Supppp peeps! If you’ve been following along on the Havasupai Series, you’ll know that we left off by arriving to the campground! Yay! This post will cover what we did in the campground the first night and second morning, including our traverse into Mooney Falls. Don’t forget to stop back later this week to read all about our trip afterwards down to the Confluence! Yay again!!
Mooney Falls Hike: Facing Fears, Climbing Chains & Finding Magic in the Mist
As you can see by now, this recent trip has a lot to unpack. Which is why we love staggering our stays into several stages (which you can read more about in this post!) By doing this, it allows us to take our time, prepare accordingly, and feel at ease while we’re in traveling mode.
I used to have such angst while traveling. Whether it was at the airport or packing beforehand or finding the nearest gas station when we got into our rental car, I was usually a mess mentally. Nit-picking would come easy because I would have no plan on what to do next, and no idea of the area surrounding me or where we were going because I wouldn’t take the time to research before we left. (Because, who has extra time, right?)
When You Quit Trying to Control, You Can Begin Living
But this time was different. As we made our way into the Havasupai campground and got unpacked, it felt unreal. Unreal that I was finally in this beautiful place after so many months of planning and unreal that I had so much less anxiety than I ever used to.
Every trip into nature, especially the backpacking ones in my opinion, are like mini rebirths every single time on my own little journey. It’s enlightening to see how much further you grow from the last one, or to recognize how much growth you still have to conquer.
Backpacking heals me. Seriously. Even though we got to completely relax and veg out in Parks, Arizona before this excursion, I still longed for that “off-grid” type vibe that I was looking forward to for so long. And, once I got out of the tent that first morning, I remembered why the blisters aching my feet and the nearly 40 pound pack wasn’t a bother anymore.
Base Camp Vibes: Easing Into the Mooney Falls Hike
Even though this hike was centered around the Havasu Falls, the more pressing task on my mind was the fact that to go *literally* anywhere else from there, we would have to hike down to Mooney Falls. Now, this may not seem like a big deal to you, especially if heights aren’t an issue. But for humans out here like me, it was actually kind of a big deal…especially when Ben (the hubs) decided to take an evening stroll to the top to see the staircase the night before we had to get after it. (see the pics above for reference!)
I knew from watching previous YouTube videos that it would be a bit of sketch, but when I saw it in person, my heart literally sunk. I remember turning to him and saying, “like, I don’t know if I can actually do this.” He probably thought I was joking…I was not.
The feeling that I got when seeing how tiny those people looked on the side of the cliff, the feeling when I could barely see the rock cut out where the “steps” were by the chains that you’d need to hold onto, was the same exact feeling I’d gotten the night we camped out on the Napali Coast.
Of course, I felt accomplished. I’d tackled one of the most dangerous hikes in the world (so they say), during a time when the trail was shut down from weather right after we’d entered hours earlier. I’d tackled Angel’s Landing in Zion, (future post to come!) even though it took some persisting to get me past some of the harder parts. And I’d tackled Humphrey’s Peak, the tippy top of Seneca Rocks and the list goes on. (Check out the blog page to more travel posts!) But as I laid next to the ocean waves crashing beside me that night, I thought, “Why did I put myself in this position?”
This is the same as what happened the first night we camped in Havasupai. Not realizing that I’d have to yet again face my fears to complete my conquest of the day, I worried that I would be ruining our whole trip if I couldn’t make it down. To my surprise though, we did it! And it was MUCH more slippery (and straight down) than we had anticipated.
Caves, Gloves & Muddy Steps: Beginning the Mooney Falls Hike Descent
When we got up, we decided if we were feeling okay to keep hiking. Since we felt pretty good still, we had some dehydrated berries and granola for breakfast, packed up the one day pack we brought, my new found little waist pack, and hit the trail. (PS, make sure you use the bathroom at the top! There won’t be anymore along the way if you’re going to Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls, or The Confluence).
As we made our way down, we hit the spot where the cave is. It’s pretty cool actually, (including the view that peaks at Mooney when you’re going from one cave into another, see below) and I’m really grateful that we got to experience it. We waited for a few folks ahead of us, (try not to get too close to people ahead of you especially on this descend/ascend, let them go at their own pace with what they feel comfortable at so that you don’t make them feel rushed), and then continued on our little adventure down the muddy mess.
Once you’re at the top of the “steps,” you’ll notice some extra gloves others leave behind for hikers to use. We did bring our own gloves, but I decided to grab a pair of the grippy Carhartt ones to slip overtop of my own for some extra grip. Ben went along with no gloves at all 🙂 …we are different people, what can I say. 🙃
Slippery Steps & Solid Advice: Handle the Mooney Falls Hike Your Way
Here’s the thing ladies and gents, do what *you* are comfortable with and don’t let others talk you into something differently. Although he felt hella comfy with no extra grips, my heart would have skipped a few beats knowing my over-thinking brain would have had to overthink my grips as well. Focus on what works best for you, and be sure to give others their space to do the same.
As we inched closer to the wooden ladders at the end of the descent, the “stairs” got more and more slippery from the mist of the waterfall nearby. (While we were at the top, we thought “oh how nice, it’s not hitting the ladder and won’t be misty…” we were wrong).
My best advice for this entire part of the hike would be to ensure you have several different grips at one time on either the rock face, the chains, or the stairs/ladder. If you do slip, keep your composure and make sure to breathe. Take it one step at a time and don’t ever rush your own journey for someone else’s. (Which goes for SO many things other than just hikes!!)
Beauty, Gratitude, and a Trail Worth Every Step
When we finally got to the bottom of the ladders, we were elated to be at the base of Mooney Falls. Of course I knew I had to go back up it at some point, but I had a lot of motivation by water to push me along those chains on the way back. (Read more about the water situation in the upcoming post about our hike to the Confluence!)
We usually take pictures on the way back through things, so that we can fully enjoy the first steps in a hike and so that we know the trail better on the way back with our footing of
where to stop and get pics, but since there was no one there yet we made sure to snap a few quick ones as it would be super busy later in the day!
As we looked back at different videos once we got back home, we noticed how much different it looked after the 2024 flash flood. Seeing as this is one of the hikes that will forever live rent-free in my head, I am so incredibly grateful to the Supai Villagers for allowing the public back in to be a part of its beauty.
If you’re ever considering traveling to Arizona and are up for a grueling but rewarding hike, be sure to add Havasupai to your list. And while you’re down there, don’t forget to explore the area and travel to not just Havasu Falls but also to Mooney Falls to really see what beauty lies inside the canyon walls. Out of the two, Mooney was my favorite with its epic rock formations and sketchy traverse.
🧡 Thanks for Hiking Along “The Treacherous Traverse Down Into The Famous Mooney Falls”
Whether you’re here for the stories, the stumbles, or the waterfall views, I’m so glad you made it all the way down (and back up!) this post with me. Mooney Falls hike might test your grip, your nerves, and your quads — but sharing it with you makes every muddy step even more worth it.
Stay wild, stay curious, and I’ll catch you on the next adventure. I’ll see you back soon for the next part of the series!
Keep adventuring and finding new ways to challenge yourself until then. <3
