Havasu Creek

We pulled ashore and followed the winding footpath up Havasu Creek, where clear turquoise water spilled over smooth limestone ledges and coursed between sculpted rock walls. The contrast to the dark, muddy Colorado was striking — cool, vibrant pools shimmered in the sunlight, inviting tired feet and quiet reflection. We waded upstream through gentle cascades, the water silky and cold against our skin, and paused beneath overhanging cliffs where travertine deposits built delicate terraces. The canyon echoed with the soft rush of water and the distant calls of canyon wrens, a serene and otherworldly break from the power of the main river. It was a place to slow down, soak in the beauty, and breathe deep after miles of hard rowing.