Hike Horseshoe Bend on your own!
Hike Horseshoe Bend on your own!
Just traveling through the area and want to take in the sights? You can absolutely hike Horseshoe Bend on your own! Here’s what you need to know!
Paid Parking
While Horseshoe Bend is found on National Park land, access to the trail head is on the City of Page land. When Horseshoe Bend began to become a destination for out-of-towners, the city quickly realized that they had a nightmare on their hands. Folks were parking on the side of Hwy 89, where traffic was going 65 mph, and that could spell disaster! So, to keep everyone safe, the city built a spacious parking lot that now accommodates motorcycles, cars, RVs, vans, commercial buses, and even has handicapped parking!
You MUST park in the parking lot; violators will be ticketed and towed. The parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset, no one is allowed on the trail outside of parking lot hours. No camping, no overstaying, no drop-offs or pick ups, and no walking along the highway. As of summer 2024, entrance fees are by passenger capacity of the vehicle; cars and RVs are $10, so be sure to carpool if you’re going with friends! Check out the City of Page website for more detailed info.
Best Time to Go
The parking lot is open from sunrise to sunset and is usually busiest from 9:00am to 11:00am and from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. If the parking lot is full, you’ll be asked to come back later. The parking lot is open year round, so ideally, you’ll come in Spring or Autumn, when the weather is more pleasant, but every season has its charms. It gets very hot in the summer, so you might want to aim for as close to sunrise or as close to sunset as possible. The winter is very cold on the rim, so bundle up if you’re going in the early morning or just before dark.
The Trail
What used to be a tedious slog through unwieldy sand is now a pretty gentle, 0.6 mile hike from the parking lot to the rim. Since June 2019, it’s a fully paved trail, so it’s ADA and stroller friendly! There are a couple of spots where you can seek shelter from the sun and sit to rest, but they are small and often crowded during the summer. If you find that you’re tired and need a break, just stand to the side of the trail and take in the view!
At the Rim
Horseshoe Bend is one of the few places where you can see the Colorado River from the rim. Awe-inspiring and gorgeous, you’ll understand why thousands of people make the drive to Page, AZ for their Instagram shots! There will be lots of other tourists there taking pictures, so be patient, take your time, and enjoy the view while you’re waiting for the perfect angle. From the rim, you’ll be able to see Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam to the northeast, and if you look down you might even see kayakers on the river! For your viewing safety, there is a fenced overlook area at the end of the trail, but you can also go off trail and find other vantage points along the rim. Just be careful up there. Sandstone is brittle, and it’s a 1,000 foot drop to the bottom of the canyon. Keep track of your kids and keep your pets on a leash!
Pets at Horseshoe bend
Your furry friends are welcome to walk the Horseshoe Bend Trail, but they must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. If you’re coming in the summer, remember the sand and the rock gets very hot so be sure to protect paws and bring water for them as well. Also, remember that you’re sharing this trail with others, be sure your pet is comfortable in crowds, well-behaved, and pick up their poop! And do not leave your pet in the car in the parking lot, even in the winter; the City of Page Police Department will take life-saving measures to rescue a pet in the car, and they will arrest you and have you criminally cited for animal cruelty.
What to bring
Obviously, bring your camera; Horseshoe Bend is very photogenic. Beyond that, remember that this is the American Southwest. During all times of the year, the sun is unforgiving. Wear sunscreen, close-toed shoes, and hats for your hike. Even in the winter, when the air is cold, you will burn if you’re not careful! It’s also very dry all year long, so bring your water, or there is water for sale in the parking lot for $1.
How much time will it take?
I suppose it depends on your level of fitness and your intentions for your hike. You can easily do this hike 30 minutes if you’re fast, but if you’re there for the pictures and the grandeur, you should give yourself at least an hour, maybe two. You already paid for parking, so you might as well get your money’s worth! Once you get to the rim, you can walk around on top, enjoy the views and take lots of pictures. Go ahead and bring a snack or picnic lunch in a backpack and find a quiet rock to sit on. That’s the benefit of hiking on your own; you get to go at your own pace!
Leave no trace!
The Horseshoe Bend hike is a national treasure, and everyone wants to keep it that way. There are no trash cans along the trail, so be prepared to take garbage and pet poop back to your car when you leave. As the saying goes: take only pictures, leave only footprints!
Self-Guided Tour
Want to learn about the history of the area at your own pace? Purchase the Discover Horseshoe Bend Overlook: Driving Tour, which you can listen to through the Action Tour Guide app! It includes a self-guided tour, with a map, audio stories and images to help you get the most out of your short experience at Horseshoe Bend!