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Any opinions about when the sweet spot is for visiting Havasupai in the fall? I'm considering a trip in October or November...

Early December looks nice .... http://hikearizona.com/photoset=1970

Sept - Nov is also nice.

The advantage of October, though, is that the days are longer and the nights are not so chilly. The days will still be plenty warm to swim in the pools beneath the waterfalls, without being super hot. However, because October is one of the nicest months, it may be difficult to get a reservation.

December's long nights are very chilly, and there is not much to do. I tried backpacking the Canyon once in December, and I will never do it again. You are not allowed to have a campfire, and what is there to do but go to sleep when it gets dark, which is at 5:30? And it doesn't get light until 7. So what are you going to do for 13 hours of 30 to 40 degree degree darkness? It is excruciatingly boring and painful to lie in a sleeping bag, reading, for endless hours. You end up falling asleep at 6:00 or 7:00 p.m. and waking up at 2 a.m. with the same problem: It's too dark and chilly to go outside and do much of anything. So, you get out your headlamp and read. Ugh. By the end of the night if you didn't have any aches and pains to start with, you surely will have some.

You are not allowed a campfire at Havasupai, either. So, the only recourse is to stay in the hotel where at least you would presumably have light and heat. Anyone stayed there lately? I have never heard anything good about that hotel.

I like late September to mid October. Still warm enough for swimming. But post-monsoon, so the flood threats are over, little chance of rain, and cool dry nights for sleeping.

chumley wrote:I like late September to mid October. Still warm enough for swimming. But post-monsoon, so the flood threats are over, little chance of rain, and cool dry nights for sleeping.

I see that Todd and I can agree on at least one thing... ;)

Mrs. big_load and I visited at Thanksgiving a long time back. It was great (and uncrowded), but it snowed 6" as we were climbing out. It was a long, slow drive on the way out.

@azbackpackr
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reading, for endless hours

I actually find that enjoyable... ;)

Thanks for all the perspectives!

Sidenote: I was shocked that the Indians invited us to have a campfire in February when my son and I visited with his BSA troop.

FWIW (not much) September was nice in 1981 and not crowded

@mazatzal

1981

Yikes! that was a crowded year for me, as I was in my mom's womb ;)

Oh, that was a nice one!

They must have filmed that before Drones became illegal in National Parks...Nice Perspective....

Outdoor Lover wrote:They must have filmed that before Drones became illegal in National Parks...Nice Perspective....

Oh! I wondered how they got those shots! Ha! But it's not a National Park, so maybe they are not illegal there.

Outdoor Lover wrote:They must have filmed that before Drones became illegal in National Parks...

Illegal? If drones were illegal in National Parks who would fill the offices there (GCNP BCO excepted) ...... :STP: