Can't believe I didn't hear of this place until my friend XWT asked if I wanted to go to Havasupai. It really is a paradise hidden in the Grand Canyon! It's actually west of where most people go to see the Grand Canyon.
About reserving permits:
Day hikes are not permitted, and to camp, you have to have permits. Permits are regulated by the Havasupai Tribe, and they become available for purchase February 1 of each year for the entire year. But it's first come first serve, so you need fast internet and a fast computer. It was mass chaos - I tried with my slow computer/internet, and I would get half way into the reservation process, and it would freeze or I would get kicked out. And I made the mistake of signing out (seeing if someone else with faster internet could get in with my account), and could never get back in. Fortunately XWT got the permits for us! So important to create account before the day and sign in before the designated time when reservations become open.
About the hike down:
We stayed at the
Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs 1.5 hrs from the trailhead - probably the closest lodge. It was decent, but pretty loud because a train goes by every couple of hours at night.
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| Trailhead: has garbage cans and a few port-a-potties |
The hike down to the camp ground from the trialhead is 10 miles. It was actually quite easy, but we had a member who got IT band pain and we were going super leisurely, and so it took us maybe 8 hours going down. But coming up we went our separate ways, so it took us about 5 hours. People also kept on giving us bad estimates about how much longer it would take. Haha.
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| First mile probably the steepest |
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| Then mostly flat the rest of the way |
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| Some interesting cactus flowers along the way |
At one point, there's a guy on a horse who will ask for permits, so don't try going down without permits! He also stands at different places each day.
Maybe about 2 miles from the camp ground, you'll reach the Havasupai village, where you get buy some food, drinks, etc at a mark up.
Then halfway to the campground, there's Little Navajo Falls:
You'll round the corner and see Havasupai Falls. Then a little past that is the campground! It's first come first serve, so it's good to get there early. Best to get a place with tables and not too far from water or the bathroom (but not too close or it smells).
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| Trying to boil some water. There's actually a huge table of people's left over gas bottles so you don't need to bring your own. |
The way up, we left pretty early because there was report of rain in the afternoon. However, other members were injured, so took the helicopter up, about $85? They almost didn't make it because they line was cut off at around 8am. The village kids actually take the helicopter every day (or maybe weekly) to go to school!
Havasu Falls:
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| First glimpse of Havasu Falls |
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| Friends taking a chilling swim |
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| Look at the beautiful light blue water! |
Mooney Falls:
After a 1 mile hike from Havasu Falls, on the other side of the camp ground, you'll come to Mooney Falls:
To continue on the trial, you'll have to go down some pretty steep rocks - including a cave and an area with a wooden/metal ladder:
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| Bottom of Mooney Falls. Got wet going down the side! |
Afterwards, there were about 4 river crossings before Beaver Falls - another 3-4 miles.
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| River Crossing 1 |
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| River Crossing #4? |
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| Random beautiful field of green |
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| Some more wooden ladders |
Beaver Falls: (about 6 miles from Supai Village)
Someplace we discovered on our way back:
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