What To Expect At Horseshoe Bend During Sunrise And Sunset

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Photo of a colorful sunrise over Horseshoe Bend in Page Arizona with a purple sky and orange sandstone rocks being lit up by the morning sun above a deep U-shaped curve in the Colorado River

Horseshoe Bend is one of the most striking geological formations we’ve seen in the US that isn’t located inside a national park. After hiking to the viewpoint overlooking the deep and dramatic U-shaped curve in the Colorado River at both dawn and dusk, we can tell you they’re both excellent times of day for photography. But which is better and why?

In this guide we explain everything you need to know about visiting Horseshoe Bend at sunrise and sunset including parking, hiking and photo spots, based on our experiences.

Our Experience

Two tourists in winter clothes standing on a viewing platform next to a protective railing at sunset with views over a U-shaped curve in the Colorado River from above
Here we are at the viewpoint with a bright blown out sky as the sun is setting

We knew sunset was the most popular time to visit Horseshoe Bend, so that’s exactly what we did the first time we were in Page AZ back in November 2019. The parking lot was busy but we arrived 2 hours before sunset to guarantee a space in good time. We hiked over a sand dune and down to the viewpoint, watched the sun setting directly ahead of us and stayed out by ourselves to watch the stars come out.

When we revisited Page in December 2021 we decided to hike to Horseshoe Bend for sunrise so we could create this comparison for you. The parking lot was almost empty and a new accessible pedestrian path had been installed to reach the viewpoint. This time the sun rose from directly behind us so it was completely different from a photography perspective. And we’ll tell you which one we preferred later in the guide! Read more about us.

Parking And Entry Fees

Large parking area with cars parked next to a sandy path with a clear blue sky above
This was the parking lot when we returned after watching sunrise

Parking to visit Horseshoe Bend was once a case of simply pulling over on the shoulder of highway 89. But the rise of social media transformed the 270-degree meander into a celebrity in the world of geology, so a small parking area was created at the base of a sand dune. It kept growing in popularity and eventually a brand new parking lot with fee kiosks and restrooms was introduced in 2019.

Today, it costs $10 to park a vehicle at Horseshoe Bend and you’ll pay as you drive through a kiosk. You’re not paying to see the natural attraction, you’re paying to park in the lot. And there are no places you can park along the side of highway 89, the city of Page made sure of that by putting in long lines of delineator poles on both sides of the road near the parking lot. Here’s more information about parking.

The new parking lot is large and has lots of spaces, so you definitely won’t have any issues at sunrise. But sunset is far more popular, so you might have trouble parking if you visit the area during peak times like holiday weekends or weekends in summer. We visited in November and December respectively, so we were able to avoid any parking problems.

Hiking To The Viewpoint

Wide pedestrian trail leading through a sandy desert environment with a small wooden resting area in the distance
This is the new path you’ll follow to reach the viewpoint

The hike from Horseshoe Bend parking lot to the overlook is 0.75 miles one-way for a total of 1.5 miles roundtrip. It’s quick, easy and almost completely flat as it follows a newly built hard surface in a wide arc around a sand dune that the main trail once crossed over. Remember to carry headlamps and use your smartphone flashlight because you’ll be hiking in the dark at either dawn or dusk.

During our first visit in 2019, we walked from the parking lot directly over the sand dune to reach the overlook. It was tough going in the deep sand and it certainly wasn’t accessible. Then in 2021 we took the new pedestrian path the viewpoint. Despite being longer and less direct, the new trail is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers which is a positive change.

You can stop at information boards along the route to split up the hike and take shelter from the sun for a few minutes. Oh, and another benefit we noticed second time around was returning to our car without half a beach in our shoes from the sand dune!

Photo Spots

Large paved viewing area fenced in for protection from falling over the edge of cliffs with the sun rising over a flat rocky plateau ahead
Mark is on the far right in prime position on the viewing platform photographing sunrise

At the end of the hiking trail you’ll reach a very obvious viewing platform with railings. This overlook was built in 2018, so anyone who visited before then will have arrived to nothing more than rocks, boulders and a long drop without any protection. The platform provides a safer space to enjoy views for anyone who has a fear of heights.

But the viewing platform is also located bang smack in the center of the Horseshoe Bend frame. And the railing is tall enough to limit smaller tripods from getting high enough to angle a camera down for a clean view. We know because it happened to us the first time we visited with our small travel tripod. Our much larger tripod made it over the top easily when we revisited, but this is something you should consider because you’ll need your tripod for low light photography.

With all that said, the viewing platform is just one small part of the overall viewpoint at the end of the hike. You can (very carefully!) climb the rocks and boulders either side of the overlook to find a less obstructed spot, albeit at an angle. There’s nothing stopping you from walking as far as you want to either side of the central viewing platform, but the rocks are very uneven and the drops are severe.

Horseshoe Bend Sunrise

Photo taken from above looking down over a natural geological formation in Arizona called Horseshoe Bend, a huge 270-degree curve in the Colorado River at sunrise with heavy contrasts between highlights and shadows
We took this photo around 15 minutes after sunrise as the shadows were slowly being replaced by light

After hiking to the viewpoint in the dark, we found the sunrise at Horseshoe Bend to be peaceful and relaxing. There were maybe 15 other people nearby as we watched the landscape ahead of us light up. It was a freezing cold but clear December morning, so we wrapped up in heavy winter coats, gloves and hats. We also took huge hot coffees to keep warm as we waited.

From a photography perspective, the sun rose from directly behind us so we didn’t have to deal with shooting into the sun, glare or nervously waiting to capture a star burst of the sun as it hit the horizon. And it was really cool to watch the deep dark shadow slowly recede towards us on the flat table-top plateau ahead. The only disappointing thing was a lack of thick puffy clouds illuminating in the sky.

We actually preferred the Horseshoe Bend photos we took before the sunrise even began to light up the plateau ahead. Firstly because the light was soft and the colors were pure, and secondly because once the sun hit the plateau it created a pretty intense contrast which only got worse as the sun rose higher in the sky.

Pros

  • No problems getting parked
  • Very quiet at the viewpoint
  • Easy to try new photo spots
  • Stunning before the sunrise
  • Colors are deep and purple
  • Clouds in the sky would light up

Cons

  • You have to set an early alarm
  • Deep and dark shadow inside Horseshoe Bend
  • Heavy contrast once the landscape ahead lights up
  • Sunrise is typically the coldest part of the day

Horseshoe Bend Sunset

Photo looking down at a U-shaped bend in a river deeply carved into tall cliffs at Horseshoe Bend AZ during sunset
Soft light was streaming into the formation around 5 minutes before sunset

We were shocked at how busy the viewing area was when we hiked to Horseshoe Bend a few hours before sunset in November 2019. There were so many people climbing all over the rocks near the edges taking selfies and videos that we actually felt a bit uncomfortable. Bear in mind it’s even more famous now, and we visited in one of the quietest months of the year. But it was a cool but not too cold evening so we were able to stay out after the sunset and wait for the Milky Way to appear.

From a photography perspective, it was horrible pretty much the entire time the sun was setting because we had no clouds in the sky and the viewpoint faces due west directly at the sun. With that said, as soon as the sun hit the horizon it totally transformed the landscape. The rock formations were glowing, the sky was colorful and the inside of Horseshoe Bend was illuminated (which doesn’t happen at sunrise).

Overall, we found it challenging to take photos of the U-shaped formation in the hour or so before sunset. It didn’t help that we had our old beginner equipment and we weren’t as knowledgable at the time, plus it was so busy that we couldn’t move around freely to find new perspectives. But after the sun disappeared and everyone else left, we enjoyed the experience more.

Pros

  • Can capture star bursts with the sun
  • The U-bend lights up during and after sunset
  • Colors are brighter and more orange
  • You don’t have to wake up early
  • Less contrast between highlights and shadows
  • Everyone cheers as the sun sets

Cons

  • You might struggle to park
  • It’s very busy at the viewpoint
  • Hard to access new photo spots
  • The overlook is very small
  • Sun is directly ahead until it sets

Important: Make sure you check the times for sunrise and sunset in Page AZ so you can arrive in good time.

So Which Is Better?

Photo of a hand blocking the sun with a starburst of the sun coming through gaps in the fingers next to a view of a natural river formation in Arizona
We took this photo to show you the problem you’ll face with the sun if you want to take sunset photos

If you asked us whether we’d choose sunrise or sunset for our next visit to Horseshoe Bend, our answer would be sunrise. After years of taking photos at busy landmarks around the world, we now actively pursue quieter and more relaxing experiences. And this particular landmark is much quieter at dawn. But we’d also choose sunrise because the colors are more vibrant, it’s much easier to park and as you can see in our photo above the sun is a real problem for sunset photos.

With that said, you might prefer sunset because you don’t have to hike in the dark and cold, deal with heavy contrasts or set an agonizingly early alarm. And remember, you could visit in the middle of the day when the sun is directly overhead so you have no shadows at all inside the formation. If the water is still you might even get to see clouds reflecting in the Colorado River around lunch time.

One final thing to remember is temperatures early in the morning and later in the evening. Take a look at the average lows for each month of the year (in blue) below to see what temperatures you can expect if you visit Horseshoe Bend at sunrise or sunset.

Annual weather temperatures best time to visit Horseshoe Bend in Arizona
Look at the average low temperatures to see what you can expect each month

As you can see, between June and August you’ll likely be pleasantly warm even at a 6:00am sunrise. In late spring and early fall you’ll be fine in light layers and jackets but between November and March you’ll need to wear thick winter clothes to stay warm. Trust us, we know!

The Morgan Conclusion

Photographer in winter coat and mittens holding a camera on a tripod next to a fence overlooking a natural rocky landscape at sunrise
Here’s Mark wrapped up warm framing photos from the viewing platform at sunrise

All things considered, we think sunrise is the better time to visit Horseshoe Bend because it’s calmer, easier and more photogenic. But in truth, unless you’re a keen photographer or a travel writer like us, we don’t think it matters whether you visit at sunrise, sunset or even midday. You’ll still be blown away by the dramatic formation and it’s well worth visiting if you’ll be passing through Page.

On the downside, we must admit we’re not huge fans of having to pay $10 to park. Natural landscapes and formations like this should be free for us all to enjoy. It’s not a national park, it’s just one spot that you walk to and back from. We also didn’t like the chaotic atmosphere at sunset or seeing people jump between boulders over those steep drops just for a social media post. Otherwise, this is a fantastic spot you shouldn’t miss!

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We hope our guide to Horseshoe Bend helps with planning your trip to northern Arizona!

Please let us know if you have any questions or need help planning your visit in the comments below.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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2 thoughts on “What To Expect At Horseshoe Bend During Sunrise And Sunset”

  1. Very helpful info! I am planning a sunrise hike at Horseshoe Bend, but there is one thing that is making me nervous : the parking lot is open “from sunrise to sunset”. On our date of visit, the sunrise is at 6:16. Ideally, I’d like to get parked and settled in our spot at the rim well before this time. Also, we’ve got an early kayaking tour, and we’ll need to be leaving by 6:30 to make it there on time. So, do you know if the lot doesn’t actually open until the “official” sunrise time? Will we be able to park at 5:40ish you think?

    Reply
    • Hi Lindsay, we’re glad to hear you’ll be visiting Horseshoe Bend for sunrise. It’s a good question and we understand how you feel after doing sunrises at popular landscapes across the US. We did sunrise at Horseshoe Bend in December so sunrise was much later in the morning and the parking lot was open well in advance of the actual sunrise. It’s hard to know if the parking lot will be open when you visit because they have manned kiosks that you have to pay when entering, and they have a surprisingly robust barrier system with spikes when it’s closed. If it were us, we would call the city of Page to ask about what time parking opens the day you visit. Worst case scenario, one of you could drive to the entrance and drop the other off with the camera. That way at least one of you gets to photograph the sunrise while the other waits for parking to open. Not ideal, but a workable solution. Hope that helps and have a great trip!

      Reply

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