An unforgettable adventure #bucketlistworthy! Just google Havasuapi and you'll start packing your bags immediately! Likes: -The hike down can be pretty tiring mostly due to the length. The first mile of switchbacks was not that bad. It was not that hot during our trip in late September. -Fresh spring drinking water at the camp site = no filtering needed -Vault bathrooms were pretty clean very your standard portapotty, just pack extra TP -The waterfalls were indescribably beautiful, a real living oasis paradise -Everyone was super friendly -Our hosts served delicious Frye Bread which tasted epic after a couple meals of MREs -The water color is so unique and great to bath and swim in -Weather was terrific, not too hot or muggy and nights were around 60s F, really comfortable! -The mule and helicopter services are great for those who need them Dislikes: -We got eaten alive by mosquitoes while camping at the Hilltop camping lot the night before our hike -Our campsite was infested by falling web worm [from the surrounding trees] and web worm feces the entire time we were there. Disgusting! -Raccoons and squirrels got into our packs and trash during the night and even on hikes! -Somebody went through several campsites our last night there and stole a bunch of electronics (GoPros) and cash, keep your valuables in your tent! read more

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This place is awesome. Shangri-la in The Grand Canyon. As advertised! We started hiking down at 9:00 am on a hot June day with temps over 100 degrees, it was HOT! The first part of the hike down is a steep trail of about a mile to the canyon. The trail then gently slopes through the canyon for about 5 miles. Then you descend from Havasupai Hilltop to the Supai Village. This is a strenuous hike with 8 miles of sand, gravel, rock, and uneven trails. In the summer, the heat makes this hike extra hard. I got by drinking about a liter of water. You want to be in decent shape for this hike. About half way to Supai, I am pretty sure I saw a Chupacabra! There are some stray dogs, but this was different, it was one gnarly looking animal. We got to the Lodge about 12:30 pm and rested there for about an hour. We then checked in and got our room at the lodge. Then we went to the Cafe for cheeseburgers and some diet coke. The food isn't great here, but I wasn't here for that. Headed to Navajo Falls around 3:00. As soon as you see the sparkling blue water you understand what the hike is about. It's really something. We had to climb on some rocks to get in and swim in the falls. After almost 10 miles of lugging your backpack around in the searing heat the waterfalls were refreshing. We swam and relaxed for about an hour and then headed back to the Lodge for some rest. The hike back to the lodge was the hardest part of the day. Super hot and we were beat. Got to the lodge, kicked my hiking shoes off cuz those dogs were barking! We got up the next morning and headed to Mooney Falls. The climb down to the bottom of Money is hairy. It's a steep climb down, at times vertical with chains and spikes to hold onto. This is not for everyone, so know your limits. When you get to the bottom your happy you climbed down. It's another world down there. It's nice and cool down there with lotsa shade. We headed back towards lodge and stopped at Havasupai Falls. These falls are better for swimming and playing in the water. We stayed here and relaxed for awhile. Headed back to the village and grabbed some cold gatorades, then went to the cafe for a fry bread taco. It was pretty good. Next morning we headed out at 6:00 am. We headed down the wrong trail and heard a voice say, "Go Left." Thanks to whomever that was!! The hike back was tough because we had some sore feat and were tired from all of the hiking. The morning temps are mild and we had mostly shade for the hike back. The last hour in the sun and up the face of the Grand Canyon was challenging but we did it! All in all - an amazing adventure. Some people go to the Grand Canyon and some people go in the Grand Canyon! Tips; - Wear hiking shoes, or sturdy athletic shoes that have been broken in. - Bring water shoes or sandals if you want to play in the water. - Take advantage of the store and cafe. Lighten your pack by buying food here. - Store takes credit. Stocked with basic food staples & cold drinks. - The lodge has wifi. - Cafe, prices are reasonable. Food is real good after hiking all day. - Best swimming is at Havasu falls. (I didn't see Beaver Falls) - Campsites are right on the creek - picturesque . Fresh spring water available. - Primitives campsites. No campfires. - Summertime daytime heat is brutal, you have been warned! - The climb down Mooney Falls is not for everyone (heights). Know your limits. - SUNSCREEN!!!! - Start early. - Give the "right of way" to the hikers going uphill!! Get out the way! GEEZ! - Send a postcard to someone, it's the only place that has a mule postmark. Thank you to the Havasupai Nation for their gracious hospitality. Commentary You are a guest on an Indian Reservation, and like on most reservations, the Native American kinda do what they want. Their ideas of public decorum are different than yours, not wrong just different. Maybe they are not overly friendly because they are tired of seeing people trample their land. If I was them, I would close off all visitors, before it's ruined. It was unsettling to see the abused and emaciated horses. There is no doubt that some of the residents do have horses that are neglected. Not all, but some of the horse were emaciated, some had open sores with flies, very small fenced areas, and no shade or shelter from the searing heat. I was surprised by this because most Native American revere horses. The pack mules used by the outfitters have a tough job, that's for sure. They are work animals and not pets. I did see a few that had some sores, but nothing cruel, a would consider it neglect. If you have a conscience regarding the welfare of animals, I would not hire the pack mules. It was an incredible experience. read more

I absolutely do not understand the hype about this hike/campsite, not even a little. The "trail" is a wide, dry riverbed with large rocks to constantly trip over/step over. Expect a lot of mud to slip in if it has rained recently. There is also a lot of loose sand and gravel and the "trail" is not always obvious. It is long and brutal, with very little return. The actual reservation/campground had zero blue/green water in sight , and was muddy and brown the whole time we were there. (The beautiful water in the online photos was our sole reason for going). The "dry" reservation had empty liquor bottles strewn on the ground, locals were smoking weed, and there were young children at the campsite, despite the age limit listed on the website. There didn't appear to be anyone in charge, and the disgusting bathrooms only had toilet paper 50% of the time. You also have to pack out your trash, which was comical after seeing how ghetto, trashed and littered the village was. Campsites were right next to each other, so there was zero privacy. Due to the heat, you have to start hiking ideally between 3 and 5am, so be ready to tear down your entire campsite in the dark. This was not worth $800, the 10-mile hike in and out, and the long drive to get to the trailhead. Almost all the rules, everything you're warned about, is a lie, including the squirrels that will "definitely eat all your food" if it's not in a bag up in a tree or otherwise secured (we saw about a total of 3 squirrels the entire trip). If you happen to live in Colorado, there are places much closer, much less expensive, and just as nice, if not nicer, for camping. This was an enormous disappointment, in just about every way possible. Even my husband, who had been looking forward to this for 3 years and is a seasoned camper, though this place was a joke. The waterfalls were pleasant to sit by, and there were cute dogs that would sometime visit the campsite. The animal abuse that appears in other reviews also unfortunately seems to still be true for the poor horses and mules. read more

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Rather than duplicate what others have said about the area or add flowery yoga kinda Hallmark card references to the area (which are all true) I'll try to add some notes that may be useful to others. Obtaining the permits They open their books for the season on Feb 1. Between two of us we (no kidding) we probably called over eight hundred times before we got someone to answer and that was on the 5th day after opening. We tried the four phone numbers one after the other constantly. Over and over. You have to be persistent. We saw the phones in the camping office when we checked in, all of the lines were lit up and the folks there answer them when they can - or choose to. Getting there - Set your GPS to peach Spring AZ. Indian road 18 is about 4 miles out of town. https://www.google.com/maps/place/35%C2%B033'10.9%22N+113%C2%B018'42.0%22W/@35.5530213,-113.3138637,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0 Turn onto the road and drive for 60 miles. You'll reach the trail head where you can camp if need be, before you head out Hiring a horse to bring your gear down 187.00 (r/t) paid for ahead of time. For that you can have up to 130 lbs of bags. -Hilltop/trail head. Bags are supposed to be placed on the pallets by the office by 10am with your green tags on them. -Campgrounds. Bags are supposed to be placed in the corral by 7:30AM, with the green tags on them. Bags arrive at the campground anywhere from 2-5:30 ish. If you drop your bags and leave early you will be at the falls long before your bags arrive. I would suggest to bring a change of cloths and water shoes so you can change and hang out at the falls. Cel Coverage We had Verizon and Metro PCS. Good reception up to Route 66 then it became spotty. Good reception in Peach Springs which promptly dropped off before we got to the Indian road No reception on the Indian road At the trail head - right at the trail head - we had GREAT reception. The hike down - Don't know. We had our phones off. In the village - we had pretty good reception. It dropped off once we left the village on the hike down to the camping area At the camping area - For Verizon (maybe others) there is a spot between Havasu Falls and the ranger station that worked. There were lots of people that would go to that spot to try to call out. Past the ranger station the signal dropped off. Water in the campground There is a single water outlet - a PVC pipe sticking out the side of the canyon that has water running out of it. It's totally drinkable. So much so we were still drinking it a couple of days later from our water bottles after we left. This is the only water in the campground so I would suggest bringing an extra multi-gallon collapsible jug for your camp. The water is about ¼ of the way into the campground from the ranger station. Watch out for the horses on the hike! Not on the climb up or down the canyon - in the dry river bed. When you hear or see them, get out of the way. They'll run 2-3 wide down the trail. The locals There are lots of comments about the local on other sites. I would use the term 'indifferent' to describe them. It was tough to get a hello out of them or even make eye contact. There were a couple of exceptions where someone would say 'hello', 'how are you', which was nice and kind of took us by surprise. You can get a little more conversation out of the rangers or the folks working at the store. Condition of the animals The locals use horses for everything. With the exception of a couple of ATVs in town - there are no cars/trucks we could see. Some of the horses stay in the yards of their owners. I don't know squat about horses but these aren't show horses by any means. They work every day. The look lean and mean and they all looked well cared for. We didn't see anything you could call mistreatment or abuse at all. The dogs all have collars, are dirty and per the rules you are not supposed to feed them or play with them. The dogs kinda act like the locals. Helicopters They don't run every day - check the schedule People start lining up before dawn, they don't start flying until 10 am. (FWIW, our group in just BASIC shape hiked the 12 miles in 4 hrs and 30 mins.). We were at the trail head before that first person waiting for a ride since 5am got there. On our hike out we watch the helo make two runs and we didn't see it again when we left (about noon). YMMV Mooney and Beaver falls You've watch the YouTube video of people coming down the side of the canyon with the chain ropes, wet slippery steps and ladders - Much different in person ;-) Worth the effort. Hike to Beaver falls is two miles but 'technical' read more

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THE HIKE: Backpacked down before sunrise. Got out of the car in the pitch dark to have the crap scared out of me by the stray dogs. Bring extra snacks for the strays for the way down. You will get rid of them quickly so it's not a big deal with weight. Those animals well being depends on the kindness of strangers passing through so bring dog treats! Some of them are so incredibly sweet. THE CAMPGROUND: *****TOURISTS**** Let me just start off saying that my heart ached and was saddened at the state in which tourists left the campsites. There were toxic "cooling packs" thrown riverside, cigarettes, plastic, toilet paper, etc. all over my campsite when we first arrived. I packed out every single piece of trash that I saw. If you are going to go and enjoy this pristine place, let's keep it clean. *Composting* toilets. I went in November when I knew there wouldn't be huge crowds. There were only a few people at the campsite during the whole trip, so that was a plus. If you are going to do hallucinogenics, keep your friends close and make sure everyone has a headlamp and someone is sober in your group. Some guy got lost in the dark from his campsite, and a nice man helped him find his friends. The kid was truly freaked out though. BRING PLENTY OF BAGS FOR YOUR TRASH. PACK YOUR TRASH OUT. read more

Havasu Falls - Hiking Near Me

I went to Havasupai in October 2014 and again for five days in April 2017, then again in September, October and November 2017 and it was absolutely blown away. People always say that this place is amazing but you have no idea until you go in person and see for yourself. For those that talk down about the natives and their village they are completely wrong... Every experience I had with them was positive and enlightening. Bring cash to pay for horses or helicopter rides out in case you are not able to make the hike. This place is a magical spiritual location and needs to be treated as such. It is about a 14 mile hike from the hilltop down to the campsite and all the waterfalls are miles apart so plan on hiking at least 35 miles in a couple days. I ended up hiking 45 miles in four days. All in all it is 100% worth it and you need to give yourself multiple days in order to experience the entire reservation. Be respectful to the people that live here, they are kind enough to share their home with you. PLEASE LEAVE NO TRACE. read more

Famous Havasupai Greatness Earns Its Reputation! Havasu Falls lives up to its reputation as one of the greatest wonders of Arizona. The majestic waterfall crashes down from the rocks above into the pool of wonderfully turquoise blue water below. Crowds of people laying around on the sandy beaches and sitting on stumps of wood as well as lounging around in pools of water with their families and on inner tubes make the scene a pleasant place. This picturesque aquatic garden is one you don't want to miss. If you live in Arizona or you're taking any trips there in the near future be sure to get a permit to the have a Supai nation and get out and check these wonderful waterfalls in this area. This is definitely one of my favorites in Arizona as well as the other waterfalls here. This one also is one of the closest to the village and campground so getting there when you're already out here even if you're tired will be no task at all! read more

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I wish I would have read these reviews in more detail. There is no gasoline at Peach Springs. We were coming from Kingman so we had to go on to get gas in Seligman. Thirty miles so no big deal, but I was really surprised that there was no station in Peach Springs -- at least for tourists. The drive from Peach Springs to the hilltop is a lonely one, but I LIKED it! We wanted an early start at 0300 so we slept in our truck and headed down in the wee early morning. Trust me, that's the only way to do it in the summer. Make sure you bring headlamps and extra batteries. Trekking pole are also a must if you want to preserve your knees. It's steep down to the canyon floor for the first 1.5 miles or so. Then it's pretty flat walking. We decided to really make an adventure out of it and pack everything in. We took freeze dried food, nuts, dried fruit and MRE crackers, cheese and PB. We decided against the weight of a tent and took only sleeping bags and pads. Invest in the ultra-light ones. Bring a backpacking stove and a good knife. Make sure you are wearing good hiking boots and carry more water than you think you will need. Get a good floppy hat and some decent sunglasses. Most people should wear sunscreen. The clothes you need for summer are minimal. I took a couple pairs of shorts, a couple tank tops, underwear, good hiking socks and light water shoes. I also took a light windbreaker and one pair of jeans as we rode back up. You could wuss out and have the mules carry everything and live in luxury, but that's hardly an adventure. Each mule/horse will carry no more than 130 pounds. The hike was so fun!! For a desert, canyon lover it is paradise. The town of Supai (8 miles from the Hualapai Hilltop) was a little Oasis with two stores, a cafe and a post office among other things. Stay on the main road. It's rude to trespass. People live down here and respecting their privacy is a must. After checking in (and attaching tags to your packs and any daypacks you will carry anywhere on the reservation), it's on to the campground. First you pass Navajo Falls (the new Navajo Falls that is). Next you will be at the top of Havasu Falls. Ah me!!!! I will never again be in such a paradise. I've been to Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai and Maui and this beats them all. When you reach the bottom of Havasu Falls, the campground is a hop, skip and a jump away. Find you camping spot. Each comes with a table. Attach your remaining tag visible at your campsite. Then go explore. We only had the strength to go swim in the pools at Havasu Falls and then later go look from the top of Mooney Falls. After a game of Frisbee, we fell asleep looking at the stars. The next day we went down Mooney Falls. That climb down is not for the faint of heart, but SO WORTH IT!!! Then go on to Beaver Falls. If you are really feeling up to it, continue on to the confluence of Havasu Creek and the Colorado River. There is such scenery and fun places to swim along the way. This is where good hiking/water shoes come in handy. There are so many stream crossings that necessitate taking off boots. The next day we took a couple of side hikes up some canyons and then hiked the 2 miles into town for a soda and some Supai Tacos. I also mailed a few postcards. It's fun to get back and get a card postmarked and carried by mule train. When we got back, a cool lady was selling jewelry and frybread by the campground. I chose this cool hematite and blue beaded necklace. I've received so many complements on it. Then we took another swim at Havasu Falls. The next day we waited for our horses and pack mules. The ride back out to the Hilltop was the best ride I've ever been on. The horses and mules make that round trip every day and they are in incredible shape. They run at a good trot most of the way. The stories about ill-kept and emaciated horses and mules was not evident. There were one or two very thin horses in yards along the road, but it is clear that the stories have been exaggerated. These animals are their livelihood. It may bother the uninitiated that the horses are driven so many miles, but I can tell you that they are in better shape than most. Try taking your saddle horse on an 22 mile ride. These animals are strong and fit. This was the best vacation I have ever taken. We went to the South Rim after this, but there is no comparison to being in the canyon in such a paradise. I'm going back the first chance I get. read more

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Wow, what an amazing experience! My former rommie Erin A. invited us on this adventure and in May we put together a group. The hike in to Havasupai is 10 miles and is completely worth it! The waterfalls are breathtaking and you feel transported to someplace exotic! The night before our hike we stayed in Flagstaff, woke up at 2am the next day and drove the rest of the way to the trailhead. The hike took us about 5 hours and we were exhausted! Definitely recommend starting realllly early so that it's not too hot, before 6am would be ideal. On our hike out we started around 4am to beat the heat, I'm not a fan of the Arizona heat lol. We set up a cute campsite and camped out for the next two nights in our little tents. We were near a fresh spring so getting water was really convenient. The campgrounds have picnic tables and bathrooms as well. Reservations for camping open February 1st and they fill up fast! We made our reservations the second week it opened and were unable to get the weekend of our choice but luckily another weekend still worked out for us. I definitely recommend hiking in April or May. The temperature was in the high 80s and mid 90s while we were there and it was HOT! We also reserved a mule to carry some of our gear which was really helpful, we packed A LOT of food. They also have a helicopter ride ($85 each way) and horseback riding ($93.40 each way). There is lodging there as well for $145 per night (sleeps 4) includes running water and AC! Price breakdown: Entry fee $35 Environmental fee $5 Camping $17x2 nights $34 Mule $187 round trip (divided by 5 people in our group) $37.40 each As you can see, this adds up! It's an expensive camping trip but I think it's well worth it. read more

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One of the best backpacking trips I've been on! The hike in was brutal especially at night. It took us a good 5 hours trekking our way through the dark, but eventually of course found our way. Needless to say, during the day out it took us only about 3 hours. 8 miles to the village and 2 more to the camp grounds. The 1st mile down was downhill, but the rest of the way was pretty leveled. I'd say difficulty level is about 6 out of 10. Wish I could train here daily! The village itself is dinky and not much going on. 2 grocery stores and I recommend going to the 2nd one you see as you walk towards the camp grounds since everything is about 80% cheaper! Point being, if you're thinking about carry a bunch of food forget it! The store has everything you need. I'd say pack some freeze dried food for camping. One per night is fine. The waterfalls here are AMAZING! You wouldn't think you're here in good o AZ while swimming in the lake and waterfall. Pictures don't really do this place justice I say go and do it! Things to know -- bring watershoes! Of course don't forget your camera :) Overall, pack light, don't bring your suitcase. Hammick is a plus, but tent and pad is not a bad idea either in case it rains. Sleeping bag is based on the temperature. 2 nights stay is more than enough so 2 shirts and shorts max (yeah you're gonna stink but shower off at the river or waterfall!) Buy your snacks at the store and just bring your freeze dried food and don't forget the burner! Finally, I feel bad for the animals! Animals are malnourished and beaten! Stray dogs follow you everywhere while the horse are so weak they can bare stand. I felt bad to have a mule bring our packs up! Point is it's sad to see this happening and what little is done. Lack of education is a plus and I wish there was more I could do to help. In the end, we move on with our lives and push it to the back and try not to think of it. - Enjoy! read more

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A trip of a lifetime. What a beautiful, magical place. I cannot really describe the beauty. My review will be mostly about the practical things that surprised me. We visited over memorial day weekend 2014, and we had to call back in February to get reservations. It was way over-booked. Someone told us it was a "mistake" however, with a poor village sustained only by tourism, I wonder if it was truly a mistake? There were close to 600 people at the campgrounds and it certainly wasn't designed to hold that many people! We were never alone, there were always people around and in our pictures. There were lines for everything. The toilets in the campground filled up by the 2nd day we were there. Yes, filled up, to the brim. Not the most pleasant aspect of our trip. This village, Supai, AZ, is not as remote as I thought it was. There is free wi-fi at the village center. There is a grocery store that sells fresh fruit (be prepared to pay $3 for 1/4 watermelon and $7 for raspberries). There is a cafe that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We paid for mules to take our packs down and I wonder if it was worth it? We could have packed very lightly and just purchased food from the grocery store, then carry the food the rest of the 2 miles from the grocery store to the campground. The mules left from the hilltop at 10am. This guaranteed that you will be hiking in full sun with no protection from the heat for the first 2 miles. It was nice to hike in the 8 miles at a leisurely pace; the rest of our group members carried their 50 lb packs and could not walk the next day. We were refreshed and ready to explore more caves, waterfalls, rivers, and my poor friends were too tired to really do anything else. We took the helicopter ride out; we waited around for for 6 hours, for a 4 min ride. No advance reservations and no guarantee the helicopter will even run that day. Some other campers paid for a mule AND a helicopter ride just in case they couldn't get on the helicopter. We waited in line at 6:30am and some people had camped out the night before. We thought that the list would be passed down from the front of the line to the end. The people operating the helicopter flew in at 7:45 am, then went to the front of the line and everyone sorta rushed the poor man organizing it. What a mess. People were very anxious and defensive, especially the ones that had been waiting all night and then they were just passed up by some rude people rushing ahead of them. The list isn't even numerical either. I have no idea how it was organized. They tell you to pay when they call your name, but if you're not standing exactly there when the man calls your name, they'll pass you up. If you come back and they have called your name in the meantime, you get bumped to the end of the line. They also go by weight, so typically the helicopter can fit 6 people at a time, unless the people are obese and they have a lot of luggage to carry. Also if any tribe members are waiting, they get bumped to the front anyways. The other thing I noticed is that prices fluctuate with demand, and depending on how much you want it. Take USD cash, and take extra because who knows what your price will be? We paid $94 for one mule, $85 each person for helicopter ride and $100 per person to camp for the days we were there. read more

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The hike to Havasu Falls was definitely long, we stayed at the lodge for two nights in order to be able to visit all of the waterfalls there. The hike in took about 3 hours and was almost 8 miles. Definitely bring lots of water and maybe food because everything in the village is super expensive. The locals are nice but you kinda get sense that you're not wanted there, they just mind their business and you mind yours; but you're deff not going to make friends with them. We went in December during the off season, the water was cold but YOU HAVE TO JUMP IN. read more

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My wife is 66 years old, I'm 60 years old. We planned this trip for our 34 years Anniversary on April 2016 and it was the best trip we've ever been on. As many visitors have noted, Havasu Falls boast a beauty that is breathtaking. On the way along the streams to each fall, you would be rewarded with stunningly beautiful, ever-changing panoramic views of the wilderness and the sparkling blue-green water. It's a Paradise on Earth. Watch our pictures video on You Tube. It will take you to a spectacular visual journey to the world's most beautiful waterfalls, featuring a special celestial music by Kevin Wood, song Peace Within. https://youtu.be/HPDRgpAwVGU read more

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Worth every penny and every step! Mooney Falls is a must. Bring grippy shoes for the descent down! And water shoes for walking/swimming in the water. From camp we went to Havasu Falls around 10am on a saturday and we had the falls to ourselves for a good hour! :) Fry bread is perty yummy. The people of Supai aren't rude like previous reviews stated. 90% of the time they were the ones that would greet us first! Make sure you get a real backpacking backpack.. not a cheap Walmart one like we did. Mountain House MRE's are SOOOO GOOD. Love dat Jet Boiler too. I have plenty of tips but I mostly found everything from researching online.. so do your research people! Everyone's gotta try this trip at least once in their lifetime! I hope to do it a second time :D read more

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This is a must trip if your physically capable at least once in a lifetime. Being in the midst of those kinds of natural wonders are incomparable! The hike is a bit daunting but is part of the adventure. The same is true for getting to the bottom at Mooney Falls. It is an adventure also, but worth the effort. The downside; I don't care if there is trash, rude behavior, etc. I'm a visitor so how they want to behave in those ways are their business. What is inexcusable is their treatment of the pack animals. They are malnourished, abused, and literally driven to death. I am by no means an activist (in fact I'm a meat eating hunter) but I would never treat an animal like that, it's truly saddening. Despite this terrible animal treatment-this is THE coolest hike you'll ever take! read more

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BEST TRIP EVER! We took the hike down early Monday morning and camped out until early Thursday. The hike down took us a little less than 4 hours. But the uphill hike back was a lot of work, especially the switchback at the end. Just make sure you hike in and out early to avoid extreme heat. Many people had ski poles to assist in the hike. There are helicopters available to take you to/from the village, but that takes away from the adventure. And you still have another 2 mile (steep) hike to/from the campgrounds. There's phone service in the village so if you have a phone make the last of your calls. I also mailed my kid a post card from their Post Office. We packed plenty of water and trail mix for the hike. My socks were pretty thick, boots had plenty room and broken in. However, I still managed to lose 6 toes nails, but it was all worth it. Wear wool socks for the hike, wish I had. The hike back up nothing looked familiar. Feels like your lost at times. But I just followed the horse and mule poo and was fine. Also, please do not be discouraged taking on this trip. It's something you DO NOT want to miss. We book our trip way in advance for May of 2015. I got pregnant that March didn't know how it would turn out. But I did everything there was to do in the Grand Canyon including but not limited to the climb at Mooney Falls and hike to Beaver Falls. After hearing so much about this place from my co worker whose been there several times. I couldn't miss out, I had to see it for myself. There's so much to say about this beautifully hidden gem. I know I can't wait to go back, but I might consider taking the helicopter out this time around. I had my experience, so I'm good. read more

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After reading endless blogs, websites, reviews, I will condense a very thorough review of my very recent experience. (2 days ago) Am I in America!? Is this earth?!? This place is perfection! The hike down: can you do it? The way down isn't bad. The first two miles are a steep downhill the Grand Canyon. The It's gorgeous but rough on knees. The rest is relatively flat at a very slight decline that's unnoticeable until you feel the slight incline on the way up. It's 8 miles to small town. 10 to campsite. The hike up: wooooooo hooooo! Its beautiful and I'm glad I did it but It's hard! I will never do it again. I recommend hiking down, but helicopter back. I felt amazing but the hike up was not for the faint. Pack horses/ abuse: You can use pack horses for your bags. I didn't because there are multiple reviews of mistreat and neglect. The horses looked better at my visit, and no dead horses, but we saw a foal in a corral with no shade at all in 110 degree heat My friend also saw the locals throw a stick at the horse and laugh. A tradition of animal abuse is culturally engrained in the locals and may be difficult and possibly impossible to change. The locals: hit and miss. Some were outgoing, accommodating, and genuine, others seemed difficult. There's a cultural difference in play with resentment which is long lived be complex. When I inquired about the helicopter, many locals working at the fry bread shop, the grocery store, and in the town would not provide information. It was like pulling teeth. The men outside the dinner were blatantly commenting on females and laughing while in appropriately engaging them. The worst: I was followed by a man obviously highly Intoxicated in a way I have never seen. He claimed to be from "tokyoindia" and "flew here from his high. Rise.... I mean pent house in tokyoindia on my private jet." They "took all his belongings and his jet and all his bags, but he's trying to believe cuz they say he belongs here." He then pulled out a voice recorder and started recording me. He aggressively beckoned me to sing while he recorded. Chills went down my spine. He then asked me to buy him hand sanitizer and asked me for my ID, credit card, and check book. Thankfully, I caught up with my group but something was very wrong. Do not leave females alone here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best part: ooooooooohhhhhh you must see this! Mind blowing! The color is real- not photoshopped. You can jump off so many waterfalls. It's like a real life playground. Bring a floatie and float down the river. There are over 6 miles of hikes from campground Do t hike it- floatie it!!!! It's a blast! Trash: yaaaa, not really. Occasionally. I know the hike is long but don't drop that bottle. Don't be that person. That person is just like you and I. Don't. Do. It. The campground: everyone is high on life and having a blast! The campground d is great. Beaver falls: I k ow you are tired from hiking I , but go to these falls. The hike is amazing and it's sooooo worth it! The town: not great, but better than I thought. There's a dinner, two small grocery spots with limited produce and endless chips and crummy food. The general vibe of the town can be uneasy as it is clear that the locals have I Tehran problems which need resolution. I saw a federal police officer with a local writing a huge book of what looked like citations. I couldn't help but assume it looked like a drug bust, although I had no idea. The town is poverty stricken and the wild dogs and abused animals are a all a reflection of the struggles facing this small community. The helicopter: doesn't run on Wednesdays. FYI Any questions, let me know! read more

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This is my 3rd time visit Havasu falls I would give it 5 stars if not for my traumatic experience. Don't get me wrong the place is so beautiful I call it "the paradise@ the blue green water and lavishing waterfalls make your jaws drop! That's why I pay it a visit every year. My recent visit last Oct 9 to 12 made me think twice if I should come back. Our first night we got robbed and not just us I mean almost everyone in the campsite I heard complaining their valuables such as wallets,cash and go pro's. I always secure my stuff inside the tent every time I go camping. This time we left our backpacks outside our little tiny tents and our signature Sunglasses were stolen a Swiss knife and a branded jacket. It's heart breaking that somebody has the nerve to break in ur stuff and steal and it happened twice but of course in the second attempt the thief didn't get anything. So I am warning you all SECURE ALL YOUR VALUABLES!!! read more

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It's beautiful but you have to have an off road vehicle if you take the rough trail that's from the side off the I15. I wish some one would of told me this. If you truck is low you will get stuck. read more

This place was seriously the best vacation I ever took!!! Please see the attached pictures. It doesn't do it justice. I will be back! read more

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The Falls are as beautiful as all the viral videos and pictures depict them as, 5/5 stars that was worth the hike for. The reason I'm giving it a 4/5 is the abusive mule sights that many other reviews have mentioned. If you're going to come for the sights, either backpack like a champ or utilize the helicopter service ($85 for you AND your bag). Otherwise, you'll be part of the reason why the mules/horses and guide dogs are abused. If we think the hike itself is hard, imagine them backpacking 20+ bags each trip multiple times a day under the relentless sun and sharp gravel. Naturally, the trail is littered with poop but that's not anyone's fault. You're in nature, after all. Other notable tips: - 1000 ft descent during the first 1.5mi. What goes down must come up... - check in @ Supai. It'll be another 2mi before the campsite so use the bathroom here - more campsites are available the farther you are from the campsite entrance - only one water source; we got lucky and snagged the spot right by it at 5-6pm - if you want to be RIGHT on the river, keep going in the direction of Mooney Falls - bathrooms are clean and have plenty of TP and hand sanitizer - hammocks everywhere - start the (rather treacherous) hike to Mooney and Beaver Falls early if you're coming in the fall; the sun set around 5pm in late Oct read more

A looooong overdue review for this place. Oh Havasupai, how I miss you so. I planned this trip for my 25th birthday this year & it was seriously the best trip I have ever been on. We went at the end of July so it was very hot at the time but we hiked in at 4am & arrived to the campground around 10am or so. It was an 8 mile hike to the village & then an additional 2 more miles to the campground. The first start of the hike is switchbacks but once we got down to the canyon, it wasn't so bad & the canyons covered us. But man, once we had to hike the 2 more miles in, it was HOTTTTTT!!! Once we got to the campground, we got a pretty sweet camping spot. It was great cause we had a pretty large party, 22 of us. Most of us had hammocks & some had tents. We had snacks & mainly ate MRE food the whole weekend. Now onto the waterfalls. My oh my. I will never forget the beauty of each & every waterfall we saw. They were all so beautiful & breathtaking. Words can't even describe & pictures does not do justice at all. There were 6 different waterfall that we saw. Havasu Falls, Fifty Foot Falls, New Navajo, Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls & Hidden Falls. The blue-green water of the falls were stunning. This place should definitely be on every hiker/backpacker's list. The hike in is long & hard but so worth it. If you don't wanna hike in, you can take a mule or helicopter in. We hiked in & took a helicopter out. Reservations open February every year for the year so make sure you book ASAP if you wanna go cause they get booked fast! And be patient w/ the calls, I hear they only have like 1 or so lines. read more

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Don't be a fool. Hike early!! I suggest 2am-4am or even earlier. Mentally prepare yourself for a 5-6 hr hike going downhill. Pack light... if you can't pack light rent a mule... or fly your bag in. It's also going to smell like poop maybe 60% of the time and possibly groups of mules will passing you by hauling stuff leaving you in a cloud of dirt.. maybe get a light hiking mask. Don't ask people how much longer because they're all going to say about 30 mins and they are lies. 5-6hr hike! (Assuming quick 2-5 min breaks). When u reach the check in point... it's about another 1.5hrs. Don't get discouraged.. stay positive So you're gonna reach Navajo Falls... go in there for a bit and relax for a little R&R baby.. that's about the halfway point to camp ground. Going further... you're going to hear the water crashing and falling.. yea that's Havasu Falls.. up to u to go in now or go find a nice place to set up camp and then come back. Warning. From the information I gathered... the water is really cold year round and the current is slightly strong. Don't buy those cheap water shoes. You really need to spend more money on that gear more than anything else. If you don't, prepare yourself to have cuts and slips on ur feet from the rocks... also slippery. In my opinion, the hike was only difficult because of the load I had to carry into Supai... if I had my usual water bladder and some snacks.. I would have went in without a problem with my trekking poles, despite the poop everywhere (literally everywhere). The trail was littered with poop. Traveling alone I find is a waste... the moments are bigger when you are able to share it with more people. I watched videos of what people packed so that was pretty helpful. I would minus the amount of food I brought though because it made the load a little heavier than it needed to be. I also would use extra lightweight gear. Don't like the sun? Bring that lightweight umbrella. My lips got sunburned. I really wish I had that umbrella. That would have offset the weight of the sunblock/sunscreen. If you're really hungry, they sell food there no worries bring some money or cc. Oh yea. The mosquitos lit me up big time they come out exactly when the night Falls. You're gonna have a lot of fun if u let those mosquitos into ur tent. I smelled some incense from our neighbors camp, I don't think it helped. Some cool people we hanging up hammocks and I saw some Christmas lights up in another camp. I thought that was dope. I would have gave it 5 stars if the water wasn't so cold. Could barely swim in there. You hiked all that time with a heavy load, longing to reach the destination, and when you finally get there, you can't even stay in the water for a long period of time. To each his own, but I really wanted to swim some laps or have nice relaxing sit down. Kinda pissed me off. I also would deducted another start because poop was literally everywhere. Despite this, would have been a 5 star review. Not sure what they can do that fix those two problems, but I'm sure they will be soon if they're planning to charge more money. Anyway, I would recommend to do 2 days and 2 nights. Should be good enough to see Mooney Falls. The views from the hike going in are really nice. If u sit in the large balcony that's connected to their restuarant next to the helipad.. behold, there is an epic view. If you love a challenge and think you're strong enough to hike out of there, go for it, test yourself.. see what you are made of. Word to the wise.. if you're wanting to ask questions about the helicopters.. you should just take the helicopter ride back out. Just take it trust me. Going in is optional. Going out is mandatory. read more

Havasu Falls - Hiking Near Me

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This place was amazing. The hike was about 10 miles. The hike itself wasn't too hard, it was just that you have to carry all your camping equipment with you. You could pay for the villagers to take them for you via horseback and pick it up later in the day as well if you would like. Check out my YouTube video for the whole experience I had. I would definitely recommend anyone who loves seeing nature to check this place out. https://youtu.be/t0Ee6PV3-ns read more

Havasu Falls - Hiking Near Me

Yes the scenery is beautiful but please people pack only what you can carry and do NOT use the packing mules! They are badly abused and malnutritioned! Many tourist have witnessed the tribe members causing harmful abuse to these poor animals please pack accordingly to avoid having to use the helpless animals. read more

Havasu Falls - Hiking Near Me

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This is an amazing backpacking trip that should be on everyone's bucket list if you are physically capable of doing it. It's a 10 mi hike, with gear (between 25-40lbs depending). The Supai people are very friendly- I've never had any issues with them. Be respectful, be friendly, be aware that you are in their land and you won't have issues. The compost latrines at the campgrounds have always been well maintained when I have gone, and the cafe and stores in the villages are clean and stocked w a good variety of necessities (in my opinion). I also feel that the campgrounds are well maintained. This isn't a resort and people complaining generally expect 5 star amenities - you're in the middle of the desert people, enjoying nature on someone else's land. Keep your expectations in check. read more

All of the horses here are malnourished and have cuts all over them. One even fell down and the worker kicked it in the face. They take advantage of the horses because they know it's on tribal land. Please report what you see and carry your own luggage. read more

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I just can't possibly fathom people giving this any less than 5 stars? Are most of the complaints true, yes. Yes there is poop on the trail. But maybe if group after group of 20 something yeah old millennials would carry their own crap in and out instead of paying people to do it then they wouldn't have to go up and down the trail so often. Yes their reservation system is terrible but if you are persistent then you may have some luck. No the Havasupai people are not the friendliest but i never had anyone be rude to me. But excuse them if they aren't pumped about their reservation being taken over by people looking to get their Instagram fix. But let's think about this. It's a Native American reservation 8 miles into the Grand Canyon and you have people complaining like it's a Disney Resort that need to up their amenities. Havasu Falls is easily one of my favorite if not my favorite hikes ever! Pictures don't do it justice! Just do yourself a favor. Go in knowing that it's a long hike, it will probably be hot, the people won't be the friendliest, but it is all worth it when you make it to the waterfalls. read more

What do you do for an encore after exploring the The Grand Canyon on foot and muleback? If you fall in love with the red rock layers exposing five million years of Colorado River erosion, and feel the call of the wild, the only thing that can come close to matching the experience is to immediately book a few nights in Supai, the village at the bottom of Havasu Canyon, the home of the Havasupai Nation. I heard that inner voice beckoning, and upon returning to civilization, contacted the Havasu Lodge for a stay more than a year and a half in advance. I had to call back a month before arrival to arrange for transportation into the canyon on horseback. That meant I would have the companionship of a local guide all the way down the 11 mile trek. I envisioned some great conversation and discoveries I might otherwise miss along the way. I found myself on the ridge overlooking the top of the canyon. There I was met by Churchill (named changed to protect the innocent), who was waiting for me with two horses and a mule. The horses were for us; the mule for my backpack and other gear. If there was a misstep, better to only lose my stuff, and not my life. Churchill wore a broad brimmed black Stetson, and blue denim everything else. He was a compact 5' 6", and had deep black hair and eyes set into his handsome broad dark face. At 6' 3", we had a good laugh about our respective stature. Luckily, my horse was the taller, and I sat high in the saddle, although had a bit of a time getting on board. The mare knew I was a flatlander and wanted to have a little fun at my expense. Funny how you know when a horse is snorting/laughing at you. The first question Churchill asked me was how many horses and cattle I owned. He had more than a dozen, and was very proud of his wealth. I had to admit I did not possess any beasts of burden beyond the 304 horses under the hood of the Z. He was amused, but thought me a poor man for someone my age. Our talk went on from there as we uncovered our cultural differences. When I told him my middle name was Bear (long story), he was surprised, and offhandedly said, "Yeah. You're a white bear." White was right. And, that's how I received my spirit name. The traverse down Havasu Canyon was amazing. The first mile was extremely steep, and the sure-footedness of my stead was unbelievable. She slipped here and there on the hard shale, but never lost balance, nor her passenger. I was glad not to have my backpack weighing me down. That mule was doing fine with it. We left the area topside around 6:00 am, and followed a trail that only my guide and his animals could see. It was still cool from the night, but the sun and heat arrived in force long before 9. We talked about life in this canyon offshoot of the Grand. The walls, a steep orange/red/yellow reflecting deep gold into my eyes. It was also a natural reflector oven, baking everything it touched. Glad I had a hat and wore long pants and shirt. Without them I would have been a crispy critter. We saw and heard wildlife along the way. Coyotes howling. Red tail hawks wheeling on the rising air currents. Snakes sunning themselves on the low flat boulders. Small rodents hiding in the shadows. Three hours later we reached Supai. I was sore, but didn't let Churchill know (He knew anyway). We dropped off the gear at the Lodge, and then went to his home for a beer and to settle our account. I reserved him for the trip back out in four days. He was happy for the business. As terrific as the descent was, what came next was even better. I scored a small topo map of the immediate area, and began to recon the places I wanted to see most. The large Havasu Falls, and the smaller ones leading to it. The pools of heated aquamarine water from underground springs that were in between the village and the falls, where I could bath and relax completely alone. The stream of turquoise flowing above ground that turned desert into flower garden when it rained in the mountains surrounding us. I found my pool and settled in for a therapeutic bath and dreaming. Water temperature a compelling 104 F. Just enough dissolved minerals to cleanse me with a gentle scrub. Enough salts to help me float near the surface. Mesquite and cottonwood trees close enough to offer some shade from the reflected heat bouncing off the rock walls. If this wasn't Eden, I didn't know what was. The next morning, I found the trail back to Havasu Falls, and the route down to the base of the cascade where the force of the water had hollowed out the sandstone and created a beautiful turquoise pool. There weren't many of us there at that hour, and I found myself floating on my back being drawn under the falls. People had been doing that for eons. I was happy to be part of it. These were some of the most spiritual days of my life. So intense that I dream about it still. read more

Anyone that is fortunate enough to be considered "able-bodied" should do this hike because it is absolutely life changing. A 10 mile trek through the canyons and the village of Supai leads you to a magical oasis you have to see to believe. This is not a day hike so make sure you have your gear and reservations to camp for a few days - you won't regret it. After passing the cascading Havasu Falls, you can choose a campsite along the turquoise Havasu Creek and get settled in. Take some day hikes to Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls if time permits, because these hidden gems provide some of the most rewarding views you'll ever see. To top it all off, the Havasupai tribe is so welcoming and they even have a food stand right at the camp for hikers craving a hot meal. I didn't know what to expect when I planned this trip but I can honestly say it went above and beyond in every way possible! read more

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I'm sure the falls are great... I wouldn't know. Maybe I'll change my review if I was ever able to get a permit. Their reservation system is complete garbage!!. 1 day a year on Arizona time (that doesn't observe daylight saving and wasn't stated on their website #falseadvertising) to decide an entire year!? Ridiculous. I understand it's tribal land and they want to limit impact by having a cap on the amount of people allowed in at any given time... but they should have a fair system like a lottery or something similar to what the John Muir Trail does or other highly sought after outdoor locations... Unfair practices and an overall crappy system. Phones are busy for hours, no voicemail or stay on the line, we will take the next caller. I called over 100 times and when it rang it said the circuit was busy... or it went straight to dial tone. Stupid! It's 2018... get your stuff together. Not okay in my opinion. I guess I'll have to try again next year? That statement alone is BS. It may not be public land but it should be open to all especially since i'm sure tourism is this tribes primary source of income. Not cool. read more

Havasu Falls, along with Mooney Falls and Navajo Falls, are all breathtaking! No doubt about it!! Well worth the 8 mile hike in, and the extra few miles to get to all the Falls and play for the day. We stayed at the lodge after calling a few times and finding there was a cancellation; total time from planning to actually making the journey was five weeks. However, the lodge had no hot water our first night there, yet the rooms were basic, but comfortable. The Indian ladies at the reception area were like the rest of the tribe - obese, miserable, unhappy human beings. Do not expect a smile upon checking in, and they will answer questions with a bit of a grudge...if you understand the Native American attitude towards non-Natives, you will lower your expectations about the tribe and be able to go enjoy the falls and the beauty that nature put there for all it is worth! Just be aware: each individual is charged a "environmental fee" that is actually quite steep. One can't help but wonder what this fee is for since garbage and litter everywhere, and the town is basically run down. Nonetheless, it is an expected part the trip, so just go enjoy it for what it is. We decided to ride the helicopter out for the experience, plus our legs were tired from hiking the last few days. But please beware.... if you want to take the helicopter out, being first in line is mandatory, and even then you will have a 4 to 6 hour wait ahead of you. The locals have first priority to get out of the canyon, and any cargo/supplies also have priority, or are sprinkled in among passengers. We arrived at 7:45 AM for a 10 o'clock sign up, and did not lift off to the top of the hill until 4:30 PM. We watched many locals come and go, and a lot of supplies. Also, we went to the post office for a money order to pay since the credit card machine was iffy. Watching the helicopter pilot maneuver that aircraft was awesome - I give him every bit of credit for a full day of flying and getting the job done! Simply said - he is the one who keeps that Village alive! read more

Havasu Falls was such an incredible and exhausting experience. This was my very first backpacking trip and I learned so much from it. One of those things was to never overpack for a backpacking trip and to bring lots of bandages for all the blisters. I would recommend doing lots of research before embarking on this journey. First off, I suggest NEVER going in July. It was unbelievable how hot it got by 10 AM. I think the high was around 120 degrees.. We didn't leave the water once we got to the falls. We started our hike at 3 AM in hopes to make it to the campground before it got too hot but that didn't happen. It's about 9 miles to the town and then another 2 miles to the campgrounds. (The falls inside differ on distance from one another.) It's a beautiful hike once inside the canyon, wild horses run past you and the creek you follow is stunning. It was also surprising how lush some areas would be considering we were in the Grand Canyon in July, I didn't expect so much green foliage. After about mile 10 I wanted to lay down and die in the middle of the trail, we then stumbled upon a dead horse and with how exhausted I was feeling I lost it. (DO NOT RIDE THE HORSES, THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT TREATED VERY WELL.) As you continue on you finally catch a glimpse of the first waterfall and everything starts to make sense again. I saw some of the most beautiful views of my entire life during this hike. You MUST have reservations and permits to hike Havasu Falls. It books up incredibly fast so once registration opens call, call, call! There is a restaurant up in the town and everything is pretty damn expensive considering they are the only place you can get things you have forgotten. I got Gatorade as a nice treat one day and its way $10 for two small ones.. The bathrooms at the campground are very nice. They have picnic tables and water refill stations as well. There are many falls to see once you're in the canyon. I recommend staying for at least three days to see everything and enjoy your time exploring. We only stayed for two days and helicoptered out the next morning. The helicopter is great if you're willing to wait and pay. It's on a first come first serve basis so we hiked up at 4 AM to be the first ones in line, we had to wait about 5-6 hours which was ridiculous. They can only let about 4 people in the helicopter at a time and all the locals are also trying to leave and they take first priority, keep that in mind. BRING LOTS OF WATER! read more

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Havasu Falls are certainly one of the most beautiful sites in the world. Definitely the most spectacular hike I have ever been on. But something needs to change. The abuse of the mules and horses used to carry the packs back and forth is the worst I have ever seen in real life. I have been an equestrian for 22 years and was hesitant when the person planning my trip mentioned that we would be using the pack animals to carry our stuff to the campsite. Rather than researching the equitability of the enterprise, I turned a blind eye and it has turned out to be the most regretful decision of my life. On the hike down, I noticed several horses with large abrasions in the areas where the saddlery and packs rubbed them raw. One in particular was bleeding heavily from his hip and had a huge plastic cooler rubbing deeper and deeper into the open wound. At the campsite, our packs arrived quite late in the evening even though we left quite early in the morning and from what we gathered the reason was that they were over-loaded. I was saddened to imagine them struggling and tripping the whole day with too many packs. When it was time to return, I was heartbroken to see that the group of horses and mules that came to pick up our packs from the campsite to return up the canyon was one of the more emaciated I had seen. The rider was on top of the skinniest of them all. As we were hiking out, I saw the same horse tied to a tree to the side of the trail. I wanted to bring him some carrots and apples from my pack but as I approached I noticed he was shaking all over and blood was running down his rear leg. His front leg was severely gashed and swollen and he couldn't even place it on the ground. He had clearly fallen over the rocky terrain and was in agony. I could tell that this horse would not live to see the next day. I began to sob as I simply turned my back and walked away. That scene keeps replaying in my mind like a horror movie and I keep asking myself the question "What can I do?" I just kept envisioning the Trail of Tears as I continued walking past blood droplets on the rocks. I guess the torch was passed from treating humans this way to treating animals this way. As we arrived back at the trail head, I realized that there was no water for the horses there. I am not sure why this hasn't changed as I have now read complaints about this dating back to 2006. We can waste 1 million gallons of water per week to keep a golf course alive but cannot spare a couple troughs full per day to keep living beings healthy? If you are planning this hike, I urge you to bring a couple extra gallons of water and maybe a bucket to help hydrate the horses before they begin their treacherous journey back down the hill. *NOTE: Avoid offering ice cold water to overheated horses that are still breathing heavily as this may cause more harm than good. There were a few groups of horses which were clearly well-cared for and healthy for which I thanked their handlers as they passed. But from what I gather, there are a few numbers you can call to reserve pack animals from the Havasupai Tourism Enterprise and it is luck of the draw whether your group is owned by a responsible horseman or a person with the attitude that these animals are commodities to be used up and discarded. Awareness is the first step toward change. If you go on this hike, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not use the pack animals to carry your things and consider bringing extra water to hydrate horses at the trail head. I have been grappling with the guilt that I contributed to something so vicious and now the only thing I can hope to do is give a voice to those who cannot speak and prevent others from making the same mistake. If you are interested in getting involved to help rescue these abused animals from their lives of torture, contact Wildhorse Ranch Rescue through http://www.whrr.org/. Please do not make the same mistake I did. read more

Havasu Falls - One of many open, bleeding wounds on the sensitive areas of pack animals. PLEASE do not use this service. - Hiking Near Me

First of all, make sure to get your CAMPING PERMIT by calling the Indian Reservation before they book up for the summer: http://www.havasupai-nsn.gov/tourism.html Directions: I came from LA, which is about 6.5 hours away, so you can drive to Kingman and spend the night there (Motel 6 - $45), then drive to the start of the trail which is about 2 hours from Kingman. Or, you can stay at the Grand Canyon Caverns hotel that's closer by 30 minutes to the trail in Peach Springs. It's a lot more expensive ($100 per night, but you can split room with friends). Or, camp out for the night outside of the trailhead (free), but it's very chilly there in the morning. Parking: Once you get to the trailhead, expect a huge line of cars as this place gets very popular so you might have to park 15-20 minutes away from the trailhead. The best thing to do is to drive to the start-point, unload all of your passengers/cargo there, then drive all the way back to park. Parking is free by the way. Park your car and get to the starting point of the trail. If you have backpacking reservations or paid for a helicopter to fly you in, then check with the only cabin that's there. If not, use the only restroom available (if you need to), and start your 10-mile (one-way) hike in. The hike starts as steep descent with several switchbacks, so bringing poles might be helpful. After about a mile in, the trail flattens out and it's fairly easy hiking at that point. Expect the hike to take you about 3-hours, and 4 hours for the way back because you'll be climbing those steep switchbacks on your return trip. Tip: you can always pay $85 (before you arrive) to make reservations to fly a helicopter on your return trip! There is also (optional) paid mule service for carrying your camping luggage (reserve ahead of time). You'll see attractions in the following order: Supai Village (where Lodging is) - Upper Navajo Falls - Havasu Falls - Campgrounds - Mooney Falls -- Beaver Falls First, you'll come upon a Supai village with a tourist office. If you made camping reservations, check in here and pay to get your camping tag. If you made lodging reservations, don't stop here but continue to the lodging office itself, which is about 5 minutes further. Pay for your room, check in, relax, use your HOT shower (nice!) and private restroom (very nice!), then head out to explore what's around you. Head towards the only way that points to the campgrounds. About 15 minutes in, you'll run into your 1st waterfall "Upper Navajo Falls." It's very beautiful. Once you are down by the water, take a look to your left side and you'll see in the distance another waterfall that's part of Navajo Falls. It's very easy to miss. We hiked over to it, and took some pictures of it, it's very pretty. Continue on the trail for about 20 minutes until you hit your 2nd waterfall "Havasu Falls." Gorgeous. The water stays constant 70-degrees, so it'll feel cool to jump in but you'll warm up rather quickly. Totally worth playing around and even jumping into small pools around the falls. Then, continue further to hit "Campgrounds." This is where you'll be staying if you are camping. There is water source and several toilets around (they actually don't smell, pleasant surprise!). Continue for about 15 minutes to your 3rd waterfall called "Mooney Falls" which is simply amazing. Word of caution, as part of your descend towards the falls, you'll have to climb through a little hole, then climb down using chains and ladders. If you are afraid of heights, this might be a tough descent for you. One lady in front of me got frozen with fear and was stuck on the ladder for 30-minutes half-way (and it's only 1-way traffic) so you can imagine the traffic jam she caused! Visit this Fall early to beat the traffic. The cool thing about Mooney Falls is you can actually continue beyond it to visit your 4th (and last) waterfall "Beaver Falls". The only thing is, it's really far away, about 8-miles (3-hours one-way) so my suggestion is to save this one for next day, so you are fresh when you start it. We thought about doing it the same day when we hiked in, and that was too much. We were exhausted. So save it for your next day of hiking when you are fresh in the morning. Lastly, don't forget logistics, like bringing enough water and food with you. If you are camping, bring everything to camp out 2-3 days. My recommendation is to plan your trip for 3-days. First day to hike, 2nd day to hit Mooney and Beaver, then 3rd day to hike back out. One word of caution, start hiking now to train your body because you'll be doing a LOT of hiking once you start Havasupai trail, upwards of 10-15 miles of hiking daily, so you'll beat up your body pretty bad, especially if you don't condition yourself beforehand. Perhaps most importantly, bring proper hiking shoes for gravel hiking (NOT tennis shoes) and 2-3 liters of water. Also, water shoes are awesome to wear when you go inside all the falls. read more

Located halfway between Supai village and the campground, Havasu Falls is the iconic picture one sees when they look up Havasupai. You cannot miss it as you travel between the village and campground. There are several waterfalls nearby to explore including Upper/Lower Navajo, Mooney, and Beaver Falls. HOW TO GET THERE: (no day hike allowed, and permit is required ~$35 per person per night with advanced reservation, or pay extra for walk-ins) 1. Hike from Hualapai Hilltop trailhead ~10-12 miles into campground, depending on pacing could take up to 4-5 hours 2. Take 10-minute helicopter ride down to village (~$85 one way, first come first served), then hike about 2 miles to the fall/campground TRAIL CONDITION: Going down the canyon, the trail is barren, open, and rugged with lots of little rocks and abundant green horse/mule manure, which at times served as our trail marker. As you get closer to the village, there are more trees and dirt paths. We started our journey arriving at the hilltop trailhead ~6am; most of our group hiked down with a few opted for the helicopter ride. You can choose to hike down with all your backpacking gears or hire mule service to transport the heavy gear to the campground ($187 roundtrip to carry up to 130 lbs/4 large bags). We've seen mules carrying large coolers and duffles. Then upon delivery to the campground, you can use wheelbarrows to push in your bags to the desired campsite. Will consider that to pack in real food next time opposed to the dried freeze food, which were quite convenient to. If you choose the mule service, as long as you tagged your bag with the reservation number and dropped off at the pallet area by the trailhead, you can start hiking down to the village to check in at the tourist center/get the wristband (aka permit) before proceeding to the campsite. VILLAGE: There are two general stores to purchase last minute stuff, microwavable food, and ice cream: one on the outskirt and another one in the middle of the village by the postal office and helicopter drop offs/pick up area. The public restrooms are flushable with sinks. As we walked around in the village, we saw houses with satellite dish and workers facilitating the airdrop packages. CAMPGROUND: The campsites are first come first served with picnic tables onsite, no trash can, so you will need to pack trash out or throw it away in the village trashcan. Toilet papers are provided in the bathroom, but there are no electricity, flushable toilets or sinks to wash off (hand sanitizer foams available outside the bathroom). To preserve the environment, there are composts (wood chips) for you to throw in after you conduct your business. Some bathrooms also have trashcan inside for other non-compostable items. There's a drinkable spring water source via pvc pipe; this is where everyone collects their water, so no washing allowed to avoid contamination. A large capacity water container is recommended (3L - 5 gallons) to reduce the trips between campsites. There are dogs and little mice roaming around, so be sure to pack all belonging inside your tents. Some campers have left ropes between the trees to dry clothing or towels. The whole experience was a pleasant one consider my first time "backpacking." TIP: 1. To get the whole Havasupai experience, it's recommended to stay here for 4 days: Day 1: hike down to campground from hilltop trailhead Day 2: explore Havasu Falls and Navajo Falls Day 3: explore Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls Day 4: pack up, hike up to hilltop and go home 2. If you go during fall time, layering is a must as the temperature varied in a big range from sunny 60 during the day down to chilly 20 at night. 3. Share the equipment with the camp mates to reduce the amount of load to carry. 4. Comfortable and warm sleeping bag is a must after a long day of hike; if you don't have the space for warm sleeping bag, then pack a space blanket to keep you nice and warm 5. In the cold, you won't even consider wanting a shower, just bring some wipes to wipe clean for the day. 6. Pack swimwear and water shoes/hiking sandals for the stream crossing/water play. 7. If riding the helicopter back up to Hilltop, go EARLY in the morning as the lines form quickly and the chopper only take 4 at a time. In our group, all the hikers made it back to the trailhead before the people riding the helicopters. read more

8 miles of hiking or hours of waiting for a helicopter ride is the only way to get into Supai Village. After that, another 2 miles of hiking into the campground. If you dare to hike another 8 miles after that to the confluence where Havasu Creek meets the Colorado River. I did just that and I had an amazing experience doing it. I carries 38 lb bag down and 36 lb back up. The hike itself is not hard, just long. Conserve your drinking water if you decided to hike. Been to three different islands in Hawaii, 3 different countries and dozen of states. No place can beat this place. read more

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SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! A group of us came here at the end of March. We arrived at the hilltop parking place at around 11pm and slept in the car that night. It was freezing... I should have busted out my sleeping bag but instead just went with a blanket.. big mistake. The next morning we got up and hiked down with all of our stuff. It took us about 4.5 hours total to get from the parking lot to our camp site. It is 8 miles to the village where you pay a camping fee. From there you hike two more miles and stop along the way to play around in upper and lower navajo falls and to stare at the majestic havasu falls. Then you will reach the camping area. None of us brought tents since we didn't have light ones and the weather was supposed to be bearable at night, and it actually worked out well (except our sleeping bags got really dirty). The next day we went to Mooney Falls, which was a 0.5 mil walk from the camping area, and also made our way to Beaver Falls (another 4 miles in). Both were so beautiful and we spent a lot of time just frolicking, taking pictures, and getting in the water. The next morning woke up early and left around 5am so that we wouldn't hit too much sun on the way up. To address many of the individuals writing about the animal abuse going on, I honestly did not notice any going on. One partial solution could be to just backpack everything in and out and not use the mules to carry your stuff. Also, I found all the people living in the Supai village to be very friendly and were not rude at all.. One older gentleman told us to take lots of pictures and to have fun. SUGGESTIONS: 1. bring water shoes/sandals as it can get slippery and there are a lot of rocks. 2. Moleskin. You will be going in and out of water and sand and it can rub on your shoes and feet unpleasantly. This saved me so much, especially on the hike back to our cars. 3. If hiking out at night/ early morning, be mindful of how you came it. It can be confusing remembering when groggy. 4. whenever I camp/ backpack-- wooden chopsticks are a staple...cook/eat/stab read more

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Hiking Havasupai is easily one of the most incredible things I've ever done in my life. Even as an unexperienced hiker (for real, y'all -- I had to google "switchbacks" when I was prepping for the trip), this hike was 100% enjoyable. A few tips based on my experience: 1. Book early: If you want to have time to explore, book early to get a campsite or room at the lodge. I booked my trip just a few weeks ahead of time, so we had to hike in & helicopter out same day (day-hiking is both prohibited & probably cause for a mental eval). 2. Condition: The hike in is pretty easy. I am out of shape (not in that polite I actually run a few miles a week way-- we're talking drinking soda, eating fast food, & sitting at a desk all day out-of-shape) and certainly no avid hiker and I found the 8 miles from trailhead to Supai pretty breezy other than sore knees & ankles. But here's where the kicker comes: the 1.5 miles each way to Havasu Falls is in sand. Which isn't so bad on the way there, but an uphill climb through sand when you're panicking that you might miss the last helicopter out is rough. So get your body prepared & save yourself from walking like a zombie for a few days post-hike. 3. Start early: Getting a headstart on this hike is CRUCIAL, especially in the Summer. The closest hotel to my knowledge is Grand Canyon Caverns Inn in Peach Springs. It's weird as hell, kind of creepy, & has cinder block walls but it does the job. We left the hotel at 4:15am and even with a pit stop to change a tire in the middle of desolate Indian-18 (lucky, huh?) we made it to the trailhead before 6am. This bought us hours of glorious shaded hiking all the way to the village. Also, as soon as you get into the village, add your name to the helicopter list near the tourism office where you check in. It's first come, first served so being higher on the list will win you less time standing around waiting. 4. Pack lightly & well: Per usual, I overpacked. That being said, in many ways you can never be too safe. We packed a whistle & first aid kit that we fortunately never had to use, but we also packed a mini mag-lite which went to good use when that tire pooped out. Also pack lots of snacks & water. I read that salty snacks & tons of water were advisable, so I packed 3 liters of water, some Clif bars, & my favorite high-sodium energy snack -- peanut butter crackers. I only drank 2 liters of water, but can imagine I would've gone through lots more if we had been in direct sun. Other essentials are sunscreen, sunglasses, & a swimsuit (I wore mine under my clothes and found it to be comfortable & expeditious). Other helpful items include Chacos/other sandals for wading/climbing around the falls, floats for hangin out in the water, & towels for both sweat and swimming. 5. Wear good boots & socks: I didn't own a pair of hiking shoes other than Chacos so had initially planned to just wear tennis shoes for the hike. By the grace of some divine power, I decided the night before the trip that maybe it might be a good idea to get some hiking shoes. So I bought some Merrells as well as an extra pair of SmartWool socks. The shoes worked out okay (& certainly better than tennis shoes), but I must say I was a little jealous of my boyfriend's (less expensive!) shoes that sported a deeper tread for more grip. Both of us agreed that a hiking boot (as opposed to lower profile shoe) would've been nice as we both suffered a bit of ankle ouch. Another weird tip: CLIP THOSE TOENAILS. For real. Short as you can safely get em. I did this and my nails were still painful to the touch after the hike because of all the downhill pressure. 6. Be culturally & environmentally sensitive/realistic: After reading many reviews, I was most nervous not about the hike but about the cultural backdrop. As an avid animal-lover, the reports of emaciated and wounded horses & mules, wild and underfed dogs, rude residents, & a trash-filled village made me antsy. These reviews I read weren't without truth, but I do think they were overblown. Most of the mules & horses appeared to be in good shape & well-fed, though there were a few emaciated horses in the village itself. The village dogs were delightful & seemed happy (I fell in love with an Aussie puppy). The residents were a bit chilly, but often warmed up with a smile (tip: fawn over the kitten in the office to warm up the tourism lady). And the only trash I saw was what I presumed to be from tourists along the trail. All in all, understand that you are visiting the home of these people -- respect their decisions & attitudes and do your best to do no harm. No matter how you get in & out of Supai, this will be one of the greatest experiences you ever have. Even hiking uphill through sand, I still paused to enjoy it and kept going by acknowledging (outloud when I needed extra reassurance) "WORTH IT." I hope to go back soon and spend more time relaxing & enjoying the beautiful falls! read more

Havasu Falls - Havasu Falls - Hiking Near Me

Horrific animal abuse! Please Boycott the use of Pack horses!! My sister and I just returned from a trip to Havasupai on Tuesday 4/19. We spent the weekend there, like so many others, to enjoy the beauty of the falls and go hiking. The falls are truly stunning and among one of the most beautiful natural landscapes I have ever witnessed. However, there is another sight that we observed there that left us horrifically shocked and reduced to tears. As we descended into the canyon, we watched sickly looking packhorses pass us by, hauling camping equipment for the tourists staying at the campsite. We noticed that they appeared malnourished, and saw that their fur had been rubbed off in several places. We were immediately grateful we had packed our own supplies rather than use this service. Upon our arrival into the village of Supai, we were sickened. We witnessed too many horses to count, that were not only gruesomely emaciated, but also horses that had fresh, bleeding wounds (just on Monday 4/18/16 we witnessed this and took photos which I have published with this review) and oozing sores all over their backs. We were so outraged passing house after house with horses tied so close to their fence posts they couldn't lower their heads enough to even get water or food (if there had been any, which there wasn't). One of the horses we saw as we entered the village appeared to be dead. We spoke to some other tourists later who confirmed that they had seen it also and it was in fact, deceased. I am begging anyone considering a trip to Havasupai to boycott the use of pack horses. As long as people continue to pay for this service, these animals will be overworked, beaten and then starved to death once they can no longer serve a financial purpose to the people of Supai. You can pack items in with you, or take a helicopter service which is not much more expensive than using one of the pack horses. Please don't be one of the people who turns a blind eye to this. read more

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