💦 Green water and 🏜️ red canyons create an exotic contrast of colors.
I had seen many photos, but the contrast when it unfolded before my eyes in reality was far more vivid.
Usually, I describe my hike using these expressions: awe-inspiring, moving, or difficult but rewarding, but this place was different. The words that came to mind first were “It was so much fun 😄”
- Mooney Falls, steeper than Angel’s Landing ⛰️
- Beaver Falls, which feels like a natural waterpark 💧
It was a course full of both adventure and playfulness.
Another thing that left a strong impression was the makeup of the people there. In most high-altitude backpacking trips, there’s a noticeable male-dominant ratio, but here, that imbalance didn’t exist here.
There were multiple groups of middle-aged women, which you rarely see, and I thought,
“This is a place that appeals to everyone, regardless of age or gender.”
Even my teenage daughter 💕, after watching the photos and videos I brought back said,
When I become an adult, I want to go there with a backpack myself.”
Here’s the video I showed her 🎥:
🌤️ A Chance Created by Timing
Getting a Havasupai permit is very competitive and quite expensive 💰
While following the official Facebook page, I happened to see a post announcing the reopening of the Lodge after renovation, 🏠 and luckily managed to book a room with a bed and shower 🚿
Normally, reservations for the entire year sell out as soon as they open, but since the announcement came without prior notice, I was able to book leisurely.
☀️ Weather, Water Temperature — All Conditions Were Perfect
I went in mid-October 🍂, when the daytime high was 88°F (31°C).
- If it had been hotter, the hike back would’ve been miserable;
- if it had been colder, we wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the water.
The water temperature felt like an unheated California pool in autumn:
It is by no means a temperature you can comfortably stay in for a long time. You get cold quickly without sunlight, and I wonder if I could even get in if it were any cooler than this.
Permit Info and Booking Tips
Details on how to get a Havasupai permit — including screenshots — can be found on the Backpacking Permits page.
In Closing
Havasupai was a special place that added a sense of “fun” to backpacking. It was a journey that made me imagine a day when I might walk through that canyon again with my daughter, both of us wearing backpacks.
💬 If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment!
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