Mooney Falls
Mooney Falls is the tallest of the Havasupai Reservation waterfalls. It plunges some 190ft in a tall singular column amongst ominous-looking travertine stalactites. The waterfall was named in 1883 after prospector D.W. "James" Mooney died here while attempting to find a way down to the waterfall's base. I have read accounts of a Native American who was found wearing Mooney's boots the day after he 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. Getting to the base of this waterfall is indeed dangerous and scary, but if you take your time, you should get to the base without too much trouble. However, be aware that the cliffs and ladders towards the base of the descent is wet from the mist of the waterfall. Thus, the footing can be a bit slippery. I also wouldn't try this walk if the cliffs are wet from rain - especially in a flash flood. Mooney Falls sits at the far end of the primitive campgrounds about a mile from the base of Havasu Falls (three miles from Supai Village; see the Havasu Falls page for a brief description on getting there). There are also smaller cascades downstream from the falls caused by the travertine dam deposits so common along Havasu Creek. 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. Tell us about your experience with this waterfall. [Back to top] [Go to previous waterfall: Havasu Falls] [Go to next waterfall: Navajo Falls] [Go to the Arizona Waterfalls Page] [Go to the American Southwest Page] [Return from Mooney Falls to the World of Waterfalls Home Page]
|
Looking up at the steep descent towards the base of the waterfall
Looking back at the main waterfall and one of its lower cascades over a travertine dam
