No Forks in the Road, Only Bends

Horseshoe bend: once a top secret local’s spot, turned Instagram famous. The small turnout off highway 89, south of Page, Arizona is now a mecca for tourists with a parking lot and an official trail being built for easy access to the famous bend in the Colorado River, less than a mile from the highway. After seeing countless pictures of Horseshoe bend, we knew it had to be apart of our trip. Making a quick stop, we pulled into the chaotic parking lot around 6 PM. Despite the hundreds of other tourists, the view was hands down one of the most breathtaking sights I have ever seen. The mix of colors between the green and blue water and the sandstone walls took our breath away. Beforehand, I assumed that most of the pictures I had seen of Horseshoe Bend were overedited and that nothing could truly look that amazing. BUT it was THAT amazing. Unedited, these pictures show the natural beauty of Horseshoe Bend, and makes me understand why this little stop off highway 89 has become world famous.

Although we experienced Horseshoe Bend at a beautiful time, we thought that in the morning it might be even prettier. Hoping to escape the crowds and the harsh sunlight directly above the river, we decided to return a few days later on our way to Lake Powell. This time we stopped at Horseshoe Bend around 9 AM. To our disappointment, the view was nothing like the first time. The sun unevenly lit up the walls creating shadows. We were so happy that we got to experience Horseshoe Bend in the morning and evening, and see how the sun’s position changed everything about the bend.