I went on this trip around 2003 or 2004, with my friend’s dad who’s been coming here 8 years in a row.
Although the hike was pretty rigorous (those switchbacks were hell!), the views were absolutely breathtaking. Weather was hot, but the falls were just the right temperature.
We hiked during the wee hours, about 2 am, on a full moon, and arrived campgrounds at 8 am, just as it was getting hot.
We pitched our tent pretty close to the creek. We woke up when the sun came up, made breakfast, then galavanted to each of the falls: Navajo, Havasu and Mooney.
Navajo was further out, so we hit havasu falls most of the time. We hit up mooney in the evening because you can hear the bats fly around.
The climb down to Mooney falls, you have to descend down these steps, and it can be pretty slippery from the mist of the falls. There are chains you use to help guide you down. My friend was so scared coming down, she was holding people up that wanted to come down!
You also meet a lot of people from all over the place, and chit chatted with them, so most were pretty cool. We stayed for 5 days, 4 nights. We bathed in the creek, had freeze dried food (I never thought powdered eggs would taste so goooood!!) We drank water at the stations there, but we filtered them first.
One of the days, we went to town (which is 2 miles from the campground) to have a supai taco (highly recommended) and a pepsi…the best meal ever (after having freeze dried food, this was a real meal!!) The 2 mile hike was totally worth it!! And use the bathrooms there! The outposts are not really my deal.
Overall this trip was an unforgettable time. So relaxing, no stress, no phones, internet, etc. I’m way overdue for another trip!
