The Colorado River carved this dramatic meander over an immense span of geologic time, cutting steadily downward as the land around it gradually rose. The result is a canyon so deep and a curve so tight that the river nearly doubles back on itself, enclosing a massive promontory within its loop. Horseshoe Bend sits within the Glen Canyon area and draws visitors from around the world who come to stand at the overlook and take in a perspective that feels almost impossible.

Late afternoon brings long shadows across the canyon walls that deepen the contrast between the warm stone and the luminous water below, making the colors glow at their most intense.