Hiking Havasu Falls in Arizona this August... Looking for a little advice.

[Macchina]

A friend of mine is putting together a week long hiking trip to Havasu Falls (Indian Reservation at the end of the Grand Canyon) this August and invited me to go with. We will be hiking in 10 miles (down the Canyon for the last 2 miles) to a central camp site and hiking out 2-6 miles a day to different falls. My plan is hike in all my stuff in my Gregory, then have a lightweight daypack to use each day as we hike to the falls.

Any recommendations on a nice packable pack that will carry 15 lbs. with ease? Anything I should think about bringing besides the usual hiking gear?
Is there purified water there, or do you have to filter your own?

If you've been there, tell me something about it, and feel free to post pics of the place.

 

[JRB]

I hiked to Havasu Falls back in 1996. Granted, a lot of things may have changed since I've been there but here are my thoughts...

It is one of the most stuningly beautiful places that I've ever seen. The color of the water that goes over the falls is heavily influenced by the minerals it carries. It's an light azure that I never though exhisted in nature. Contrasted to the deep red of the surrounding soil it takes on an almost sci-fi feel. The camp sites were fairly primitive as organized campgrounds go but still offered more than a wilderness backpacking campsite. The pit toilets were quite foul and I found myself using them as little as possible. The weather was so nice I decided not to set up my tent. We had a picnic table at our site and I used it to sleep on rather than just lay out on the bare ground where poisonous snakes and scorpions could pay me a visit. One of the best features of the campsites was that they were right at the top of the falls. I brought a knife along woth me and had no trouble with the Havasupai indians who own the campground. The village of Supai is a couple miles from the campground and has a little trading post where you can purchase food and some supplies should the need arise. During the day there is an almost constant stream of donkey trains carrying cargo from the canyon rim down into Supai. It made the hike in a little more fun for me as it added to the atmosphere of the place (which is breathtaking on it's own). Have fun and remember to drink water constantly. I made the mistake of only drinking when I became very thirsty and ended up with severe dehydration that almost kept me from being able to hike the last half mile of switchbacks up out of the canyon.

 

[Fubarski]

Make reservations NOW if you don't already have them.

There will be a LOT of people camping there. I am not certain I would leave my stuff there unatttended. Tent and stuff you wouldn't kick yourself for losing.

Take 5x more water than you think you need.

Take a mask and snorkel, try and find the green room. It's worth the extra weight.

 

[D R E]

I can't comment on the Indian Rez but Arizona is about the most liberal state when it comes to guns, and all things pointy and sharp. You can openly carry on the street but many stores would prefer you don't. Its also a Class III state so many folks out in the desert are throwing major lead down range.

Legal to own automatics and AFAIK no real blade laws other than common sense things in the big cities.

I know what your thinking, why isn't everyone getting mowed down everyday because of such lenient guns laws? Fact of the matter is, the high crime is in the poorer parts of Phoenix where laws are not going to be a consideration anyway. There is alot of homicide on the reservation but thats controlled by Federal and typically is between family members under the influence - too sad

Take lots of water as August is a real bear at the bottom of the Canyon.

 

[D R E]

Here are a few Sonoran Desert teasers:

 

[Macchina]

Now I'm quite excited about this place. Please tell me more about the camp, I didn't know it was separate from the town. how many days worth of day hikes are there?

 

[D R E]

Those pictures are from a range of mountains known as the Superstition Mountains were many look for the Lost Dutchman's Mine. Believe me, you won't be dissapointed with Havasu Falls. Gorgeous water and a lot of history.

 

[JRB]

I camped there for five days and four nights. From my memory, the camp was about two miles from the village but I do remember walking there at a couple of times during my stay. It was an easy walk. Generally I spent my days exploring side canyons and the natural cactus "gardens" all around the camping area. The coolest hiking that you may ever do is taking the ancient tunnel into the clif that the falls go over. It's very steep and a tight squeeze with chains screwed into the tunnel walls to help keep you from plummeting to your death. The tunnel takes you from the top of the falls to the bottom of the falls all inside the cliff. At the bottom there is an amazing oasis that looks like something from the tales of the Arabian nights. You can also hike all the way to the Colorado river but it's quite a haul and might be better as an overnight hike.

In this picture I found online (mine are not digital so I can't post them) you can see the crazy blue of the falls. The tunnel to the bottom is inside the cliff face to the right of the falls in this pic.

 

[DWK2]

I've been there a couple times. Also hiked up from the Colorado River once, when rafting it. I don't like high temps so I wouldn't go in August. It will be very hot.

The cave trail to the base of the above-depicted falls had a chain and steel spikes to climb down on. It was short but pretty entertaining.

The hike down to the Colorado River is fairly long with a lot of stream crossings, so wear the right gear.

The food at the cafe in the Supai village is not what you would call "healthy cuisine". I would chose carefully if you eat there.

One of my very elderly friends visited the falls and canyon back in the 50s when it was a bit more wild---at least it looked that way in the old photos. However, the basic beauty of the place has been preserved pretty well.

DancesWithKnives

 

[heresay1]

I hiked there twice. Once in 2005 then again in 2007. As mentioned before take a LOT of water with you. There is a reservation just prior to entering the campgrounds. It has a store, hotel, and a cafe. You can purchase items or have breakfast, lunch, or dinner there but be aware it is very expensive. With such conveniences it makes it hard to feel like you are truly out in the wild. As you walk through the reservation the poverty level will become apparent.

The campgrounds have picnic tables and pit toilets. Pit toilets are not pleasant but functional. Because the water is so mineral rich it is not drinkable. Water filters are not recommended because they will clog up. There is a station that offers free drinking water. It looks like an old shed with pipes sticking out the back. The water from Havasu Falls flows through the campground and feeds Mooney Falls. Which then goes to the Colorado River.

There are a lot of dogs running around without ID tags or leashes. I saw a few sniffing around the campsites scavanging for scraps. Do not feed them or play with them. Saw one kid try to play with one only to have the dog bite the kid's shoe and not let go for awhile. Kid was unharmed.

When making camp be aware of widow makers. Last time I was there I heard a crashing sound in the middle of the night. It was a tree branch the size of a restaurant dumpster falling to the ground. If you continue walking through the campgrounds it will lead you to Mooney Falls. Several miles down is the Colorado River. Do not forget about Navajo Falls. It is located between the reservation and Havasu Falls off to the side of the trail. I think it is just as beautiful as Havasu Falls.

We have hiked to the Colorado River from the campgrounds and back. Left the camp at 6 a.m. and got back at dusk. We did it in a day but we were moving fast and taking few breaks. There was a lot of great scenery along the way. I wish I could have stopped and enjoyed more. I would recommend making that journey a overnighter. A lot of great watering holes along the way also. I brought swimming goggles but the water is so mineral rich that I could not see four feet in front of me.

Between the campgrounds and Mooney Falls there are caves along the canyon. Nothing in there but they are fun to walk through.

Bring a camera and a lot of film. Bring a map. Bring a lot of water for the trip into the campground and out.

DO NOT a gun until you check with state and reservation laws.

Anything else just pm me.

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

lots of water as mentioned and SALT.

Summer there is like an oven, take a mini-lexan salt shaker and take a shot of salt like shooting tequila every couple hours.
I would also bring 2 or 3 powdered electrolyte packages from a pharmacy, like pedialyte. The amount you are going to sweat and drinking all that water will wring all the salts out. If you are low in salt your body will not absorb the water into the tissues it will just flush out. Will stop the cramps and help prevent heat exhaustion.
Mix one late afternoon/early evening if you have been sweating lots and urine is dark or non-existent.
I have had heat exhaustion once and you feel like your waiting to die between bouts of purging and dryheaving.
I always have 2 in my first aid kit with some salt, as well as gravol and immodium. The runs and/or nausea is a killer in the bush left unchecked.

 

[JRB]

Wow! A restaurant and a hotel in Supai! When I was visited there was only a small trading post that resembled a convenience store but with a few more basic supplies. There was certainly nothing that made it seem like a town. Supai was depressingly poverty stricken. The houses were simple shacks (although in decent shape) with small fenced in dirt "yards" where they kept their pack mules/donkeys. I definitely remember a lot of scruffy dogs running around. I've never seen so many three legged dogs in my life as I saw on the AZ indian reservations. One of the coolest wildlife encounters I had in the canyon was having a tarantula hawk buzz around me. It was by far the largest hornet I ever saw. A real monster of a bug! Their main prey is the tarantula. I read afterward that it has the most painful sting of any insect. It came definitely came too close for comfort.

BTW, I went in late February/early March and the temps at the bottom of the canyon were in the mid 80s during the day and dry as a bone.

 

[Joezilla]

Camel up beforehand! Drink as much water as you can and bring it around with you. I wonder why there were tarantula hawks around you JRB. By any chance do you remember what color clothes you were wearing?

 

[JRB]

I don't remember what I was wearing but the tarantula hawk (there was only one) wasn't specefically buzzing around me. It just flew around me through it's natural course of travel. Just the fact that it was so huge made me feel like I was being dive bombed.

 

[DWK2]

JRB,

Last time I was down there, many of the burros/mules had been replaced with Cushman (or similar) golf cart type vehicles. The residences looked better than when you were there. Unfortunately, many of the natives were triple centurions when it came to weight. Not a lot of exercise going on among the villagers.

DancesWithKnives