HORSESHOE BEND HIKE
Named for the u-shaped bend in the Colorado River between No Name and Glenwood Springs, Horseshoe Bend is a quiet city park and the perfect place to watch the scenery roll by.
Visitors don’t have to go far to get away from the hustle and bustle of town. Quiet and shady, this riverside spot makes an ideal destination for an al fresco lunch. Though it borders Interstate 70 for the first 1.5 miles, it is one of the best spots to view the resident herd of Colorado bighorn sheep which like to scamper on the rocky hillside near the pedestrian and bike overpass. After you cross Interstate 70 via the bridge, you’ll descend into a quiet nook known as Horseshoe Bend. Bring an afternoon or evening picnic and enjoy soaring canyon views. Watch rafters round the bend and east and west bound trains lumber past.
Horseshoe Bend is inaccessible to motorists. One of most enjoyable ways to reach this spot is by bicycle. Begin near the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves or the east end of the Glenwood Hot Springs, then cycle or stroll along the inaugural section of the Glenwood Canyon Recreation Path. The trail crosses over I70 via a pedestrian bridge. After crossing the bridge, Horseshoe Bend is on the plateau to the right.
• Uses: Many
• Ability Rating: Easy
• Usage: Moderate to heavy
• Dogs permitted, with leash
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