Horseshoe Bend is an attraction that no traveler should miss when passing through the beautiful Page Arizona area. To say that this Colorado River loop is picturesque is an understatement. Surrounding the natural meandering stretch of the river are sandstone cliffs as striking as anything else in the state, and there is a lookout point that offers excellent views of the beautiful scene that unfolds below.
Nothing can really prepare visitors for the awe-inspiring experience that is associated with laying eyes on Horseshoe Bend for the very first time. This is one of the most stunning natural formations in the Southwest, and the scale of it all leaves an impression all its own. From the clifftop viewing point, it is approximately 1,000 feet down to the Colorado River, and the loop in general is quite large. The cliffs that the river has carved out over time add depth to the overall scene, as do the craggy hills that rise up in the background. On sunny days, the swirls of the silty river also stand out, and if you visit early in the day, the early morning light creates an even more spectacular display.
Should you be interested in adding a Horseshoe Bend visit to your Arizona vacation itinerary, you’ll be happy to know that it doesn’t cost anything to access the main viewing spot. This spot is about a half-mile walk from a designated parking area that is found just off Highway 89, about 10 miles southwest of the town of Page. The Page hotels provide good options for places to stay, particularly if you want to head over to watch the sun rise. In addition, they offer access to other beautiful nearby attractions, such as Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam.
Bend is the Oregon high desert city that was a timber town until the mills closed in the 1980s and that reinvented itself through craft beer and outdoor recreation so completely that it now has more microbreweries per capita than any city in America and access to skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing, and rock climbing within 30 minutes of downtown.
Horseshoe Bend: Must-See Experiences
- Mt Bachelor ski resort (30min)
- Smith Rock State Park climbing & hiking
- Deschutes Brewery tour & pub
- Old Mill District waterfront shops
- High Desert Museum (local wildlife & history)
- Newberry National Volcanic Monument lava tubes
- Tumalo Falls day hike
- Wanderlust Tours lava tube caving
- Bend Ale Trail (20+ breweries)
- Sunriver resort & OMSI observatory