Havasupai Indian Reservation
HAPPY FEBRUARY 1st!
If you’ve had Havasuapi Indian Reservation on your bucket list, then you probably already know what February 1st means! Reservations officially opened today at 8AM MST.
I was lucky enough to snag a permit in 2018 for the trip to Havasuapi Indian Reservation and I’m still a little speechless about the experience. I’ve put together a little photo story of our time there but these images still just don’t do this amazing place justice.
Our reservations were for 3 days and 2 nights. We hiked in on November 2nd and hiked out on November 4th. I don’t know how anyone can manage to find it worth the hike to do this trip in any shorter period of time, so I’m glad to see that in 2019 all reservations are 4 days/3 nights. We all flew into Vegas the night before, crashed at an Airbnb and were up and on the road the next morning around 5AM. This left us to start our hike a little after 9AM, which isn’t ideal for summer months but since the temperature was pleasant in November, the time/heat didn’t impact our late start. If I have a chance to do it differently next time, I’ll definitely plan to do the long drive from Vegas the night before and either crash in my car in the parking lot or get a room at Hualapai Lodge.
#sorrynotsorry for the photo overload.
DAY 1
Like I said, we had a “late” start of around 9AM (most people start this hike as early as 4AM in the summer months) but watching the sun gradually light up the canyon was fine by me. The hike in is easy and flat, just super long especially when you’re carrying a 30lb pack. We made it to the village around noon to check in. We were at the campground setting up camp by 2PM. We spent the remainder of the daylight wandering back to Havasu Falls (which you pass on your way into the campground) and ate dinner at our campsite in the dark.
DAY 2
The next morning came and we took our time getting up (which we later regretted). I didn’t take a tent on this backpacking trip and opted to sleep in my hammock both nights. I was a little weary for many reasons - critters, the “cold”, uncomfortable sleeping position, etc. But it actually went really well and I think I’ll consider my hammock for my sleep system more often.
Mooney Falls is likely the second of the two notorious falls you have heard of on this trail. Our first encounter was the long line waiting to descend down the canyon wall to the base of Mooney Falls. You slowly inch down a steep nearly 200ft cliff, passing through two tunnels and hanging on to the misty, bolted chains. In the moment I was terrified. But looking back, I built up the angst in my mind and truthfully, if you just hold on the entire way down you’ll be fine.
From the base of Mooney Falls, we hiked a couple miles further through a lush jungle on the canyon floor with several creek crossings. We finally reached Beaver Falls, stopped for a quick lunch, snapped some photos, then started our hike back. Due to our slow start this morning, daylight was scarce on the canyon floor and we absolutely did not want to be stuck climbing up the canyon wall at Mooney Falls in the dark. We made it back with time to spare and a few hours of daylight left at camp to enjoy dinner, visit Havasu Falls again and crash early for a very early departure the next morning.
DAY 3
In all my hiking and backpacking adventures, I’d never experienced such an early start to an adventure. As quickly as we fell asleep, we were right back up as our alarms quietly chimed within our campsite at 3AM. We were packed up within an hour and hit the trail in the pitch dark. Although I was exhausted and the darkness in the canyon was a little eerie, it was such a beautiful start to our long (and very much dreaded) hike back.
As we passed through the village around 4:30AM, people were already lined up and camped out by the helicopter pad in hopes to catch a quick 3 minute ride back up to the trail head/parking lot. I was so proud of our group for not sinking into this option and choosing to hike out with all of our gear.
Time was a blur on this morning. I believe it was close to 7AM when the soft glow started to peak over the canyon edges creating pink and purple casts of light against the canyon walls. It may have been one of the most beautiful moments from this trip. The work of art initiated by the slow rising of the sun only lasted nearly 5 minutes or so and before we knew it we were trekking along in the heat of the sun on the bottom of the canyon floor. The weather still felt wonderful this morning. I was able to stay in my longer layers all the way to the trail head.
As 10AM approached our whole group had made it up to the trail head. This last bit of the hike out is the most difficult portion from the whole trip (especially with a heavy pack). It’s nearly a mile or so of straight incline and switchbacks totaling in about 2,000ft of elevation gain.
There are already so many great forums and resources out there regarding this hike to Havasupai Indian Reservation, so I encourage to take the time and diligence to discover that information on your own just as most of us have in preparation for this trip.
When you’re ready to book, just head to https://www.havasupaireservations.com/. But good luck! Permits are typically booked up for the entire year within just a couple hours of reservations opening.
If you have questions for me about my trip or regarding the gear I used on this trip, I’d love to share more. Feel free to leave your questions and thoughts in the comments below!