Havasupai "Havasu" Canyon, AZ

[Sombeech]

This spectacular backpacking destination goes by several names. Some of them are Havasu Canyon, Havasu Falls, Havasupai, Hualapai, Supai, and just Havasu. Some people get confused with the name, because this canyon HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LAKE HAVASU. Lake Havasu is another popular Spring Break location, which is also in Arizona.

Havasu Canyon is technically part of the Grand Canyon. It is accessible from the southern side of the Grand Canyon, near the middle.

Getting there from northern Utah will include driving to Las Vegas, and cutting immediately SouthEast to Henderson, and then Boulder City, home of the Hoover Dam. This will make a fun little break spot.
Continuing on past Boulder City going SouthEast on Hwy 93, you will come to Kingman. You need to get your last minute supplies here, such as water, snacks, etc, because there is no water at the trailhead!!
From Kingman, you will take the Historic Route 66 NorthEast. You will pass Truxton, and Peach Springs. Don't count on getting any supplies here! You will pass a lot of abandoned gas stations, with vintage signs and cars parked out front, but these are non operational.

Past Peach Springs, you will see the turnoff heading north heading into the Havasupai Indian Reservation. This is road BIA-18. You will stay on this paved road all the way to the trailhead. I believe the trailhead is called Hualapai Hilltop.

From Salt Lake City, plan on an 11 hour ride. Leave on a weeknight, stay in Mesquite or Vegas on the way down for a good break. This way, you get the cheap weeknight hotel rates, mostly $29 for good rooms. Hit the morning buffet too! From Mesquite, plan on about 4 more hours of driving. This is good to know, so you can plan on being at the trailhead by noon, or earlier if you are to use the mule train (explained later).

OK, enough blabbin', let's get to the pictures!!!

[Sombeech]

The trailhead, and the hike down. Plan on about 9 miles to the campground. This is going DOWNHILL, so around 4 hours at a medium pace, including a lunchbreak.

The trailhead will ALWAYS have cars in it. Some of these will be the Natives' cars from the village below.

Methods of going down the canyon include the good ol' fashioned hiking with your full gear, having the mule train carry your gear down for you, or you can even take the helicopter!!

Since the hike in is downhill, most people will just carry their gear in. On the way out however, going uphill, some will pay to have their heavy packs hauled out, while they just hike out with a daypack.
Info on the different rates, reservations, and deadlines can be found here, the official Havasupai Tribe website. This also has helpful contact info, for any other questions:Havasupai Tribe

From the parking lot trailhead, there are some switchbacks for the first half mile. Even though total elevation difference on the hike is 2000', you will have 1000' within the first mile. The rest is a very easy, wide trail. You will have groups of horses and mules passing you atleast 4 times as you hike. This is the village's supply line.


Here's some pics of the trailhead, and the trail itself.

[Sombeech]

The village and Navajo Falls...

The village is about 8 miles in from the trailhead. This is where the mule trains stop. You will also see the helicopter bringing in supplies to the village. This is where you will be dropped off, or be picked up if you choose to go that route. The campground is still a mile away from the village.
Just in case you forgot some supplies, the village has 3 convenient stores. Now that's the essence of convenience! Since the village is home to over 450 people, they have the facilities like school, church, shopping, police station, and a lodge. The lodge can be used as a great getaway spot for those of you aren't in the best condition to hike in and camp. Visit the Havasupai Tribe Website here for more details and pictures of that.

Between the village and the campground lay Navajo Falls, and Havasu Falls. The campground lies between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls.

Here's the pics.

[Sombeech]

Campground...

Located right in between the two major falls, this is a nice shady campground.

Drinking water is flowing from a tap, and there are latrines. The river flows right through the campground.

Also, there's quite a few caves down there. Here's one we went into about 100 feet.

[Sombeech]

Havasu Falls.

The most photogenic waterfall in the world. The fact that it's in the middle of the desert, and abundant with gorgeous color combinations, adds to the unbelievable atmosphere.

This is right before you hit the campground. Even if this were the only waterfall down there, it would be well worth the trip.

@100' high, it makes for one of the best swimming holes in the western U.S.

These pictures are from 2 different years. I think 2003 was a little richer in color. If anybody wants copies of the originals of any of these, just PM me, and I'll be glad to share.

Click here for videos

[Sombeech]

Mooney Falls. A 200' drop.

I would suggest spending a full day down here. It's maybe 300 yards from the campground. You descend down a rock wall to get there. Once you do, you can cross over to the island and have lunch there.

There is a picnic table on the island that you can chill out on. Also, there's a rope swing on the far river.

[Sombeech]

And below Mooney Falls. We didn't hang out very long at Beaver Falls, so there's no pics.

Here's a little stream falling into the main river.

Also, there was a cool little side canyon we went exploring in.

[Sombeech]

Satellite images of Havasu Canyon, provided by Google Earth.

Want satellite images of the trail? Download Google Earth here and use the attachment below to navigate your way through the trail to the falls! Just click on the download part of the attachment below, and it will take you right to the campground. You can navigate your way from there.

And one more picture from the trip...

This is what looks to be a ladder from a distance. If you are at mooney falls, and look maybe a quarter mile down the canyon on the left wall, you will see this.

At the top of it, it looks like a mine, or a cave. We went to go check it out, thinking it's a 300' ladder climbing up to this mine.

We got closer and realized it's too big to be a ladder. It looks like an old chute that they would pour the material down.

The bottom rung was too high to access. This is Neil.

[BrokenHorn]

Thoes pics bring back some good memories. I went down in 1987. I can't beleive you didn't jump into the falls from the back side. It's quite a rush having all that water crashing on you pushing you down into the water. But you come up pretty quick with all the air bubbles and turbulance. I have a few pics but unfortunatly the film I used at the time wasn't very good and the colors just didn't turn out.
I stayed there for five days. Got Geardia and "tossed my cookies" in Mesquite on the way home. It gave me fits for about two weeks. Oh, yes the memories are great!
Do you still have to get a reservation and permits a head of time? We back then you had to reserve a year in advance.

[Sombeech]

I can't beleive you didn't jump into the falls from the back side. It's quite a rush having all that water crashing on you pushing you down into the water. But you come up pretty quick with all the air bubbles and turbulance.

Actually, we did! I realize I didn't have a picture of it posted, so I'll post it now. That is actually pretty fun to get back there and jump through. The sound is deafening!! The mist and spray back there is so powerful, and you're yelling to each other the whole time.

The first jump is kind of scary, because you wonder about the possibility of getting sucked down, but like you said, it just pushes you out really fast.

Got Geardia and "tossed my cookies" in Mesquite on the way home.

Yowza!!

Do you still have to get a reservation and permits a head of time? We back then you had to reserve a year in advance.

Yes. Well, actually, it depends on the time of year. From Spring Break to about August, it's packed. That's why I like to beat the crowds by about 1-2 weeks, and we're about the only people there. We've been going in March, but I'd like to try April, if the crowds aren't too bad.

[Lee]

Yes, those photos bring back good memories for me as well. About 10 years ago we backpacked into there and continued on down all the way to the Colorado the next day. What an absolutely amazing place. No photos, though -- just memories.

[Sombeech]

Yes, those photos bring back good memories for me as well. About 10 years ago we backpacked into there and continued on down all the way to the Colorado the next day. What an absolutely amazing place. No photos, though -- just memories.

I hear there's a lot of bushwacking to get down to the Colorado. Is that true? And, is it worth it? I guess it depends if you are planning on walking back up it.

[BTTAndy]

Hey Sombeech,
I went to the Supai last June and am planning another trip with my brother from Orem. We are making the site reservations by Jan. 10th.
I had a blast there and loved climbing down the wet rocks to Mooney falls. The rope swings were a blast. We just kept swingin! I would stay away from the Indian burritos though. Plenty of horse pies to look out for and the Porta poddys were a true challenge as well.
Besides that it was a great trip and I can't wait to go back. Via Las Vegas of course.
My Big brother Dave takes people on excursions all the time. Right now he is snowshoing in Rock Canyon I am sure.
Let me know if any one else wants a reservation at the Supai. The helicopter is too expensive and I am too cheap, so I will be in shape enough to make it up the trail like last time. What a workout! \
Later Andy

[Sombeech]

Hey Sombeech,
I went to the Supai last June and am planning another trip with my brother from Orem.

Cool. How was it in June? I'll bet the temperature was awesome for a swim. I'm just concerned about the crowds. Was it pretty crowded?

If you have any pictures, you should throw them up here.

[david staub]

I have been to the Havasupai twice. The first time was 2 1/2 years ago when I backpacked down there with my (then) 13 year old daughter. She carried her own pack the entire way and did great.
That place has got to be the most beautiful place in the world. The waterfalls were incredible. I couldn't help but climb to the top of Navajo Falls (twice) and jump off. I never did find the bottom of the water.
Last summer I met my brother in LasVegas and we went down with some friends. Again, I could not help but climb to the top of Navajo Falls and jump off (again twice). The hike was great going down and very trying coming back up (carried my pack both ways). But very rewarding both ways. My children have instructions that when I die, I am to be cremated and my ashes spread at the Havasupai. I am going again this summer and will try to go every summer for the rest of my life. What an adventure and what a pay off.

[Iceaxe]

Right now he is snowshoing in Rock Canyon I am sure.

HEY.... back in the day Rock Canyon is where all the U of U guys would take the BYU chicks to make out.

Best thing I can say about BYU girls is they don't smoke and they don't drink so that only leaves one other thing for them to do

[Sombeech]

The waterfalls were incredible. I couldn't help but climb to the top of Navajo Falls (twice) and jump off. I never did find the bottom of the water.

That was this one right? The one just above the camp ground?


I never did get any great pics of this one, because it's in the trees. Next spring I'd like to spend a little more time in that one.

[BTTAndy]

Those are them. You have to weave threw some trees to get there and the falls are only about 40 ft up. Then the cave inside the pool is really cool with the warts on the ceiling. If you have been in there you know what I am talking about.
Looks like you went there in the fall. It was nice and warm in June when I was there. Yes it was a little crowded but most of the campers were chicks.

[Sombeech]

Looks like you went there in the fall. It was nice and warm in June when I was there. Yes it was a little crowded but most of the campers were chicks.

Actually, we went the second weekend in March, 2 years in a row.

I'd like to try about a month later now. I was afraid of crowds screwing up the privacy and photo shoots, but hey, if most of them are chicks, I'm bringin' extra batteries! That's when the zoom comes in handy.

[david staub]

Andy and I went there in the beginning of June. Navajo Falls is a little difficult to find (even though you can see it from the main trail) but it is worth getting to. It is actually higher than Andy said. Their official website says that it is 65 feet high. Andy and I both jumped off of the top of it. And I admit that (depending on who I am trying to impress at the time) the falls have actually grown to be 80 feet high.
The first time I went there, there were only about ten of us back there. Which was great for the privacy and quiet. This last time there were more like 30 and as Andy said, most of them were chicks.
For this old guy, I look at them and say "I have running shoes older than them."