I did this route approximately 15 years ago with a crappy “Point and shoot” camera and felt it needed a bit more attention from me with a better camera and because I missed it so much. Absolutely beautiful area. I Left on a Monday morning around 0330 hours to make the 9-hour drive and arriving around 2 pm at Lipan Point.

Hopped on the Tanner Trail and made my way to the red banks, which is where it began to rain. With it being later in the day, raining, and a bit tired from driving, I decided to set up camp. Caught some nice shots of the rain as it traveled across the canyon below.

Woke around 6 am and began a 17 mile hike to the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers. Traveled down the Tanner Trail to the Tanner Rapids/Beach, hooked up with the Beamer Trail, which runs along the ColoradoR river for approximately 10 miles. Found a nice beach just west of the confluence and set up camp #2.

Didn’t see another soul so far. Exhausted, I ate a large meal and hit the sack. I woke early the next morning and day hiked into the Little Colorado River Gorge to just north of the Sipapu. Absolutely gorgeous turquoise-blue radium-filled water. Made it back to camp in the early evening and washed myself and some clothes.

Woke early the next morning and headed back to Tanner Beach along the Beamer Trail. Set up camp #4 in a nice alcove of sandstone and trees near the river’s edge. Because of the weight I was carrying (camera gear, water, etc., I woke at 1:30 am and began the long 10-mile-or-so hike back up the dry/waterless canyon. I had also stashed some water (and Clif shots) at a location below the last climb out, which was an excellent idea, since I was running low on water.

I reached Lipan Point at about 8:30, cleaned up a bit and changed clothes, and made the drive back hom in about 9 hours, making back at about 4 pm with the time change. Beautiful trip!!!