Visit Horseshoe Bend At Sunset: Complete Guide + Photos

The best time for visiting Horseshoe Bend is at sunset. Horseshoe Bend falls directly under the western horizon, which means the sun sets right behind the canyon. But, there is some important information you need to know beforehand. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Horseshoe Bend at sunset.

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Table of Contents

When To Get To Horseshoe Bend For Sunset

If you would like to go to Horseshoe Bend for sunset, you should plan to get to the parking lot entrance at least one hour before sunset. This will give you plenty of time to wait in line for the park pass, pay the entrance fee, park and walk to the canyon before the sun sets. You can check your specific sunset time by checking your weather app.

You will need at least 2 hours at Horseshoe Bend. It takes about 15 minutes to walk to Horseshoe Bend from the parking lot, so be sure to allot at least 30 minutes of your planned time at Horseshoe Bend for walking to and from the canyon. The walk to Horseshoe Bend is an easy walk, with a flat and wheelchair accessible gravel walkway.

Because this is one of the best places in Page for sunset, Horseshoe Bend will be very crowded for sunset. Be prepared to share the view. There is plenty of canyon to spread out, so you shouldn’t have any issues finding your own rock to sit and enjoy the view. Likewise, if you want photos without other tourists, find an empty ledge on either side of the railed overlook (carefully) or wait your turn.

What To Know Before Visiting Horseshoe Bend At Sunset

First, bring bug spray when visiting Horseshoe Bend at sunset. When we visited Horseshoe Bend in April, there were swarms upon swarms of pesky, biting gnats. Luckily, I had my trusty bug-repellent sweatshirt from L.L. Bean, but we still wish we would have brought bug spray.

Furthermore, there is a $10 entrance fee per car to enter Horseshoe Bend. You must pay the entrance fee before entering the large parking lot. Unfortunately, the Horseshoe Bend entrance fee is not covered by the America The Beautiful park pass. Here’s a table of exact fee amounts by vehicle type at the time of publishing this guide.

Vehicle Type	Horseshoe Bend Entrance Fee (USD)	Inclusions
Passenger vehicle	$10	Car, truck, SUV, RV, motorhome
Motorcycle	$5	Motorcycles
Commercial vans	$35	14 passenger capacity or less
Mid-sized commercial vans & tour buses	$70	15-35 passenger capacity
Full-size buses	$140	35 passenger capacity or more

See more: horseshoebend.com

Lastly, it’s important to know that Horseshoe Bend technically closes at sunset. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t visit the canyon for sunset. This just means you should start walking back to the parking lot shortly after the sun officially sets under the horizon.

Every time we’ve visited the canyon for sunset, there were dozens of people lingering well after sunset. So, the park seems to be fairly relaxed about the sunset closure time, as long as you are gone before dark.

Best Time Of Day To Visit Horseshoe Bend

As previously mentioned, the best time of day to do Horseshoe Bend is at sunset. In fact, Horseshoe Bend is the best place in Page, Arizona, to see sunset and makes for a perfect sunset hike.

Sunset is the best time of day to visit Horseshoe Bend for a few reasons. First of all, the sun sets on the horizon just beyond Horseshoe Bend, so during sunset hours, you will see a sky full of colors and the sunset countdown. Second of all, because the sun is past the canyon by sunset, you’ll be able to see the entire canyon and Colorado River clearly without any shadows blocking the canyon walls. Just remember to bring bug spray and sunglasses for sunset viewing.

While visiting Horseshoe Bend midday (mid-morning through the afternoon) can also provide you with a sunny view of the canyon and river with limited shadows, the lighting will be much harsher for photos. So, if you’re looking for the perfect portrait or selfie, you might consider avoiding midday sun. Plus, Arizona during midday gets dangerously hot during the summer months, so make sure you pack plenty of water and sunscreen.

On the other hand, you would think sunrise would be an equally good time as sunset to visit, right? Not necessarily. Here’s a close comparison between morning and evening at Horseshoe Bend.

Horseshoe Bend Sunrise Vs Sunset

You should visit Horseshoe Bend at sunrise to:

Avoid large crowds.
Avoid bugs.
Prevent sun in your eyes.

You should visit Horseshoe Bend at sunset:

For the best sunset view in Page, Arizona.
For a clear, shadowless view of the canyon and Colorado River.
To avoid harsh shadows.

Overall, evening is much better for Horseshoe Bend than morning. You’ll get a better, clearer view of the canyon and Colorado River without any harsh shadows obstructing your view. But, if you only have time in your Arizona itinerary to visit this spot in the morning or midday, then you certainly still should.