One such site is the Horseshoe Bend Trail, which offers a perfect perch for enjoying the sunset.
The 1.5 miles-round trip heads over a rugged path of loose sand that goes downhill to a vista just north of the Grand Canyon National Park border. It’s located at the southern tip of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Here’s a time-lapse video of Horseshoe Bend at sunset:
To reach the trailhead, from Page, Ariz., drive south on U.S. Hwy 89. After passing the Ariz. Hwy. 98 intersection, watch for signs leading to a parking lot on the road’s right/west. The trail leaves from the lot’s northwest corner.
A small gazebo offers shade about 800 feet from the parking lot. At the vista, hikers can watch the Colorado River's deep blue water circle about a towering peninsula of beige and red sandstone.
The sheer cliff sports a 1000-foot drop-off, so don’t let kids get near the edge. In addition, the trail is located in a desert climate with no shade, so water, sunhat and sunscreen are recommended year around.
Read more about day hiking the Grand Canyon in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Grand Canyon National Park guidebook.
