You don’t need to make a reservation to visit Horseshoe Bend, although it’s a popular location and does get pretty crowded. We’d recommend visiting early in the morning if you want to avoid having to jockey for a spot with other tourists. The hike out to the canyon overlook is short and easy for hikers of any experience level, so it’s a popular destination for families and tourist groups. You’re also likely to see locals running or walking their dogs along the trail. However, if you get there very early in the morning, you’ll have plenty of space to yourself to watch the canyon light up as the sun rises behind you. You can also escape the crowds by walking along the edge of the canyon, but be warned, the safety railing doesn’t extend past the overlook.
There’s one trail that leads out to the Horseshoe Bend overlook and you can’t really access it from any other location. While it’s officially free to visit the overlook, you’ll, unfortunately, end up still having to pay due to an irritating technicality. Horseshoe Bend is located within the borders of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is owned by the National Parks Service. However, the parking lot and the trailhead are outside the recreation area on land owned by the nearby city of Page, Arizona. The city charges a $10 fee to enter the parking lot and, since there’s just the one trailhead, the only way to get to Horseshoe Bend is to pay. That being said, we think the view is well worth the price.
Make the most of your trip by using our Horseshoe Bend Self-Guided Walking Tour and the free bonus tour of Page. If you’re a frequent traveler and you’re looking for more self-guided tours, we also offer Action+, a yearly subscription that grants you access to all 85+ of our US tours.
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