Horseshoe Bend Elopement
Samantha Rose Photography - Arizona Elopement Photographer
Horseshoe Bend is one of Arizona’s most iconic landmarks. It gets its name from the natural horseshoe shape that the Colorado River creates through the canyons. With over a 1000 ft drop to the bottom - it’s not for the faint of heart (or if you’re scared of heights), but the views are absolutely breathtaking - making it one of the best spots to elope in Arizona.
Brittany & Alan have been together for 5 years & just recently moved to Arizona. These two were so ready to adventure all around Horseshoe Bend & spend the day taking in the views, celebrating with cake, saying vows & just snuggling up with each other.
Looking to have an epic adventure for your elopement day, but don’t want to do a lot of hiking? Horseshoe Bend is THE best place in Arizona. It’s just a 1.1 mile hike to the edge, but unbeatable views.
Read below for information on everything to know about eloping at Horseshoe Bend.
Ten things to know about eloping at
Horseshoe Bend:
Apply for a special use permit
To get married at Horseshoe Bend you’ll need to acquire a special use permit. This allows you to get married at the location & take photos. Permits currently run $300 & you must apply a minimum of 45 day before your event date. Other fees may apply.
2. There is an entry fee
The fee to park is $10 per vehicle, $5 per motorcycle & fees for buses range from $35-$140 depending on the size & number of passengers.
The parking lot has been recently expanded to fit more visitors & is easy to maneuver.
*America the Beautiful NPS passes are not valid here.
3. It’s about a 1.1 mile hike to the edge
The path begins with a little bit of sand (I’d suggest not wearing flip flops/sandals), but then leads into a flat path that winds around at a slight decline with 2 small, shade rest spots if needed. The walk takes about 20-25 minutes if you take your time! You can easily do the hike in your wedding attire!
4. Bring lots of water, salty snacks & wear good shoes & sunscreen
If you’re coming from out of state or out of the country, Arizona is the desert & yes, it is extremely dry & even though you may not sweat as much without the humidity, you NEED to be drinking lots of water. There is no shade once you get to the edge. When you’re walking & hiking around all day in the heat - it can be very draining & you don’t want to get dehydrated.
Bring salty snacks to fuel your body & help you keep sweating throughout the day. Classic Trail Mix is my go-to, but dried fruit & beef jerky are also great to have & hold up well.
No matter how easy people say the hike is - closed toe shoes with a good grip (red rocks can be slippery) are suggested since the sand can be very hot in the summer time (& it’s just annoying if it gets in your shoes).
As I’ve said before - there is NO shade at Horseshoe Bend. You will be in the sun all day long & even if it’s a cooler day, you can easily burn. And don’t forget the top of your head if you have a hairstyle where you scalp is exposed, but can’t wear a hat (hat hair on your elopement day is not fun).
5. Be careful
Although it can be fun to get photos close to the edge - use common sense. Don’t stand on an area that looks like the rock could crumble below you. Always pay attention to where you are stepping & look before you move backwards. I will never have you stand somewhere that makes you uncomfortable. You can stand over 6ft from the edge & still get an amazing view of Colorado River below.
*A good rule of thumb is to stand far enough away from the edge that if you fell over, you wouldn’t go off the edge.
6. Choose time of year & time of day for your elopement
Page, Arizona - where Horseshoe Bend is located, gets very hot in the summer time & can get snow in the winter.
It all depends on what works best for you. If you don’t mind the heat - the summer time can still be a great. If you’re looking for the best weather that may just require a light jacket, spring & early fall will be the best time. And if you’re looking to have some snow in the desert for your elopement day - winter is most definitely the best time.
When it comes to time of day - I suggest having a minimum of 3 hours completely at Horseshoe Bend (there’s a lot to explore along the rim). Starting about 2.5-3 hours before sunset will give you a great amount of time & the sun sets behind the bend, giving a perfect golden hour that leads into blue hour.
I can help you with deciding what time of year & time of day would be best for your own elopement day.
*The photos featured in this blog were taken on June 10th, 2020 & the temperature was in the high 80s.
7. There likely will be crowds
Depending on the time of year & time of day that you plan to be there - you will likely have to deal with people. Horseshoe Bend has become a popular tourist destination in recent years thanks to Instagram. Don’t worry though - it’s easy to avoid people once you walk away from the front section (or I can easily edit them out of the background later on).
Weekdays will be far less busy than weekends. If you do have to plan your elopement for a weekend, we can craft your timeline around what time of day would be best to avoid as many people as possible. Either way, the crowds are manageable if you come prepared!
8. Driving distance & where to stay
Horseshoe Bend is about a 4.5-5 hour drive from the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport & the McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada.
If you’re planning a sunset elopement, driving up the day of & then staying in Page, Arizona the night of would be a great option! After a day filled with hiking & photos, an almost 5 hour drive back to either Phoenix or Las Vegas is not ideal. If you’re wanting a sunrise ceremony or an all day adventure around Page, AZ - driving up the day before & staying the night of your elopement is recommended (but you can always stay longer)!
9. Park is open sunrise to sunset
If you look on Google, it says that Horseshoe Bend is open 24 hours, but this isn’t true. Although they don’t kick you out the second the sun dips down - you’re expected to start heading back up the trail once it is dark. There are no lights in the parking lot, so if you’re planning to stay through sunset, head lamps or a flashlight may be helpful for you walk back.
10. There is a time zone change from Phoenix
The Navajo Nation in northeastern AZ observes Daylight Savings Time -MDT (the rest of Arizona does not). This is important to keep in mind when looking up what time the sun rises & sets.
Important Note:
There are trash cans throughout the parking lot, but none at the edge of the bend - please take your trash out with you & follow leave no trace principles!
There are latrine pit toilets to the side of the parking lot. They are well-maintained & are big enough inside to change clothes, but there are no hand-washing stations so be sure to bring hand sanitizer and/or wipes.
How to get legally married in AZ:
Check my blog post - How to Elope in Arizona - to prepare for your real elopement day.
What to do the day of your elopement:
Although there are endless possibilities because this is YOUR day & you can do absolutely anything you want… some simple ideas to get started could be:
A picnic at the top of your hike
Having a first dance with just the two of you
A champagne toast
Cake cutting & eating (Alan & Brittany did this & it was such a fun time where they got to just sit down, talk, take in the views, & enjoy some amazing cake made by Summer Sweets Bakery).
Flowers by: Desert Poppy Floral Studio
Hair & Makeup by: Superstition Makeup Co.
Cake by: Summer Sweets Bakery
If you’re looking for an epic adventure in the desert that is easily accessible & a small, easy hike - Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona is the perfect place.
Samantha Rose Photography is an Arizona Elopement Photographer based out of Phoenix. She’s passionate about creating safe & memorable elopements for couples that feel like home out in nature. When she’s not capturing couples running around the desert she can be found hiking, listening to a true crime podcast, or binge-watching a new t.v. show.
