Have you seen the short book on Amazon written by a guy who did the Little Colorado down from Cameron?

The result wasn't perfect but at least we tried... and in the process lost some really valuable time. After 40 minutes of hell, we changed into our hiking boots, loaded up with water and shot up the hill. Eventually, we were led to a series of red walls that provided a flat, hard surface for our feet. I unhooked my pack as I approached the beach and let it drop to the ground as I approached the river. Using our sticks to poke and prod the rocks ahead of us, we slowly picked our way across at a snail’s pace. He was on the fence anyway but easygoing in nature, just went with the flow and said he would go. It doesn't. That noise probably saved all of our food from being consumed before dawn.

I was still pretty determined to get to the confluence but the rest of the group was not feeling it.

Refill water bottles near Tanner Rapids or continue north (upstream) on the Beamer Trail. I expected our daytime highs to be in the 60s and 70s, with nighttime lows in the 40s. He may ask your favorite color. Please, please, please used Leave No Trace practices here!!!! Our feet were aching, especially from our toes pounding into the top of our boots. Whenever you stepped into the river, there was a chance of either sinking deeply or hitting some very sharp rocks that could not be seen through the chocolate. The trail was much better on the South side and I made good time to the confluence with the Colorado River, about 13.5 miles from Blue Springs and 57 from Cameron. ". Some of the mud you could walk on, but some of it would immediately pull you in and if you stood there long enough would be up to your waist in a few minutes. Salt Trail to Colorado River via LCR Click on photos to see larger image. This website participates in affiliate marketing.

Then, set your odometer to zero and drive 12.5 miles. The 58 mile gorge is steeped in ancient history and religious significance, and despite its beauty and splendor, the gorge remains infrequently traveled.

He would meet us in Cameron, a dusty Arizona town on the Navajo Nation. We were confident that it would be blue and 70's after triple-checking the river conditions on the, The sun took an incredible toll on each of our bodies and from what I could tell, Kellie was suffering the worst.

Boulder and travertine. The Little Colorado River can be a dangerous place and one that is very difficult to reach on foot. Big views open up hiking on top of the Tapeats sandstone layer. backcountry permits through Navajo Nation. To start, drop off the South Rim from Lipan Point on the Tanner Trail.

Sandbank. Plus, we knew the bushwhack downriver would seem like a really long mile that would end with our first river crossing to reach the campsite. Most of the color was gone from her face and she was definitely not her normal self. Note: The Navajo and Hopi Nations have closed the trail. The camp across the river is very popular with rafters in the Winter because it gets nice morning sun. You can still see plane debris glittering in the sun on Chuar Butte. Explore the leftovers of a nearby copper mine then head north again along the Colorado River where the Beamer Trail will quickly ascend to the top of the Tapeats Sandstone cliffs just North of Palisades Creek. About midnight, a ring tail cat (they’re all over the place at the Grand Canyon) knocked an apple on the ground and woke us. Most trips will plan a stop here, especially if the water coming out of the LCR is blue instead of brown. The trail skirts the Tapeats cliffs for 6 miles in and out of small drainages until the junction with the Little Colorado River. There, I was referred to some dated trip logs.

By the time of our trip in early January, two of my friends were still committed to joining me for the adventure. I highly recommend a water filter. It is definitely a worthwhile adventure, as I'll get to when I write more about our epic second day.