Pack light snacks, and dress appropriately for a desert hike. Bring 1 liter per person for every two hours. Water is a must, especially during the summer. You'll encounter fewer visitors in the early afternoon, but temperatures peak during these hours, and the canyon walls lack the vibrant colors they have earlier and later in the day thanks to the intensity of the sun's rays. Avoid the crowds by going at sunrise or on weekdays. Horseshoe Bend is open year-round from sunrise to sunset however, most people visit from 9 to 11 a.m. You are not allowed to park on the side of the road or drop anyone off. If the lot is full, staff will ask you to return later. Watch for the parking lot on the west side of the road at mile marker 544, just before entering the town of Page.
To get to Horseshoe Bend from Flagstaff, take Highway 89 north approximately 125 miles. Start in Flagstaff, Arizona's third-largest city about two hours north of Phoenix. Not an easy feat, considering nearby is Antelope Canyon and the second-largest manmade lake in the United States, Lake Powell. Formed when the Colorado River looped around an impassable sandstone escarpment, Horseshoe Bend is one of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area's more famous highlights.
