Horseshoe Bend

If you've ever looked up Page, AZ online or seen a brochure from Arizona, it's highly likely that this huge bend in the Colorado River was featured. It's stunning, to say the very least.

To get there, you must hike 1/2 mile in the sand that is so typical for this area. It's uphill for a ways from the parking lot but you get a break because the next half is downhill. And then, coming out it's reversed which is my favorite way to hike - get the hard part over first!

There are several benches along the way if you need to rest.

The downhill part.

The famous Horseshoe Bend

Sheer cliffs, 1,000 feet down!

 As of now there is no rails so you are expected to use common sense. It was neat to see how our children reacted to this! Makayla kept squawking that I was hurting her hand and she wanted to get closer so she could SEE! Michael was very cautious but ok with going close enough to get a good look. Emily was fairly terrified and after one look over the edge wanted to go home. Ethan was the same. Eldon had him in the carrier and whenever he got to where Ethan thought was to close, he would yell at him to get back :). I admit to being more scared of heights then I realized! It's a long ways down and had a dizzying effect on me. Thankfully Eldon was unphased and took pictures for us :). 

This is below the Glen Canyon Dam 1/2 a mile or so.

"I'm scared! Get back! No, no, no, I'm gonna fall!"

By summer of 2018 they plan to have this area wheelchair accessible and a fenced in look-out.

Right now the grades are steep and sandy but very manageable for any healthy person.

 In case you didn't know, some Japanese people LOVE to take pictures with Americans, especially children. This has happened to us before and it's always so fun to me. I love trying to converse even though we speak complete different languages. There was a tour bus there and no less then 4 different people wanted pictures. Emily was scowling until it was over! 

Imagine being a pioneer trying to cross through this area and continually running into canyons like this?! I believe it's between Utah and Southern Arizona that there were only 6 places to cross the Colorado and some of those were very dangerous. Amazing what those courageous people went through to try and better their lives!

Back at the parking lot there is nice vault toilets but no running water.

This is a 1 mile round trip hike through sand. Good shoes or boots and water is a must. Bring a camera and prepare to sit in awe of God's beautiful world!

Photo courtesy of vinjabond.com

Not my picture, but it captures the wild beauty much better then ours did!