HikeArizona.COM

I am from NY and will be in Vegas for a work convention! I took an extra week and am looking for suggestions to fill it. I have never been very far from NY and am really looking forward to this trip! I don't mind driving distance to get to places. I already have reservations for 2 nights at the lodge in Havasu Falls, but have 4 other days to fill. Has to be day trips( nothing too awful tough)and I can't bring in camping gear. Any help or guidance would be great!

All it took for me was a drive from Vegas to the Grand Canyon over U.S. 40 and I was hooked! Now 2 years later here I am. Arizona sure has it all over anything I have seen in the North East (and south for that matter)! There is alot to see all over the west, so I hope you enjoy your trip. And like Matt said, you will want to move out here to.

Jeff

One more thing--getting there! I'm assuming you are renting a car and driving yourself there, via Hwy 93, then drive through Kingman on either Rt. 66 or I-40, then take Rt. 66 to Peach Springs. After you pass Peach Springs Casino it's about 6 miles more to the turnoff to Supai, Hwy 18. This turnoff is very easy to miss! If you are coming from Peach Springs and you get to Grand Canyon Caverns you have gone a little too far. There is NOTHING out there, other than that casino and the caverns place--both have gas stations. You should drive it during the daylight hours, since you are not familiar with the area.

When you get to the Supai parking lot, sometimes it is very full and you'll have to park along the road. It's worth it to drive around in the parking lot, though, to look for a spot. The trailhead is at the far end of the lot, next to some horse corrals. There are usually a lot of people milling around, both Indians and tourists, so you can ask directions. Once you are on the trail you can't really get lost! It takes me about 4 hours to hike to the village, usually, if I stop to take photos, take a lunch break, etc. It's about 8 miles.

Don't take any photos of the Indians without asking their permission. They will often give you permission, though. There will be many Indians on horseback, you won't see very many on foot! Many of the packhorses have bad feet and are over-worked. The saddle horses are a bit better, though. I have noticed more mules in use on recent trips. Mules are stronger than the little cow horses, and can subsist on poor feed much better. You may see a few things that are disturbing. Please remember you are a guest! The Supai (and the related Hualapai--pronounced Walla Pie) have lived the area for at least a thousand years. I have spent a little time in the village, talking to them. They are kind of shy, but sometimes are willing to chat for a bit.

The thing about our canyon country is that it's so deceiving. You find yourself out in this dry, bleak rangeland, with a few cows roaming around, and then, very suddenly, there is the canyon! You often can't see it until you are right at the rim looking over. I have grown to love that old bleak rangeland as well, for its open spaces, big blue sky, and the promise of a sudden canyon coming up!

horsin144 wrote:I am from NY and will be in Vegas for a work convention! I took an extra week and am looking for suggestions to fill it. I have never been very far from NY and am really looking forward to this trip! I don't mind driving distance to get to places. I already have reservations for 2 nights at the lodge in Havasu Falls, but have 4 other days to fill. Has to be day trips( nothing too awful tough)and I can't bring in camping gear. Any help or guidance would be great!

One of my suggestions, though I know there are a few that may say it is too commercial (true enough in the last few years) but still has some very scenic and breathtaking hiking would be the Sedona/Oak Creek area. I took my friends from Canada there last March and there were still some good hiking trails around the area.
Depending on how much driving you would like to do, there are a lot of options, but everything will be quite a distance. Sedona is going to be only a little way out of your way if you are staying in the Grand Canyon/Havasupai tribal area.

Thanks to all that gave me ideas and pointers. I had a unbelievable time while touring. You were right about wanting to move to Arizona, I never want to leave the village of Supai, and it had nothing to do with my blisters.

I did not read the post that was so clearly written by azbackpacker before I left, but I wish I had. I was not prepared for the village, mainly the animals. I did get the greatest pictures while down there, and I made a friend of the ranger on duty while we were there. He was informative, kind, and showed me things I may have missed if he had not taken the time to show me as we walked the falls together. I now know that heights are an issue to me!

I was not prepared for the village, it seemed like another country to me. I have made reservations for camping in the first week of April and I will bring both my boys with me. I made three Indian friends, exchanging addresses with 2 of them. My friend thought that the people were rude, but she learned that they are just not as forward as we are and are very soft spoken.

I went to the Canyon De Chelly one day and hiked to the ruins. What a beautiful place, it looked like a different world on the bottom. Green and fresh!

I also hiked at Red Rocks, one little hike into Ice canyon. It was an easy start!

I wonder if everyone gets blisters because of the sand? I have never had a problem with getting blisters, but I must have had ten after walking in to the village of Supai. I finally had to ditch my shoes and go barefoot and that was a great releif.

Again, thanks to all for the input! Counting the days to come back.

Glad you had such a wonderful time during your visit. There is so much to see and do in this diverse state!

It really stinks that you had blisters on your feet because nothing ruins a hiking trip more than feet that hurt. Sounds like you have boots that may not fit properly? I'd first recommend that you get yourself to an outfitter on the East Coast (Maybe Eastern Mountain Sports? or if you have REI out there, try them) to get yourself properly fitted for boots. Most places have an incline board that allow you to test the boots on both uphill and downhill. Bring a pair of hiking socks that you would normally wear with the boots. The second thing I'd recommend is to wear a sock liner and then a pair of hiking socks over these. I saw a post years ago from member "DesertBoots" regarding this and I have NEVER had blisters.....ever. Even doing 12 and 15 milers. I use a merino wool sock liner and then an actual hiking sock over these.

Hope this helps.

Trish, you have never had blisters? They are my bane! I have just started to wear liners. I trust they will help.

I am glad to hear you had such a good time! It is rare for a tourist to make so many friends at Supai, so that is also special! And Canyon de Chelly! Wow! And were you able to negotiate those ladders at Mooney?

As for the blisters, I have an odd size of foot--extreme narrow heel--and have battled blisters off and on throughout my life. I always carry moleskin and adhesive tape and if I know an area of my foot is likely to get a blister, or I feel a "hot spot" coming on I take care of it immediately. At Supai of course you can hike in Tevas most of the time, but then you still may have to tape because of the sand. And of course, the advice about getting a good fit is the best! And as I said before, I wear gaiters. I also wear full-grain all-leather Vasque hiking boots for backpacking, but I know a lot of people don't wear these any more. But I have this pair, I've had them resoled, they don't give me any grief so I stick with them.

In response to horsin144's reply:

Hi
Hiking Clubs are a great place to catch a day hike. REI has a list. Sierra Club has lots of fun, exciting day hikes for all ranges of hikers.
Good luck
Butler

In response to horsin144's reply:
Glad you enjoyed Havasupai. When you get a chance, try Phantom Ranch or other campgrounds in the Grand Canyon National park, below the Rim. Reservations are harder to get, but worth the effort.
I loved Havasupai, but you don't get a full sense of how big the Canyon really is from there. Camping out at Phantom was an experience that really changed me. I think of it every day, and plan to go back for five days below the rim -from the North Rim to the South Rim- this summer.

I just went to Havasupai falls Memorial weekend. My advice is to stay just two days. That's truly all you need, and I believe is the most common length of time to stay. I wouldn't go less than that, though. All the falls are in close proximity. 4 days would be wasting time.

If you're a good hiker and you want a challenge, then you can carry all of your gear. I'm one who likes to push myself once in a while. This was my second time, (this time I brought my wife) and I forgot how difficult the last mile and a half is when you're carrying full gear. My advice is to pack your stuff in but reserve a spot to have your pack carried out by horse or helicopter. It's less than $30 and well worth it. This lets you enjoy the view a little more. And don't forget to register in the office when you get into town. I missed the office and then after getting back to the campground, had to hike two miles back to the village and 2 miles back to camp. Not fun. But the waterfalls made up for this.

Andy