Our next stop on our big trip was Horseshoe Bend. Some good friends of ours had done an amazing boat tour of the Glen Canyon Dam and Horseshoe Bend, but we were not as lucky. All of the boat tours were shutdown still due to Covid, so we had to settle for a walk out at the viewpoint.
When you arrive at the parking area for Horseshoe Bend, you have to pay $10 to park – this is not an entrance fee, but rather a parking fee, so your National Park Passes do not work here. Once you park, there are signs letting you know that there is very little shade on the walk, and that it is 1.5 mile round trip hike. We didn’t find it particularly difficult, and there were two shaded stops on the walk for those who needed it.
We really enjoyed the hike – it wasn’t overly difficult for my 7-year old, 11-year old, or me & hubby. The views were beautiful, and people watching was entertaining, too, as people posed like they were falling off of rocks (terrifying!). It was also fun to look down and see how tiny the boats looked.
After spending some time enjoying the views here, we were off. Our ultimate destination for the day was the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, but I had another leg stretch planned for after lunch (which we ate in Page, AZ). We stopped at the Navajo Bridge (we had to cross it anyway) that is a part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The bridge is known to have California Condors hanging out at it, and is a big deal due to the fact that the bridge helped people cross the Colorado River. Before this bridge was put into place in 1929, people had to travel 800 miles around to cross the river. That’s crazy! Thank goodness for this bridge, or we probably wouldn’t be visiting the North Rim!
There is a parking lot and visitors center at this spot (and bathrooms!). You can walk out on the pedestrian bridge and get some views of the gorgeous Colorado River. The California Condors like to hang out underneath the bridge, so if you ever get here be sure to look for nests.
The view is beautiful, and it’s a nice quick stop between Horseshoe Bend and Grand Canyon North. We certainly enjoyed it!
Car Full of Harmony 
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