Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ

   While at Page, I also wanted to get some pictures of the Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River, located just a couple miles outside Page.  I was concerned because HWY 89 had suffered a massive landslide a couple months ago, and repairs are not projected to be completed for several more months.  Local residents, however, assured me the road was open to the Bend, and that it is located just outside town.  So off I went, camera in hand, hoping to capture the scene at sunrise.
   Once parked, you first have to climb up a sandy hill, through deep soft sand, about 100 feet, from which the following view is available.  Then you need to walk about 150 feet back down the other side.  Somewhere down there is the Horseshoe Bend.  And that trail quickly turns back into deep soft sand.

   First though, there is a sign with information about the Bend that one can read while recovering from the climb, and preparing for the descent to the actual overlook.  It is still Glen Canyon that the Colorado is running through, and at this bend, the river makes a 270˚ turn through an entrenched meander (that's the official term, folks), from right to left.  The rock is Navajo Sandstone, which extends all the way from northern Arizona to Wyoming.

   Alright, time to walk on down there, through more deep soft sand.  But once there, the view is dynamite!

  

   This is a panoramic picture, combining 10 different pictures, using free software from HugIn.com; this is my first attempt at using it, so I'm pretty satisfied!