Little Colorado River via Beamer Trail

Starting from Lipan Point (no restrooms or water), the Tanner Trail descends 9 miles and 4,700 feet to the Colorado River near Tanner Rapid. The river will be your first water source, but it can be hard to treat if it's running brown with silt. The at-large camping area at Tanner Beach is popular with backpackers, but you might consider staying here if you can get a permit for this use area (BB9). Otherwise continue on the Beamer Trail into use area BA9.Beamer Trail begins from the mouth of Tanner Canyon and heads upriver near the shoreline. It's not too difficult yet, and there are some decent camping areas by the river. After crossing the mouth of Palisades Canyon (about 3 miles from Tanner Trail) however, the trail changes character. Tapeats Sandstone cliffs make hiking along river level impossible past Palisades Creek.The trail climbs 300 feet on a talus slope to top the Tapeats, then begins a long, undulating traverse along exposed ledges and through steep side drainages. Although it's decent tread and easy navigation much of the time, you'll need to mind the drop off in places, and keep an eye out for cairns to help cross the drainages.The next place you might access the river is about 1/4 from the confluence, so you'll need to be prepared with plenty of water from Palisades Canyon or before. After hiking about 9 miles from the bottom of Tanner Trail, you'll finally see the milky blue water of the Little Colorado River. The color is from dissolved calcium carbonate, a mineral introduced in high quantity by the limestone aquifer that feeds the river miles upstream.

The Little Colorado River, and the site of the confluence in particular, is of deep significance to several Native American groups including the Hopi, Zuni, and Navajo. Please treat it with reverence.