Hualapai Tribe building a glass-bottom observation deck 4,000 feet above the Colorado River
Havasu Creek
After reading an article on CNN citing the tribe's poverty and willingness to build this deck simply to get publicity and tourists so that their children can get an education, it made me realize how special our trip was, many years ago. I wanted to share these photos, as I consider this trip to be truly special. After driving out to the rim of the Grand Canyon, we hiked 8 miles straight down into the tribe's village and stayed in their lodge, a simple, but comfortable place to stay if you want to avoid camping in a tent. We brought our own food, but also ate at their simple café.
While chatting with the girl at the lodge's registration, we were suprised to discover that she had attended CSULB and that many people in the tribe were well-traveled. They tend to go out and experience the world, and then return to their homeland.
We then went on daytime forays into the canyon which included the areas above. In all, there are three waterfalls and a great deal of area to explore. It is a secret paradise hidden deep in the western end of the Grand Canyon. You can get an idea of the huge scale of the waterfall on the right by looking at the tiny people below to the left, under the trees. And, yes, the water really was that blue.
Havasu Falls
Right before we left, since it was about to snow, we booked some horses for the 8 miles straight up out of the canyon. We were glad we did, as that hike would have been very strenuous and snow flakes frosted the canyon on the trek upward.
If you are looking for a trip to remember for a lifetime, I recommend trying this one, even if you take horses, or even a helicopter, round-trip, rather than hiking. The tribe exists solely on tourist income.