Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is where the Colorado River loops 270 degrees around a sandstone outcrop. The river runs about 1,000 feet below the rim. It lies in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, about 5 miles downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, and the Park Service calls it one of the most recognized and visited places in the park. Wikipedia puts the number of visitors at more than 2 million a year.

Geologists call it an entrenched meander. The Colorado once wound across a flatter landscape. When the Colorado Plateau began to rise around 5 million years ago, the river was trapped in its bed and cut straight down into the rock, keeping its curves. Grand Canyon National Park begins about nine miles further downstream.

Three different landowners share the site. The parking lot and US 89 are in the City of Page. The trail and the overlook are on the Navajo Nation. The bend and the river belong to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Because the lot belongs to the city, Page charges its own parking fee. America the Beautiful and other National Park Service passes don't cover it.

The walk is short and easy. The hardened path is 1.5 miles round trip, and the Park Service says it is accessible under the Architectural Barriers Act. There are two shade structures along the way but none at the overlook. The viewing platform has railings. Most of the rim does not, and the drop is 1,000 feet, so watch your footing and keep hold of children and pets. Leashed pets are allowed. There is no water or toilet on the trail, so use the restrooms at the parking lot first.

Heat is the main hazard. The trail has very little shade, and the Park Service advises avoiding the hottest part of the day and carrying plenty of water. Drones may not be launched or flown in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area without the superintendent's written approval.

If you would rather see the bend from the river, smooth-water raft trips float from Lees Ferry up to Horseshoe Bend and back.