Things to Do in Horseshoe Bend for First-Time Visitors

Horseshoe Bend is a dramatic, horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River located near Page, Arizona. Visitors walk along a 1.5-mile round-trip accessible trail that leads from the parking lot to the canyon rim. At the edge, you look down a 1,000-foot drop to the emerald-green waters of the river winding around the massive sandstone escarpment. The viewpoint provides an unobstructed, panoramic sight of the canyon walls displaying ancient layers of Navajo sandstone. There are safety railings at the main viewing deck directly at the end of the paved path, but much of the rim remains exposed, allowing for various viewing angles along the cliff edge. People visit to observe the sheer scale of the canyon, watch rafts navigating the river below, and view the changing colors of the rock formations during different times of the day. The terrain is a mix of packed dirt, sand, and smooth rock, with two small shade pavilions located along the walking route.