Surviving Four Days and Three Nights in the Grand Canyon

Spent an unforgettable four days and three nights in Havasupai, nestled like a hidden treasure in Arizona, United States. You might say it’s so remote, even Google Maps had to take a coffee break just to catch up! Surrounded by the jaw-dropping Grand Canyon National Park, this Indian reservation feels like the last bastion of nature's splendor untouched by the clutches of civilization. After trekking nearly 60 miles in those four days (that’s less “fit for life” and more “fit for life support”!), my body was screaming “Why?!” but my soul was doing the happy dance like it just won the lottery. Especially my eyes and ears—happy little campers soaking in all that scenic glory!

🎫Permit
I may have missed the permit quota on the official website by a week, but let me tell you, there's a silver lining in every storm cloud! I got to pick my dates based on whatever weather app I deemed trustworthy (we’ve all been there, right?). With the time around Thanksgiving being particularly crowded, it turned into a family reunion I didn’t sign up for. Good news is, they limit the number of permits to keep the area from turning into a mall on Black Friday!

📅Planning
When it comes to planning your great escape, there’s only a structural option to choose four days and three nights, and you can do it while parting with 395 shiny knives (just kidding, it’s dollars!). Most people opt to stay for three nights, while I decided to channel my inner road trip warrior, cruising from San Diego and pausing at Kingman for a rest stop. It’s like an episode of “Survivor”—you need a base camp before tackling the real wilderness. Hualapai Lodge and Grand Canyon Caverns Inn are your nearest lodging options, but don't get too excited; they’re like middle-of-nowhere motels without a pizza place in sight. Pack snacks, friends!

🧗Hike to campground
Good ol’ Campground is not some withdrawal-friendly destination accessible by car. Nope! You’ve got to park at the Hilltop Trailhead and give your legs a workout—10 miles each way, folks! The official website offers mules to schlep your stuff, but I couldn’t bring myself to make them work harder than my calves. Those poor mules looked like they were auditioning for a sad country song! Besides, you could also fly away in a helicopter back to the real world, but those daily schedules? They’re as rare as a unicorn at a dog show. So, lesson learned: pack light and prepare to carry your own baggage... literally!

🧗Hike around campground
Once you’re finally at the campground, you’ll realize there are only two paths in the canyon. Heading north will lead you through a waterfall parade featuring Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls, and the Confluence. Venture south and you’ll stumble upon a trio of waterfalls: Havasu, Little Navajo, and Fifty Foot. Spoiler alert: the hike north isn't for the faint of heart—or for anyone dreaming of tiptoeing through a daisy field. The descent to Mooney Falls is like doing reverse bouldering with bonus slippery rocks thrown in for comedic effect. Seriously, it feels like Mother Nature’s tricky obstacle course! If you don’t cling on tightly, you may find yourself auditioning for a fall-themed reality show. Pro tip: wear grasping gloves and sturdy hiking boots to maintain your superhero grip. As you make your way toward Beaver Falls, keep an eye out for that big red “Do Not Enter” sign after 10:30 AM if you value seeing the campground before dark. Trust me when I say, no one wants to be a nighttime hiker caught between Havasu Falls and who-knows-where!