Back in June I went to Havasupai. For those who don't know, Havasupai is an Indian nation in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It's world renowned for its stunning waterfalls.
Since Havasupai is so beautiful, it attracts 30,000 visitors per year.
The journey to Havasupai isn't for everyone. Since it's in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, we backpacked 10 miles (one way) descending over 2,000 feet down trails like this to get there:
Fortunately there are some decent views along the trail.
After hiking eight dusty miles into the canyon, we finally reached the town of Supai where the Indians live. Due to the fact that Supai is the most remote town in the United States, it's the last place in the US to have its mail delivered by mule.
Unfortunately, the town is relatively poor. There are no cars (getting cars into a 2,000 foot deep canyon is a tad challenging) and all the dirt roads are shared with the animals. (The dust is incredibly fine and is easily kicked up when you walk. Get used to breathing in dust mixed with mule poo. Delightful.)
[Road leading into Supai.]
Supai has a small square (pictured below) with a market, post office and cafe.
As I walked into Supai, I felt like I was visiting a foreign country. I no longer felt like I was in the United States. This is partly true since Indian reservations like Havasupai are a sovereign nation with its own government, police force and laws.
Most homes in the village are very small and in need of repair. Many villagers own animals and grow crops on their land to help support themselves.
What was most shocking about the village was the waste disposal system, or rather the lack thereof. Most people throw all of the their trash in piles around the yard, which only added the foreign country feeling.
While the village is definitely an interesting cultural experience, the real attractions of Havasupai are the waterfalls and the beautiful blue-green water.
Mooney falls [above] drops 200 feet into the canyon. There isn't a trail to the bottom of the falls, so in order to get to the bottom, I had to climb down the cliff through a series of cramped caves, steep steps, and tall ladders. Fortunately there are chains drilled into the side of the cliff so visitors don't fall to their death.
[The path to the bottom of Mooney falls.]
[Beautiful patterns on the canyon wall.]
Our group spent several days hiking through the canyon and visiting the different waterfalls. Havasupai definitely ranks as one of my favorite camping trips and it's honestly one of the most unique and beautiful spots in Arizona.
Photos: Nikon D90 | Nikon F100 + Kodak Ektar 100
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