Dawn Gilbertson

The Republic | azcentral.com

Hikers hoping to see the aquamarine Havasupai waterfalls this year have another option besides dialing the tourist office non-stop.

The Havasupai Tribe quietly launched a new website with online reservations this week when bookings began for the 2017 season.

The online reservations went live Thursday morning, according to Tyler Duffy, president of Campground Automation Systems of Nashville. Its Sunrise Reservations system handles reservations for more than 300 campgrounds, RV parks and marinas in North America. It has been developing the Havasupai system for about six months, Duffy said. Tribal officials had said in January that they were working on an online system to reduce booking frustration but that they didn't expect it to launch in time for the opening of the 2017 season.

Duffy said booking volume has been very high and that camping reservations are likely to sell out by the end of Thursday.

Until now, the only way to make a camping reservation in Supai at the bottom of Grand Canyon was to call. Travelers who have tried to get through have been posting their tales of woe on social media since reservations began Feb. 1.

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One post on azcentral's Instagram page said: "At least a half dozen of us called ALL DAY and no one got through.''

Another comment: "I wish."

Keep in mind that the entrance, camping and environment fees have increased this year and all reservations must be prepaid. Previously, hikers paid when they got to the tourist office in Supai.

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