Harmony in Havasupai
Meet: Sunday, March 15 at 7:30 am in USC Village
Return: Friday, March 20 around 6pm
Member: $860 Non member: $1118
Participant Driver (1): $624
Participant drivers will also have all gas reimbursed!
Activity: backpacking, hiking, swimming
Difficulty: 8/10 (Hard)
Distance: ~ 35 miles / 56 km Elevation: ~ 3,800 ft / 1,160 m
Recommended Prior Experience: Prior backpacking experience is REQUIRED and swimming skills are highly recommended.
Location of Trip: Havasupai Tribe Reservation in Grand Canyon National Park
Native Land: The land is largely on and managed by the Havasupai people. Our trip will also pass through Hualapai, Hopitutskwa, and Pueblo land.
Pre-Trip Meeting (MANDATORY): 7:30pm on Tuesday, March 7th at 2647 Orchard Ave (shack)
Trip Description:
Day 1: We will start our adventure… road trip style to Havasupai! Expect a lunch stop in Joshua Tree and a night of camping before our hike into the reservation.
Day 2: Backpacking Day 1!! Drive to the Hualapai Hilltop trailhead, where we will start our 4-day backpacking trip with 10 miles and 2,600 feet of descent. We will follow the gorgeous red rocks and crystal-blue water to our campground at Havasu, where we will camp for the next 3 nights.
Day 3: After a refreshing night's sleep, we will eat a delicious breakfast to fuel us for our longest day! Expect wet chains, tunnels, and ladders as we weave from our campsite through creeks and canyons, along the confluence trail, past Beaver and Mooney Falls toward the Colorado River. We will spend all day on the trail, but don’t let the 13-mile day hike scare you! We will be back at camp by 5 PM for a chill evening full of good food, stories, and rest.
Day 4: Backpacking day 3, baby! We’ll keep it chill with less than a mile of hiking to the stunning Havasu Falls, located right near camp. Here we’ll swim, sunbathe, and eat lunch before exploring the surrounding Supai village. Expect a day of recovery and some preparation for our hike out.
Day 5: Day 2 in reverse… Hike 10 miles and 2,600 ft out to the trailhead. We’ll pack up and drive ~1.5 hours to our campsite for the night.
Day 6: We will leave for USC in the morning and arrive back sometime in the evening. You will be coming back to USC one with nature ready to take on anything after finding HARMONY IN HAVASUPAI!!!
Contact the Guides:
Blake Buchholz: bbuchhol@usc.edu
Ellen Powers: ellendav@usc.edu
What to Bring:
*REMINDER (overnights only) : if you do not have a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpacking pack, or other technical gear (non-clothing), do not panic, SC Outfitters has these items for you! Your guides will send out a gear-request form the week of your trip where you’ll let them know what gear you need!
Large-capacity (70+ liters) backpack (we can help supply you with one if you don’t have one)
Sleeping pad
Warm sleeping bag (we can help supply you with one if you don’t have one)
Waterproof boots
Grippy water shoes
Bowl with a closing lid and utensil (MESS KIT)
Clothing (recommendations below)*
Synthetic shirt for hiking
Fleece top/ jacket
Pants/shorts to hike in
Three pairs of socks (one to hike in, one to stay always dry in sleeping bag)
Puffer / light jacket
Sun shirt (light, long-sleeve shirt)
Bathing suit
Sun protection
Hat/visor
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Rain protection
Rain jacket
Rain pants
Trekking poles
Personal toiletries
Personal/ Necessary Medications
Capacity for 4 liters of water (4 Nalgenes, 2 Nalgenes and a 2-liter bottle, etc.)
Old t-shirt or microfiber towel for drying
Headlamp/flashlight
Price of the trip includes (and we will provide):
Snacks
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided when a trip occurs during meal-times
Any technical gear required (ie. kayaks, snowshoes, snorkels, backpacking packs, sleeping bags, fishing rods, etc.)
All group / shared gear (tents, stoves, bear cans, first aid kit, etc.)
Any permits or campsite reservations needed
Cost of gas reimbursed for participant drivers
Amazing guides who love the outdoors and do this for free!
Educational lessons about Havasupai and finding harmony with our natural world!!
APPLICATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED AND PARTICIPANT SLOTS WILL BE FILLED ON A ROLLING BASIS!!
Please Review Our Cancellation and Refund Policy:
All SC Outfitters trips have a no-refund policy unless a substitute participant can be found. In the event your trip requires added reporting measures of participants (plane tickets, external providers, rental services, etc.) dropping the trip close to the date of the trip will not allow for the spot to be re-filled. See the details on trip pages for specific deadlines and reference our complete cancellation/refund policy here.
TRIP DIFFICULTY RATING SYSTEM
Difficulty rating for trips
1: No physical activity.
2: Leisurely walk.
3: 2-5 miles less than 1000 ft of total elevation gain on well maintained trails. About 2-3 hours continuous activity
4: 4-6 miles, about 1000 ft of elevation gain, well maintained trails. About 3 hours of continuous activity.
5: 6-8 miles, about 1500ft of elevation gain on maintained trials. 4-5 hours continuous activity
6: 8-10 miles, about 2000 ft of elevation gain, well maintained trails. 4-6 hours of continuous activity.
7: 10-14 miles, over 2500 ft of elevation gain, variable trail conditions possible. Full day of continuous activity.
8: At high altitude. 12-16 total miles, over 3000 ft of elevation gain, variable trail conditions possible. Full day of continuous activity.
9: Technical skills may be necessary. At high altitude with physical elevation gain. Scrambling over rocks likely involved.
10: u gunna die
**If you have any questions or concerns about the physical activity, recommended prior experience, or gear needed on any kind of trip please contact the guides as soon as possible!!
This program is open to all eligible individuals. SC Outfitters operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.
Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact the guides listed above on the trip page. We request that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least 7 days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.