It all started with a TikTok. I wasn’t planning a major hiking trip anytime soon, but as soon as I saw the turquoise waterfalls of Havasupai flash across my screen, I knew I wanted to go right away. Scratch that….. I knew I wanted to take my son.
We’d been talking about planning a hiking trip together. He’s really into hiking and the outdoors, and I wanted to do something special before he heads to high school. Havasupai looked epic, but there was a big catch You need permits, and they can sell out fast.
I learned permit sales opened on February 1, so I made an account, set an alarm, and timed it just right. We were actually at the beach with my mom that day. While we were walking along the shore, I pulled out my phone, refreshed the page at the time they opened, and snagged the exact dates I wanted. It felt a little surreal. We went to breakfast afterward, and I casually started showing my son TikToks of Havasupai. When he said how cool it looked and that he’d love to go, I smiled and told him, “Well, we are.”
This trip wasn’t something I’d dreamed about for years. Honestly, it was impulsive. It was VERY impulsive. But it came at the perfect time. My son’s heading into high school, and I’m really aware that the seasons of childhood are flying by. I decided I want to plan one big trip each year—just the two of us. Havasupai was the first.
Physically, we were in good shape. He trains several days a week for sports, and I run six days a week. We didn’t take this trip lightly though. We added hill training, did some test hikes and camping nights close to home, and made sure our gear was solid. I think part of the fun was in the prep.
What started as a spontaneous scroll turned into one of the most meaningful trips I’ve ever planned. In the posts to come, I’ll be sharing every detail…. from the hike in to the waterfalls that made me almost cry, the gear I’m glad we packed (and what we didn’t need), to what I’d do differently if we go again.
If you’re planning your own Havasupai adventure, or just love reading about incredible hikes, stay tuned. I’ll be posting our full itinerary, permit tips, packing lists, daily recaps, and honest reflections from both me and my son. There’s so much more to share.
