Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona

 
Image on left: the Left and Right Mittens and Merrick Butte punctuate the skyline of northern Arizona. A rock balances in the foreground. The Western movie director John Ford set several popular films here. More images also available.

Below right: Three Sisters, and The Thumb, at Monument Valley.


Left: "Right Mitten" and Merrick Butte are lit by the last rays of sunset.

Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona

Left: Spider Rock, Canyon de Chelly, Chinle, Arizona.

Navaho National Monument, Arizona

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Havasu Canyon, Arizona

Havasu Canyon flows into the Colorado River, and is part of the Grand Canyon. River rafters can hike a long rough trail up to visit Supai, but the normal access is via an 8-mile dusty horse trail from a car park at Hualapai Hilltop (or via helicopter).
     Havasupai (or Havasu 'Baaja) means "people of the blue-green water," and their people have tended fields in the Grand Canyon for at least 700 years. The Havasupai also lived at what is now called Indian Garden on the Bright Angel Trail in the main Grand Canyon, but they were evicted by the National Park Service in the 1920's. Their brush shelters (wickiups) and gardens were destroyed at Indian Garden, leaving the Havasupai Tribe just 518 acres in Havasu Canyon. In 1975, a more the enlightened time, 187,500 acres of canyon and rimland were returned to the tribe. As of 2005, about 450 of the tribe's 650 members live in the village of Supai. As of 1999, Supai is the only town in the United States which still receives its mail by mule train.

Left: Havasu Canyon, Arizona: Havasu Creek plunges over Havasu Falls (100 feet high) in Havasu Canyon, on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. The beautiful color in the pools of Havasu Creek is caused by carbonate minerals settling to the bottom, turning it white, and acting as a reflector of the surrounding green and brown mossy cliffs plus the blue sky. This unique color combination creates a striking turquoise pool, and one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

Tom and Carol in Havasu Canyon, April 1999

Having registered for camping permission from the Havasupai Tribe a few weeks in advance (as recommended), Carol and I parked our car in the dirt lot at Hualapai Hilltop and backpacked the 8-mile dusty trail downhill into Supai Village. About 25,000 tourists visit each year, so advance reservations are recommended. We checked in at the tribal office, then hiked 2 more miles to the campground, passing the wonderful Havasu Falls, one of the most surprising desert oasis experiences in the world. We also visited the impressive Mooney Falls, a short walk further downstream. I say, "thank you very much, Havasupai people, for sharing your very special canyon with visitors."
     To more fully experience the isolation of this desert oasis, I strongly recommend walking to Supai, instead of riding a horse or helicopter. But next time we'll consider having the mule train carry our packs, to make the desert walk more comfortable. Helicopters also carry in people and supplies, but the loud chop-chopping roar disturbed my appreciation of this beautiful natural setting. Out of nowhere, a porta-potty suddenly flew over our heads. Helicopters repeatedly flew full porta-potties, one at a time on a very long cable, out of the heavily-used campground, for disposal elsewhere. A composting toilet would seem to be a more cost effective solution. The densely-packed and worn campground in this narrow canyon would have benefited by further restricting the number of visitors per day.

Left: Havasu Falls and travertine formations, Havasupai Indian Reservation, Arizona.

Below Right: nearby Navajo Falls.


Left: Travertine forms a stalactite, across from Mooney Falls (horizontal image).

Below right: Havasu Creek cascades over a travertine formation.


Left: I ran into this self portrait time exposure taken by my camera mounted on a tripod at Havasu Falls.


Left: Havasu Falls in late afternoon.

Left: Supai is the only town in the United States which still receives its mail by mule train, which is shown here en route on the 8 mile dusty trail in 1999.

Below right: Horizontal view of the emerald pool and orange travertine below Havasu Falls, Arizona.

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