America’s national parks are a treasure meant for all of us to enjoy. However, due to an influx of snap-happy tourists, one of the country’s most beautiful national park locations is about to get more expensive.
You have likely seen stunning images of Horseshoe Bend, situated near the town of Page, Arizona, where the Colorado River gracefully bends around the landscape. This iconic bend is visible from a steep cliff that is accessible via a short hike off U.S. Route 89, making it a wildly popular destination for nature lovers and photographers alike.
“This place is one of the world’s most photographed locations, so it’s cool to get to check it off of the bucket list, but you only get a real sense of the scale when you see it in person,” shared Nick Paquette, a freelance video editor who traveled over 21,700 miles across the country. “It looks huge in the photo but you don’t really get a sense of how deep it is until you’re right there in front of it.”
Because it’s so photogenic, Horseshoe Bend attracts large crowds to the single parking lot that serves the only trail to see this natural wonder. Consequently, to manage the growing traffic, the park service has announced that starting soon, visitors will need to pay an entry fee. Visitors seeking a glimpse of the bend must now pay $10 per vehicle to park in the newly expanded lot, as reported by USA Today. Motorcyclists will pay $5, while fees for buses will vary between $35 and $140, depending on the number of passengers. It’s important to note that although Horseshoe Bend is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, National Park Service passes will not be honored here.
The fees, according to USA Today, will be allocated towards a long-range improvement plan initiated by officials in Page, in coordination with the National Park Service, which oversees Horseshoe Bend and the surrounding land.
In addition to parking fees, a new regulation will restrict parking only to designated areas within the parking lot. Thus, if available spots are full, visitors will be asked to return at a later time.
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Visitors may experience longer wait times for parking, as the area’s popularity has surged over the last few years, largely due to social media platforms like Instagram. This incredible location now boasts over 400,000 mentions and millions of location tags on the photo-sharing app. While these changes may seem inconvenient, one quick glance at the breathtaking images of Horseshoe Bend will undoubtedly convey why it’s so awe-inspiring and well worth the entry fee.
