Horseshoe Bend

More than one million visitors annually flock to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to check out Horseshoe Bend’s sweeping views of the Colorado River and surrounding canyon. Day trips depart from Las Vegas and a number of cities in Arizona, often including a visit to Antelope Canyon, one of the most famous slot canyons in the US. For even more spectacular views of Horseshoe Bend, try a helicopter ride over the canyon.

• Horseshoe Bend is a social media sensation—bring a camera to capture the beloved view for yourself.

• You can only reach the scenic overlook on foot and the trail is about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) roundtrip, with two shade structures along the route. Sturdy shoes, a hat, and sunscreen are recommended.

• Stay clear of the edge of the clifftop at all times. There are no guardrails along the trail and the sandstone rim of the canyon is dangerous.

• The trail to the scenic overlook crosses over hardened sandstone and is accessible to wheelchairs.

Horseshoe Bend is located within the confines of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area just north of the Grand Canyon National Park and about 275 miles (440 km) northwest of Las Vegas along US Highway 89. Most visitors arrive by car (there is paid parking near the trailhead) or join a bus tour from Las Vegas or Arizona.

Although throngs of visitors crowd the trail and overlook during peak midday hours, Horseshoe Bend is magical during dawn and dusk. On holidays and peak weekends, the parking lot is often full, forcing visitors to take shuttle buses from parking areas farther away.

Many Horseshoe Bend tours also stop at Antelope Canyon, located on Navajo land nearby. Officially known as Navajo Upper Antelope Canyon, it’s a grouping of five separate canyon sections (Upper Antelope Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon, Owl Canyon, Mountain Sheep Canyon, and Lower Antelope Canyon) with sheer sandstone walls that glow with shafts of light filtering in from above. The Upper Antelope Canyon can only be seen on official guided tours.

All sorts of tours visit Horseshoe Bend, and they leave from locations including Las Vegas, Flagstaff, and Sedona. Many tours add other attractions to a Horseshoe Bend visit, including Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and the Grand Canyon South Rim. You can find half-day and full-day options.

Yes, there is parking at Horseshoe Bend. There is a charge, too, at around $10 for standard passenger vehicles and about $35 for light commercial vehicles. The lot opens at sunrise. The lot fills up quickly, so aim for first thing in the morning or later in the evening.

It depends. Some like to come earlier in the day or late evening to skip the crowds and to avoid the summer's extreme heat, but that's also when there are shadows on the Colorado River. Others like to visit at sunset to see the sun's starburst phenomenon.

The walk at Horseshoe Bend is easy to moderately difficult. It’s about a half mile (.8 kilometers), so not long. What can be challenging is the strong midday sun. Rest at the few shady areas along the way, bring water, and go at a moderate pace.

Plan on around 90 minutes for your visit to Horseshoe Bend. The hike itself takes around 30 minutes at a moderate pace. You’ll want time to appreciate the view and take photos. Rest when you can, and make sure to walk at an appropriate pace.

Horseshoe Bend can get thousands of visitors per day, so be prepared to share the view with other tourists. If you want to avoid the crowds, come around sunrise or sunset, which is when the area opens and closes, and visit on a weekday.