Inside Grand Canyon 10 mile hike to Navajo, Havasu & Mooney Falls located in the south rim on the Supai Indian Reservation Article and Photography by: Raj Walia – Paparaji Photography
Hualapai Hilltop, the starting point for the 8 mile hike to the Havasupai Indian Villiage descending 3,000 feet (910 m) in elevation
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H
avasupai is a term that translates to people of the blue and green (turquoise) waters. Havasu Falls is a gorgeous oasis in a remote part of the Grand Canyon. It is fairly diďŹƒcult to reach by foot and requires a drive to Hualapai Hilltop followed by a 10 mile hike to the Falls. You travel through the tiny village of Supai which is 2 miles from the falls. For those not up to the long hike, a helicopter ride to Supai can be a good option, followed up by a
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As you make your way down, the canyon walls draw closer and the surroundings become more grand
The way leads to the heli-pad and the town square. There is also a restaurant and the general store
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The Havasupai Bible church in the villiage
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The helicopter at the bottom of the Canyon where it picks the visitors and drop them back at Hualapai Hilltop
Havasu horses and vegetation at the bottom of the canyon. Water tanks above the village, supplying water pressure for plumbing
Continue hiking past the village, you will see the first two amazing waterfalls that were created when the flood in 2008 changed the course of the creek. They’re temporarily named New Navajo Falls and Rock Falls, but the Tribe will decide their official names. Unfortunately the old Navajo Falls, a favorite among visitors, is now extinct due to the flood. But the newly created Rock Falls offers ample swimming and photo opportunities Rock Falls / Lower Navajo Waterfall
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Havasu Falls is a picturesque waterfall of magical blue-green water that hurls itself off the edge of the jagged red rocks into a sparkling pool of turquoise water below – and all this in the middle of a desert
horseback ride to the falls. You will need to purchase an entry permit, and, unless you're a hardcore trail runner, book a night at the Havasupai Lodge or campsite. The trail starts with a steep descent down the face of the box canyon to the valley floor by way of a series of switchbacks. Once you reach the valley floor, the trail bends to the north for 8 miles into the Indian town of Supai. Along the way, the canyon walls draw closer and the surroundings become more grand. You get a sense of the true size of the canyon walls hundreds of feet straight up as you make your way down the canyon. At the end of the slot section, which starts at about 7 mile you will hear the water for the first time. It comes into view as you enter the heavier vegetation. The town of Supai is nearby. Stop by at the Supai Post Office to mail yourself the postcard as it is the only one of the two in the US that still moves the mail by mule. Follow the trail through town as it leads past a few ranch properties and begins the descent along the creek to the falls. Navajo Falls is about a 200 foot wide wall where there are bunches of thin falls interspersed with tons of green vines hanging down the wall. Havasu falls, about a half mile from Navajo Falls, and less than half mile above the campground, is a gigantic waterfall that falls into a beautiful pool of blue water. Mooney falls is bigger than the Havasu falls and is only accessable by climbing down the side of the canyon next to the falls. You have to climb down through two caves and down some “steps” that have chains next to them to hold on to. This is somewhat of a scary climb, because the steps are wet due to the mist of the falls. A must go trip for hikers, adventurors and waterfall lovers.
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To get to the bottom of the Mooney falls, you must cling to the chain and various handholds and walk down the canyon wall
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Mooney falls is actually on the edge of a rock wall and the only way to reach Mooney Falls is to climb through narrow tunnels dug into the rock. You have to carefully climbed through the tunnels and on the other side reached a large metal chain that is strung down the canyon wall. Next you reach a regular ladder leaning against the wall and once you get to the bottom, you’re standing in front of a 200 foot waterfall surrounded by blue green pools of water
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