Hiking the Horseshoe Bend Trail in Page, Arizona
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
The Horseshoe Bend Trail in Page, Arizona, is a relatively easy day hike just south of town that leads to a stunning natural, west-facing horseshoe above the Colorado River—inevitably making Horseshoe Bend one of the best sunset hikes outside of Grand Canyon National Park!
How is Visiting Horseshoe Bend Different Today?
Those who have visited Horseshoe Bend in the past—and those visiting for the first time—should know that everything from the trail, the parking, and the viewpoint has changed over the years, due almost entirely to the popularity that Horseshoe Bend has garnered on social media and the dangers associated with the overlook at the end.
By this, I mean that the Horseshoe Bend Trail is jointly managed by both the City of Page, Arizona, and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This hopefully helps explain why federal recreation passes are not valid to park at Horseshoe Bend, as they are at nearby trails like Cathedral Wash—since the city manages the parking area and the first third of the trail, while the National Park Service manages the majority of the trail and viewpoint.
All of these changes—which you can see below—are quite different from years past. Prior to these changes and construction projects that began in late 2018, parking was free, the trail followed a slightly hillier but more direct route, and there were no shade structures or viewing platform at the end of the hike.
I think those familiar with the Horseshoe Bend Trail—both before and after these changes—will see the benefits and drawbacks. However, what’s most apparent is that the hike and viewpoint are now both easier and safer, which certainly cannot be understated, as Horseshoe Bend has unfortunately claimed many lives due to the inherent risks of the largely exposed cliffs along the canyon rim.
All this to say, Horseshoe Bend is an incredibly beautiful, must-see day hike that should be visited whenever spending any time in northern Arizona—especially if you have the opportunity to hike the trail for sunset!
Horseshoe Bend Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Horseshoe Bend Trail is located in a large parking lot operated by the city—not the National Park Service—about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Page.
There is a small fee to park that varies by vehicle type, which is why I mentioned previously that federal recreation passes are not valid at Horseshoe Bend.
In addition, be aware that parking along Highway 89 outside of the parking lot is now prohibited, which was not the case in years past.
Google Maps Directions: Horseshoe Bend Trailhead
Southwest Hiking Checklist
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Southwest U.S.
Hiking the Horseshoe Bend Trail
Following the reconstruction and rerouting projects mentioned previously, the Horseshoe Bend Trail is now easier and more accessible than ever, having replaced the old trail with one that is ADA compliant, as shown throughout this post.
Today, the Horseshoe Bend Trail winds around the initial hill, making it much flatter than it was before.
This is one of a few different shade structures on the Horseshoe Bend Trail, which were added as part of the trail reconstruction project.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
This is where the Horseshoe Bend Trail crosses into the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which hopefully helps explain why the hike is jointly managed and maintained by both the City of Page and the National Park Service.
Even though the Horseshoe Bend Trail features these shade structures, I still highly recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt, as they can be extremely useful here and in many other places across the Southwest.
For the most part, the Horseshoe Bend Trail follows a very gradual, slightly downhill path on the way there, which is considerably easier than the old trail over the hill to the left of this photo.
This is where the old Horseshoe Bend Trail meets the 'newly' rerouted trail today.
Horseshoe Bend
After 0.75 miles (1.2 km), the Horseshoe Bend Trail ends at this viewing platform, located roughly 1,000 ft. (305 m) above the Colorado River below.
Warning
It must be said that visitors are not required to stay within the viewing platform behind the rail, and it’s common that hikers venture around it to get the best photos of Horseshoe Bend.
However, outside of this small area shown below, the entirety of Horseshoe Bend is unfenced and unmaintained. I mention this because the cliffs here have claimed many lives over the years, as previously noted.
Now, I don’t say this to discourage visitors from exploring the canyon rim, but the end of the Horseshoe Bend Trail is certainly nothing to take lightly—especially when visiting with young kids!
The photo shown here was taken not long after sunrise, but Horseshoe Bend is, by and large, a sunset location, as the sun sets almost directly over the horizon from the bend.
This inevitably makes Horseshoe Bend one of the best sunset hikes in Page, along with the nearby Beehive Loop Trail just to the north of the Glen Canyon Dam.
