Mooney Falls

Speaking of the cliffside descent, I had read that the waterfall was named in 1883 after prospector D.W. "James" Mooney, who died here while attempting to find a way down to the waterfall's base (as if that doesn't build up your confidence to do that part of the hike).

I have also read accounts of a Native American who was found wearing Mooney's boots the day after Mooney himself died. He managed to show Mooney's remaining party how he got down to Mooney's lime-crusted body through a steep path that went through a pair of tunnels. The prospectors have since widened the tunnels and the current "trail" to the base of the waterfall pretty much follows that same path.

While we're on the topic of this scary descent, be aware that the cliffs and ladders towards the base of the descent can be wet from the mist of the waterfall. Thus, the footing can be a bit slippery so be cognizant of that and be sure you've got good hiking boots or other shoes with good traction for this part.

Mooney Falls sits at the far end of the primitive campgrounds about a mile hike from the base of Havasu Falls (three miles of hiking from Supai Village).

There are also smaller cascades downstream from the falls caused by the travertine dam deposits so common along Havasu Creek. These cascades can be interesting photo subjects fronting the main waterfall itself if you make it a little downstream from the cliffside descent.

Apparently, the waterfall used to have a thicker column than the long column you see in the photos here. This change in characteristic was due to flash floods that tend to alter the Havasu Canyon landscape (it's possible that the powerful flash flood in August 1997 was the event that caused the change). In this case, the floods knocked out some of the travertine deposits that enlarged the width of the falls at its top.

Update (5/2009)! Devastating floods in late Summer of 2008 have caused the closure and subsequent re-opening of the Havasupai Indian Reservation to visitors. In the wake of the floods, access to this falls is said to be easier than it used to be. As for the falls' feature itself, not a whole lot changed except for the positioning of rocks and travertine dams near its base.

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View of Mooney Falls from its base

Havasu Creek alongside the campground

View of the falls before making the cliffside descent

Looking back at the main waterfall and one of its lower cascades over a travertine dam


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TRIP REPORTS

• November 29, 2002 and November 30, 2002

GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCES

NEARBY WATERFALLS

• Havasu Falls
• Navajo Falls

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