Horseshoe Bend in Arizona, USA
The landscape of the American Southwest abounds with crazy and whimsical rock and geologic formations. There are rocks that look like pancakes (or UFO saucers), a Mexican sombrero, mittens, a mother with her child, and more. There is even a geologic formation just north of the Mexican hat that resembles a long gooseneck, scrunched up in a very small area.
Needless to say, they are very interesting to look at. One of my favorite geologic formations is located about four miles south of Page, Arizona. It is a horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River, appropriately named Horseshoe Bend. It is just simply amazing and something that has to be experienced in person.
From the center of Page, AZ, the Horseshoe Bend is relatively easy to reach. From Page, travel about four miles south on Highway 89 until you reach the entrance to the small dirt parking area for Horseshoe Bend on your right. It is marked with a sign.
GPS Coordinates for Horseshoe Bend: N 36° 52.599′, W 111° 30.173′ (Parking lot); N 36° 52.765′, W 111° 30.637′ (General overlook area)
Horseshoe Bend Overlook trailhead
From the parking area, it is about a 3/4 mile hike to the viewpoint. The trail starts from the parking lot with a ascend up a small hill, then a descend into the desert. The rest of the trail is relatively flat, but sandy and with a few curves and ups/downs, as it makes its way to the overlook. The Horseshoe Bend comes into view as you approach the overlook. You can’t miss it.
Approaching Horseshoe Bend
Once you reach Horseshoe Bend, you come to realize that the scale of the bend is massive, beyond proportions, and standing there at the edge of the cliff, you just feel completely miniscule in the world. You feel like a tiny ant. No picture can do it justice. It looks small when you see it in a book or photograph, but when you are viewing it in person, you come to realize just how huge this bend is. Horseshoe Bend is something that must be experienced in person.
Take your time, and take it all in. Look over the cliff, and you see the boats and rafts floating down the Colorado River as little specks (seriously!). It’s just that phenomenal, from the view to the feelings and sensations.
This place is truly scary and not a place for anybody who is scared of heights. You can’t really stand at the edge, but rather get down on your stomach and look over the edge while lying down. It’s hard to describe. But the vertigo factor here is high. Try to stand at the edge of the cliff and you’ll see what I mean. The wind and sand blowing against your body just adds to the overpowering sensation. You have to be really, really careful here. It’s about a 1,000 sheer foot drop to the Colorado River below, and there are absolutely no guard rails, wind strong, the terrain ragged and strenuous around the very edge. Hold on to those little ones.
The rugged edge of the cliff overlooking Horseshoe Bend
Due to the immensity of Horseshoe Bend, it is not possible to get the entire bend in one frame using a standard point and shoot camera, unless you use a stitching method. It is best to shoot Horseshoe Bend with a professional DLSR (preferably full-frame) to take a proper image, and the widest lens that you got – we’re talking 15mm (even 14mm or fish-eye) here (on a 35mm scale). You might be able to get away with 24mm, but probably no more.
To take a picture here, I’d recommend mounting your camera on a tripod, lying down on your stomach at the very edge, and (believe it or not) dangling your tripod with camera attached over the edge, kind of like a fishing pole. Use a cable release to trip the shutter. It worked very well for me.
Some other miscellaneous photography tips:
- The best time to photograph Horseshoe Bend is late morning to early noon, when the sun is behind you. In the afternoon the sun will be directly in front of you.
- Consider using a polarizer to remove any haze and reflection.
- HDR or blending multiple exposures in post-processing would work here if there are strong contrasts between different elements of the scene.
- Leave all the multiple lenses and other gadgets in your car back at the trailhead. Seriously, the only things you need here are your camera and your widest lens. And maybe your tripod and cable release (if you want to try my “fishing pole” method).
Horseshoe Bend is well worth visiting if you’re ever in the Page, AZ/Lake Powell Area. While you’re in the area, don’t forget to visit the other popular photography hotspot in the area – the slot canyons at Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon.
Horseshoe Bend as seen on Google Maps Satellite View
