your trip can help, at least for every day you’re there. Writing out your plan on a notepad or in your phone notes will help you stay on budget for your trip. You can go as broad as saying “pool day” or “hiking day.” Or you can be specific and plan meals, budgets, and possible weather considerations and contingencies.

Age/Other Restrictions

Overall, there are not many restrictions besides ones you’d expect from a recreational or national park. You can bring your furry friends with you on your trip; you just need to be mindful of others and the property by keeping your dog leashed and bagging waste.

What to Bring To HorseShoe Bend

Finding out what you want to bring with you on your trip depends on how long your trip is as well as how many people will be in your party. Necessities for your trip will include food, proper attire, and supplies.

Food

One of the most crucial aspects of your trip is what to bring for snacks and meals. If you are driving or flying, an excellent recommendation would be to pack snacks ahead of time. Meals in airports or gas stations can be costly, bringing the cost of your vacation up more than it needs to be.

Packing snacks ahead of time will not only save you money but keep you hunger-free while you travel. This will also give you the option to pack healthier meals, and if you’re driving, you can store them in a cooler for the journey.

Regardless of the other activities you may have planned while in the area, water is one of the most important things you’ll need for your journey to Horseshoe Bend. Make sure you have at least 1-2 water bottles for everyone in your group. Hydration packs are also useful on trails and are made a bit smaller than they used to be for convenience.

What to Wear to Horseshoe Bend

No matter the season, packing the right clothes for your trip is crucial to avoid sunburns or in the cooler months, when the temperatures begin to drop. Most people who visit the park go during the warm weather. With it being a desert environment, the heat temperatures can get very high during the summer. If you’re hoping to take a dip in the cool water, make sure you pack a shirt or cover-up that covers your shoulders to prevent sunburn.

Most tour guides from the area would recommend hiking shoes for tours. Still, because most of the trails surrounding the pack are comfortable-to-moderate levels, you would be okay to wear Chacos or Tevas. However, there is sand almost everywhere in the surrounding parks.

With clothes, depending on your ability to withstand heat, dress accordingly. If you’re going to Horseshoe Bend during the colder months, bring layers that can be easily packed away in a bag or car. It will be chilly in the morning but as the sun comes out, it will get warmer. We recommend taking a trip to REI or an outdoor retailer to find some clothes with a built-in SPF to protect your skin from damaging rays.

One of the most important things you can take on your trip is a hat. Though sometimes not particularly fashionable, a large bucket hat will help cover your head and neck, protecting your face. Sunglasses will also help in protecting your eyes. Overall, the sun’s regular effects can be heightened by the desert atmosphere. Taking precautions in protecting yourself from the sun’s rays is very important.

Supplies

Another way you can protect your skin from the sun is by bringing sunscreen. Even on cloudy days, the sun’s rays can pierce through the clouds, and you can get a sunburn. No matter what time of the year you come, sunscreen is a must! The last thing you want is a painful sunburn tainting your Horseshoe Bend experience. Enjoy one of earth’s gorgeous marvels by protecting your skin. And remember to reapply frequently.

If you’re driving to Horseshoe Bend, bringing things like towels, floaties, and fold-out chairs will be great if you’ll be swimming in the reservoir. If hiking is more your scene, walking sticks might help you access the area better. If you seem to have forgotten anything along the way or if you are flying in from further away, there is a Walmart Supercenter located within Page, Arizona.

Lastly, bring your phone or camera to take photos of your vacation. The beautiful red rock presents a great photo opportunity for a family picture or a post-worthy selfie for the ‘gram.

Tours Offered

Within the area, many tour sites can give you a tour experience through the recreational area. These parties can vary in size from about 25 to 50 people per group. Tours are offered vastly around the park and can take you through the park's main scenic views. This is perfect for a family photo or getting an idyllic picture at sunrise or sunset.

A great way to experience the Secret Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend is with a native American tour company. This is a duo tour that goes through private native American lands that standard groups wouldn’t have access to. Another great thing about this is the group size in these tours is much smaller than most groups at a 25-person max per trip.

It looks like you’re ready to go on your trip to Horseshoe Bend now. We hope you found this article insightful and that you enjoy your trip. If you are interested in a tour during your trip, you can visit Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours to book your reservation.