I Went to Page and Finally Checked Horseshoe Bend Off My Arizona Bucket List

Most of us who have been on social media, namely Instagram, for a while have surely seen photos of a monumental rock formation encircled by a bend in the Colorado River. Known as Horseshoe Bend, it's one of the most popular spots in the Grand Canyon State for an epic social media selfie. For years, I have been wanting to go, and finally, upon a recent visit to Page with one of my close friends, I was able to check it off my lengthy Arizona bucket list.

So, how to get to Horseshoe Bend is quite easy as the entrance is just off Highway 89 on the west side of the road at mile marker 544. Upon our late-morning arrival, we paid the $10 entry fee to the City of Page and parked the car. The parking lot was very busy, packed with row after row of vehicles and people swarming to and from the trailhead. Needless to say, this is a popular place.

We took the short and easy 1.5-mile, out-and-back Horseshoe Bend Trail to get to the remarkable natural wonder known as Horseshoe Bend. Crowds of people were heading in that direction, but excitement stirred in the air from everyone's enthusiasm. I love visiting a place where everyone just seems happy to be there.

Whenever I hike, it's not just the destination to me but also the journey. I took in the views of the vast desert landscape under blue skies and even stopped to take photos of the dozens of stone cairns previous visitors had built. I loved each and every second of this hike!

And then there came the pièce de résistance—Horseshoe Bend. Of course, there were crowds of people at the overlook taking selfies, portraits, and landscape shots. But everyone was so patient and waited their turn. When it was finally my turn, my jaw dropped as I gazed down, and I finally understood why this is one of the most popular natural attractions in Arizona.

Carved like a work of art by the Colorado River, Horseshoe Bend is a natural masterpiece. Awe-inspiring in every way, it's almost hard to imagine that something like this exists in our state. (Although we also have the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, but I digress...)

While there is an overlook with a fence, you can certainly view Horseshoe Bend from any number of rocky outcroppings for more photo ops. However, I urge you to be very, very careful and not get too close to the edge. A pair of non-slip shoes is also a good idea to wear when visiting. But don't worry—you'll get amazing shots no matter if you stand behind the safety of the Horseshoe overlook fence or a safe distance from the edge.

And one thing that surprised me was seeing boats and kayaks down below! I didn't dream that while visiting this top tourist attraction in Arizona, I would add yet another item to my bucket list — boating or kayaking the Colorado River around Horseshoe Bend. Maybe next time I'm up this way, I'll fulfill that dream.

Access to Horseshoe Bend is granted 365 days a year between sunrise and sunset. The best time to visit Horseshoe Bend is between September and November when temperatures are not too hot and not too cold. You can find out more about the location and fees on the Horseshoe Bend website.

If you ever find yourself in Page and need a place to spend the night, I highly recommend the Lake Powell Resort. Located right on Lake Powell within Glen Canyon Recreation Area, you'll experience stunning views and have access to pools, hot tubs, an on-site restaurant, boat tours, and more. Book your stay on Hotels.com.