What to Expect Hiking Havasu
Title:
What to Expect Hiking Havasu
Word Count:
1309
Summary:
What to expect when hiking Havasu.
Trail conditions, toilet availability, water sources, hote
Keywords:
hiking havasu, camping at havasu, backpacking havasu
Article Body:
Hiking Havasu
by Michael Pavelek
Although Havasu is a popular hiking destination and pictures of the falls can be found
everywhere, there is surprisingly little information available about how to plan a hiking trip
Perhaps this is because the people who have grown up around Havasu take for granted the
basic questions that hikers unfamiliar with the area would have; such as ˆhow difficult is the
where can drinking water be found, and are toilets available?˜ This article provides answers
these questions and more.
1. Reservations
Reservations are required in order to hike to the falls. Making reservations is easy and
information can be found on the Havasu web site at http://www.havasupaitribe.com. This web
site also provides information about current rates for camp sites, horse rental, and helicopte
rides as well as directions to get to the trail head. Don´t expect to make reservations at th
minute because the lines at the tourist office are often busy.
2. Hotels near Havasu
Since the Havasu village is eight miles down the trail and the temperature can be quite hot, m
people like to spend the night in a hotel and then get an early morning start.
Inexpensive h
can be found in Seligman, and along Route 66. There will be about two hours of driving time
from the hotel to the trail head; so plan to leave the hotel before sunrise if you are trying
hiking in the heat.
3. Trail Head and Parking
The trail head has a paved parking area which is fairly large. During busy times such as holi
weekends, cars are also parked along the road for at least a half mile past the paved parking
area. Parking is done on a first come first served basis. Sometimes parking spots near the tra
head are available even though cars are stretched back down the road as people are regularly
leaving and arriving. Driving to the trail head to look for a closer spot before settling on
parking spot near the back can be worth while.
There is not a source of drinking water at the trail head, so make sure to bring enough to mak
the eight mile trek to the village.
There are some old pit toilets at the trail head which are now
full of trash and fortunately have been replaced by porta-johns. These are the last toilets p
to entering the actual camp site which is about ten miles away; so plan accordingly.
If you are sending your gear down by horseback, there is a shed near the trail head where the
gear can be checked; but make sure you make reservations for a horse in advance if you plan
on using one.
4. Trail Difficulty and Awareness
Switchbacks going down from the trail head make this trail look like a real challenge, but aft
the initial switchbacks, the trail becomes a gradual slope down what appears to be an old rive
bed. The trail continues in a gradual downward slope the whole way to the village. The trail
surface starts off as hard packed dust interspersed with rocks and for the largest part of the
becomes a fairly smooth lightly covered gravel surface. It is very easy surface to walk on unt
just prior to the village where the trail turns into a deep soft sand and remains sandy for th
miles into the camp ground. The outside edges are often packed harder and provide easier
walking.
Listen for horses moving up the trail and move to the side early. Unlike the mule trains at th
Grand Canyon National Park, these horses are often driven up the valley at a good clip and
could be dangerous for people not expecting them.
5. Check-in at the Village
Check-in at the tourist office in the village to pay the balance of your reservation.
Fortun
they do take VISA, but I prefer to take cash just in case. The tourist office is on the left
side as you come into the main part of town and is clearly marked. Upon check-in, you will
receive tags to display on your camping equipment and a map with directions to the camp ground
There is a store on the square that sells cold drinks and groceries with benches outside that
make this a great place to take a break.
US mail is available to send letters or post cards,
don´t recall seeing a public pay phone in the village.
Be careful heading through town to the camp site. The sign to make a right near the school is
somewhat hidden in a tree and many hikers seem to have missed it as we saw them being turned
around and redirected by the local Indians.
6. The Falls
The walk from the village to the falls is approximately two miles. The trail approaches the f
from the top and the campground starts immediately past the falls. The Indians often have
stands set up selling hot dogs and drinks near the campground which are reasonably priced
considering the location. A fatty hot dog can also be a welcome alternative to freeze dried
meals.
Although I prefer to only carry what is absolutely necessary when it comes to hiking, sandals
water shoes are worth taking to Havasu falls. Sandals make walking through the pools of water
below the falls much easier as the rocks are somewhat jagged.
7. Campground
Camping spots are first come, first serve and the campground runs on both sides of the stream
for quite some distance. The only bridge to cross to the far side of the campground is near t
entrance. This results in many people walking through the stream and other people´s camp sites
to come back and visit Mooney falls; which is just past the back side of the campground. The
camp sites were generally large enough for at least two tents and the soft sandy soil made it
to drive in tent pegs and was a dream to sleep on.
Porta-johns are at both ends of the campground, but only on the side of the stream with the
main trail. Keep this in mind when selecting a site. Depending on where you are camped, it
may be faster to go to the porta-johns on the back side of the campground than to walk back
out to the front. The Porta-johns are rigged with harnesses to be raised out by helicopter whi
must be an impressive operation. If anyone has pictures of this process, I would love to see
them!
Drinking water is available at the campground from a spring which is marked by a hand painted
sign.
The spring is located on the left hand side just past the campground entrance.
8. Hiking Out
There are signs posted requesting that people do not hike at night, but many people pack up
before first light and head out with their headlamps in order to avoid the midday heat. Once
are through the sandy trail sections near the village, the upward sloping trail is so gradual
uphill slope is hardly noticeable. The switchbacks at the end are a bit of a challenge, but t
are not very long and a slow pace, frequent breaks, and good hiking staff can make them pass
by without difficulty.
With a good idea of what to expect, hiking Havasu should be an enjoyable and rewarding
experience. The water falls at Havasu are some of the most beautiful hiking destinations aroun
Please remember to be respectful and throw away all trash so that Havasu will continue to be
open to future generations.
Michael Pavelek is the President of Trail Gear, Inc. and has been enjoying hiking for over twe
This is a demo version of txt2pdf v.10.1
Developed by SANFACE Software http://www.sanface.com/
Available at http://www.sanface.com/txt2pdf.html
What to Expect Hiking Havasu
Word Count:
1309
Summary:
What to expect when hiking Havasu.
Trail conditions, toilet availability, water sources, hote
Keywords:
hiking havasu, camping at havasu, backpacking havasu
Article Body:
Hiking Havasu
by Michael Pavelek
Although Havasu is a popular hiking destination and pictures of the falls can be found
everywhere, there is surprisingly little information available about how to plan a hiking trip
Perhaps this is because the people who have grown up around Havasu take for granted the
basic questions that hikers unfamiliar with the area would have; such as ˆhow difficult is the
where can drinking water be found, and are toilets available?˜ This article provides answers
these questions and more.
1. Reservations
Reservations are required in order to hike to the falls. Making reservations is easy and
information can be found on the Havasu web site at http://www.havasupaitribe.com. This web
site also provides information about current rates for camp sites, horse rental, and helicopte
rides as well as directions to get to the trail head. Don´t expect to make reservations at th
minute because the lines at the tourist office are often busy.
2. Hotels near Havasu
Since the Havasu village is eight miles down the trail and the temperature can be quite hot, m
people like to spend the night in a hotel and then get an early morning start.
Inexpensive h
can be found in Seligman, and along Route 66. There will be about two hours of driving time
from the hotel to the trail head; so plan to leave the hotel before sunrise if you are trying
hiking in the heat.
3. Trail Head and Parking
The trail head has a paved parking area which is fairly large. During busy times such as holi
weekends, cars are also parked along the road for at least a half mile past the paved parking
area. Parking is done on a first come first served basis. Sometimes parking spots near the tra
head are available even though cars are stretched back down the road as people are regularly
leaving and arriving. Driving to the trail head to look for a closer spot before settling on
parking spot near the back can be worth while.
There is not a source of drinking water at the trail head, so make sure to bring enough to mak
the eight mile trek to the village.
There are some old pit toilets at the trail head which are now
full of trash and fortunately have been replaced by porta-johns. These are the last toilets p
to entering the actual camp site which is about ten miles away; so plan accordingly.
If you are sending your gear down by horseback, there is a shed near the trail head where the
gear can be checked; but make sure you make reservations for a horse in advance if you plan
on using one.
4. Trail Difficulty and Awareness
Switchbacks going down from the trail head make this trail look like a real challenge, but aft
the initial switchbacks, the trail becomes a gradual slope down what appears to be an old rive
bed. The trail continues in a gradual downward slope the whole way to the village. The trail
surface starts off as hard packed dust interspersed with rocks and for the largest part of the
becomes a fairly smooth lightly covered gravel surface. It is very easy surface to walk on unt
just prior to the village where the trail turns into a deep soft sand and remains sandy for th
miles into the camp ground. The outside edges are often packed harder and provide easier
walking.
Listen for horses moving up the trail and move to the side early. Unlike the mule trains at th
Grand Canyon National Park, these horses are often driven up the valley at a good clip and
could be dangerous for people not expecting them.
5. Check-in at the Village
Check-in at the tourist office in the village to pay the balance of your reservation.
Fortun
they do take VISA, but I prefer to take cash just in case. The tourist office is on the left
side as you come into the main part of town and is clearly marked. Upon check-in, you will
receive tags to display on your camping equipment and a map with directions to the camp ground
There is a store on the square that sells cold drinks and groceries with benches outside that
make this a great place to take a break.
US mail is available to send letters or post cards,
don´t recall seeing a public pay phone in the village.
Be careful heading through town to the camp site. The sign to make a right near the school is
somewhat hidden in a tree and many hikers seem to have missed it as we saw them being turned
around and redirected by the local Indians.
6. The Falls
The walk from the village to the falls is approximately two miles. The trail approaches the f
from the top and the campground starts immediately past the falls. The Indians often have
stands set up selling hot dogs and drinks near the campground which are reasonably priced
considering the location. A fatty hot dog can also be a welcome alternative to freeze dried
meals.
Although I prefer to only carry what is absolutely necessary when it comes to hiking, sandals
water shoes are worth taking to Havasu falls. Sandals make walking through the pools of water
below the falls much easier as the rocks are somewhat jagged.
7. Campground
Camping spots are first come, first serve and the campground runs on both sides of the stream
for quite some distance. The only bridge to cross to the far side of the campground is near t
entrance. This results in many people walking through the stream and other people´s camp sites
to come back and visit Mooney falls; which is just past the back side of the campground. The
camp sites were generally large enough for at least two tents and the soft sandy soil made it
to drive in tent pegs and was a dream to sleep on.
Porta-johns are at both ends of the campground, but only on the side of the stream with the
main trail. Keep this in mind when selecting a site. Depending on where you are camped, it
may be faster to go to the porta-johns on the back side of the campground than to walk back
out to the front. The Porta-johns are rigged with harnesses to be raised out by helicopter whi
must be an impressive operation. If anyone has pictures of this process, I would love to see
them!
Drinking water is available at the campground from a spring which is marked by a hand painted
sign.
The spring is located on the left hand side just past the campground entrance.
8. Hiking Out
There are signs posted requesting that people do not hike at night, but many people pack up
before first light and head out with their headlamps in order to avoid the midday heat. Once
are through the sandy trail sections near the village, the upward sloping trail is so gradual
uphill slope is hardly noticeable. The switchbacks at the end are a bit of a challenge, but t
are not very long and a slow pace, frequent breaks, and good hiking staff can make them pass
by without difficulty.
With a good idea of what to expect, hiking Havasu should be an enjoyable and rewarding
experience. The water falls at Havasu are some of the most beautiful hiking destinations aroun
Please remember to be respectful and throw away all trash so that Havasu will continue to be
open to future generations.
Michael Pavelek is the President of Trail Gear, Inc. and has been enjoying hiking for over twe
This is a demo version of txt2pdf v.10.1
Developed by SANFACE Software http://www.sanface.com/
Available at http://www.sanface.com/txt2pdf.html