Horseshoe Bend outside Page, AZ is one of the most photographed places on earth. You’ve probably seen all the pictures like mine of a person by themselves on the edge of a cliff overlooking mother nature’s phenomenon. What you don’t see is the hundreds of other tourist right next to them taking the exact same photo. Even with the hoards of people it is a breathtaking sight and worth the short walk out to it. Here’s some tips to make your experience better.

1. Sunset is the busiest time of day. Don’t expect to have a romantic picnic or anything private. The crowds are feisty and although there are enough ledges to step out on for everyone to get their photos it does feel a bit like a circus. The sun goes down behind horseshoe bend so sunset shots can be a little washed out by the blinding sun until it’s all the way behind the canyon.
2. Sunrise has almost no crowds. Getting there early we were able to pick any spot we wanted and then only a handful more people showed up. The sun rises behind you when facing horseshoe bend so if you get there early you’ll have the moon in your shots and the sun will start to light up the canyon walls with a pretty morning glow.
3. Pictures also turn out good during the daytime, especially on a clear blue day. The crowds are big throughout the whole day picking up as you get closer to sunset. If you want to avoid crowds the only time to go is first thing in the morning.
4. When looking for a spot to claim for picture taking look for a ledge that has 2 levels so the photographer can stand above you and still get you and the whole bend in the shot. You don’t have to go right for the middle either, it’s a large enough area and all the angles are pretty good.
5. There is a parking lot at the trail head. Cars line up along the highway, but go to the parking lot first. There are enough people coming and going that there’s plenty of spots open. Just enter horseshoe bend into your phone maps and it will take you to the parking lot. Its right off the highway and is a well marked trail – you’ll see the crowds too.

Photos taken at sunset:

It was so windy and there were so many people that we actually left before the sun was fully down, hence the white-washed photos.

Photos taken at sunrise:

 Photo taken mid-day: