No matter how many articles I devour on how this geologic masterpiece was formed by nature, I still can’t wrap my head around it. Not sure if everybody feels the same way about Horseshoe Bend. It’s actually the same thing with Monument Valley as well as all the other attractions I visited in Arizona. Lol. Well, except for the Antelope Canyon tour because our guide had a little demo at the end of the tour on how the canyon was formed. But that’s for a future post. But to summarize my learning, this rock formation was a result of a thousand years of the blue and green Colorado River going against the red sandstone. Thereby sculpting the canyon in the form of a horseshoe. Very dramatic!
Having said that, in contrast to Antelope Canyon, a visit to the Horseshoe Bend is free. You only have to pay for a parking fee (10 USD) and from there take a 20-min easy sandy hike (0.6 miles) to the lookout point. Relatively easy because I was able to do it with heels (hey, do it for the ‘gram right?) but for safety precautions you may need a bottled water and proper hiking shoes to get there. There are also plenty of shaded stops along the way that offers a wonderful view of Page, Arizona.
Alright, the trims are treacherous. And the 1000ft drop may induce vertigo to some. If you wanna stay on the safe side, there’s a viewing deck with railing in the area. Lonely planet sure wasn’t kidding when it said several people die here every year. But going near the canyon ledge? A dangerous endeavor indeed but extremely exhilarating. Lol.
Though the canyon is open for viewing all day, the best times would have to be during the sunset and sunrise. I should know from checking the reviews in Tripadvisor and seeing the different daytime pictures. The pics below in dress were taken during the sunset hour and as you can see the lighting is very good. But since we couldn’t get enough of the view and we needed some cardio in the morning, we went back in the sunrise and this time I was in my comfortable hiking gears this time. *cool* Proud to say I was able to pull-off some extreme stunts in my sneakers as you can see from the photos below. I can spend an hour tackling its treacherous edges. Lol.
Horseshoe Bend is truly another incredible work of nature. A truly must-see when in Arizona.
These pictures are so so beautiful!!