Arizona – Camp at Havasupai

Sharing with Neighbors

The campground is a bit of a free-for-all. I found it fascinating how people set up hammocks over the river or their campsite on the islands. There are no designated spots when you camp at Havasupai, so be nice and share your site or picnic bench. We were beyond grateful when kind people offered to share a campsite with us when we exhaustedly tried to find a spot on the first day. Many of the flat areas are odd-shaped and allow for multiple tents to be set-up, albeit in close proximity. If you are having difficulty trying to find a spot, ask to share. Also, if you have extra room around you, offer to share with exhausted looking strangers. I know they are still tweaking the permit system, but I believe they have it set up so that there will be enough room for everyone.

The campground is a mile long, so it is able to hold a significant amount of people. But at the same time, don’t let it shock you if it seems like every campsite is full. I’ve mentioned it in my other blog posts about Havasupai, but it’s worth reiterating: do not expect to be alone at any time in Havasupai. It is simply too popular. Everyone I met at the campground was kind and helpful, but it was busy, even in mid-October. There was a constant stream of people coming into camp and leaving. Though people generally quieted down between 8 and 10 pm, there were also people up by 3 am to start packing out. Mentally prepare yourself, but also physically prepare yourself by bringing earplugs and an eye mask, if you are a light sleeper.

Your First Choice Isn’t Your Final Choice

If you get to camp later than expected and there only seems to be the “not so great” spots available, do not fret. First, ask to share. If you don’t want to share, then camp at the “not so great” spot for the first night and move the next morning. There is a fair amount of movement every day with people hiking in, people hiking out, and others moving campsites. The campground is a free-for-all, so don’t feel obligated to stay in one spot. It’s more work, but it will be worthwhile if you are going to enjoy yourself more in the new spot. This is another reason I recommend staying three nights – get yourself a good spot for at least 2 out of 3 nights!

If you plan to move spots, I recommend doing so in the early morning before the new batch of hikers make it in for the day. Most people hike out pre-dawn or very early, so you’ll likely be able to move your things as soon as you wake up for the day. Another thing you can do is ask the people at your desired spot how many nights they are staying and when they plan to hike out. It is not a secret that they will be leaving eventually, so don’t be afraid to ask. A girl did this on our last night and we were more than happy to let her know that we were leaving at 4 am the next morning.

What I didn’t love is people “claiming” an area with a couple items for an extended period of time. If you’re going to move, get up early and move. Don’t take up two spots and confuse the new batch of hikers who just hiked 10-miles. Common courtesy people.

Critters

I had read a TON about the squirrels, raccoons, and small critters that will go after your food. One morning, while we were getting ready, we saw a squirrel on the canyon wall drop an entire Cliff bar from its mouth while looking us in the eye. They absolutely will go after your food, but you can be smart about it. First off, don’t make it easy for them. Don’t leave out food unattended and don’t leave food in your tent. We hung our food and anything fragrant from the trees. Not just food, but also trash, sunscreens, lip balms, etc. We had a rope, but also utilized the rope left behind by other campers.

Then, once our neighbors left, they also left a 10-gallon bucket with the lid. They did not bring the bucket, but also used the bucket from the people before them. The buckets are the best way to store food. With a secure lid and heavy rock on top, there is almost no way a raccoon would be able to open it. They may or may night have them in the store (I wouldn’t count on it). You can also pack it in – I saw a guy with a bucket attached to the outside of his pack during our trek out.

Hanging food bags from the tree-ropes was successful and the critters did not eat through the bag packaging. I did notice that a few of the straps had chew marks on them. I honestly think that if they wanted to, they could have eaten through the straps or the bag itself, but there were probably easier targets. Those rat-sacks might be helpful, but making it difficult and using a bucket are the sure shots.

Mosquitos

We brought plenty of bug spray, but hardly used it! I remember putting it on my legs, ankles, and feet in the evenings while making/eating dinner, but was not applying it throughout the day. Please note that we went in mid-October and chose a campsite next to the canyon wall. Do some research if you’re going during a different time of the year or choose a campsite next to the water. There are even a few campsites that are near slow-moving sections of the creek or next to the natural spring. These areas seemed like they might have a higher concentration of mozzies. Even though I did not experience mosquitos, I recommend bringing some bug spray when you camp at Havasupai.