There are places on this earth that don't feel entirely claimed by man where the air sits heavier,…read morewhere silence hums just a little too loud. Havasupai Falls is one of those places. Now listen I'm gonna tell you straight. You can hike it, sure. Strap on your pack, bake in that canyon heat, follow the mules and the dust like you're reenacting some pioneer tragedy. Or... you take the helicopter. Drop in like you've got better sense than the rest of 'em. Because when you're only staying a night, you don't waste half your trip pretending you enjoy suffering. You get there quick, boots on the ground, eyes wide open. And what waits for you... ain't normal. The water this unreal shade of blue, like someone spilled paint straight outta heaven itself cuts through red rock like it's been there since before memory had a name. The canyon walls stand tall, watching. Always watching. You can feel it. Not in a poetic way... in a you're not alone kind of way. The people there, the tribe they carry a quiet presence. Like they know something they're not in a hurry to explain. Respectful, grounded... but there's history in their eyes. Old history. Night comes different down there. The fire was crackling low. Shadows stretching just a little too far, bending where they shouldn't. That's when I saw it. Across the canyon, tucked behind a tree like it didn't quite understand hiding... something big. Hairy. Not a trick of the light. Not a deer. Not a man. It stood there. Watching. Then came the sound. Tap... tap... tap. Something hitting the tent. Not hard. Just enough to say, "I'm still here." I thought maybe rocks... maybe pinecones. But there weren't any trees above us that could explain it. And whatever it was it had aim. I told the others. Nobody laughed. Nobody slept. We sat around that fire like it was the last safe place on earth, eyes fixed into the dark, waiting for something to step forward... or worse, not step forward. Because sometimes what you don't see is worse than what you do. Finally, in a moment of pure, desperate brilliance or stupidity someone grabbed a sandwich and chucked it out there into the black. We waited. Minutes stretched. The canyon held its breath. And then... nothing. Whatever it was... it was gone. No footsteps. No sound. Just silence again, like the place had swallowed it whole. Now I ain't saying I believe in Bigfoot... ...but I'm also not saying I slept worth a damn that night. And here's the part where I switch gears for ya because after all that spooky nonsense, you gotta laugh a little. Look, I'm just gonna say it .. "I paid good money to fly into a canyon, not to get mugged by a damn woodland gorilla." You got folks hiking ten miles, riding donkeys, sweating like they owe the sun money... and I'm down there getting harassed by what I can only assume is the canyon's unofficial night manager. Five stars. Would absolutely go again. ...but next time, I'm bringing two sandwiches.

Out in the middle of the desert in Arizona pretty much near the end portion of the Grand Canyon and…read moreabout an hour away from Route 66 is the trail to get to Havasupai. There's a lodge in the village and a campground area another 2 miles from the village, both have different dates to apply for permits online about a year in advance. There are 5 amazing water fall sites once you pass the village. 50 Foot Falls, Lower Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beavers. An additional journey heading out 6 miles past Beaver falls you can get to the Confluence where you can see the Havasu Creek water meet up with the Colorado river. For the camp sites you aren't assigned an actual location you just grab any available site that's not directly on the trail. There's a fresh water spring in the camp site where we refilled out bottles for the 4 days & 3 nights we were here. Also 2 miles back up at the village they do have a cafeteria with burgers fries, hot dogs and all that other stuff. If you're not up for the 8-10 miles hike into the village/campground with all your camping gear on your back they have options at additional cost. You can have your bags packed on miles/horses and carried into the site & they also have helicopter rides in and out of the village (first come first serve, the natives have priority to skip the line at anytime)

From the campgrounds this hike is maybe an around a mile and a half and it's a journey. You'll have…read moreto descend down a cave that has chain rails and a couple suspect ladders to get to the bottom. Bring some gloves because the chains get slippery from the mist of the waterfall and have some water shoes with good traction grip because parts of the cave are pretty slick.

This was a little tricky to get down to and required using chains and a ladder. But it was so worth…read moreit! So incredibly beautiful!

18 MILES OF LUSH GREENERY AND PRESTINE WATER…read more STATS: 18 miles round-trip from campground Not recommended for Acrophobia's Very rugged and dangerous descent Slippery when wet, and it's always wet Minimal elevation gain or loss Freak-ton of water crossings A few ladders to climb Minimal rock scrambling ESSENTIALS: Know your limits 3 Liters of water, minimum. More during the warmer months Gloves Hiking shoes with netting for water drainage Swimwear Layered Clothing High protein food/snacks Electrolytes Camera Hat (optional) Sunscreen Trek poles (optional) OUR ROUTE: From our campsite at Havasu Falls, me and The Crew started out this amazingly jaw dropping 18 miler by heading down to the bottom of Mooney Falls via handrails made of chains and wooden ladders. Once everyone was at the bottom of Mooney Falls, we followed and crossed the vibrant blue water that is the perfect contrast against the striking red rocks of the canyon walls. At times the trail seems to hide, however, hiking to the Colorado is just a matter of following the downward flowing creek since the creek eventually converges with the Colorado. Once the Colorado River was in sight, we did a little upward rock scrambling and down the other side where we ate lunch on enormous flat rocks. While the water temperature of the Havasu water was comfortable to soothing with a calm flow, even in the cooler air temperatures, the Colorado River water was quite a bit cooler and ran fast. If you choose to take a dip in the Colorado, be sure you are a strong swimmer, otherwise you will be swept down the river. On the nine miles back to camp we stopped off at Beaver Falls for a swim, a jump and a few pics in the rock walls. Due to the gritty bottom of the falls, best to keep your shoes on. Those daring enough to jump off the rocks be warned there are areas where there are strong under toes that will open Velcro pockets and snatch your camera, that's what happened to a fellow hiker. After several attempts of diving below to look for it this strong hiker and former professional divers energy were expanded from the pulling of the under toes. There are no lifeguards on duty, so everything you do is at your own risk. Our path back to Mooney Falls was slightly different than our trek down, and the views were just as amazingly beautiful. Remember, there are no maids or clean-up crew, keep this part of Mother Nature cleaner than you found it. Pack out what you pack in and pick up what you can. DISCLAIMER: Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up.

This sure was an adventure to get to. Beaver falls is about 4 miles to get to once you leave camp…read more You'll pass Mooney Falls and that cave you have to climb down to get to Beaver Falls. Once you leave Mooney you'll pass through areas with tons of greenery all over, make a few river crossings (make sure you bring water shoes) do some more river crossings on some sketchy logs, climbs some sketchy ladders, then boom you're there. Beaver Falls was probably my second favorite water falls site here at Supai mainly because you can sit and relax in the upper cascade area or do a little swimming in the lower pool.

Permit required This is as far as we went. Our 2nd to this…read morefall as well. First time here was the 2nd week of October. This year we went the last week of April. We reached the Falls around the same time so not much sun left as the canyon wall creates a large shaded area slowly. To get to this fall you will be crossing the creek a couple of times or maybe 3 times if you cross to early or late. Most of the time you will be in awe by the beauty as you trek along the way. But there is a part where you come around the corner of the canyon wall and it opens up into the vast open space and you see lush, green vegetation flanked by the canyon walls with shades of copper and hues of orange and brown. You have to stop yourself and soak in the beauty. Our first time going to Beaver Falls we were fortunate to see a big horn sheep, it was gorgeous. This time around we didn't get lucky, but some hikers we spoke to got some good pics of one. You will come across some sketchy parts to climb and see again when heading back to camp. Take your time and watch your footing. As you come down to Beaver we were told a ladder that was once there is now destroyed but there is a way but will need to tread the shallow water. It may change and they will replace the homemade ladder at some point. So you will need to find your own way or follow everyone else. This Fall has short cascading falls. Great for picture taking. A couple we met were going to use their photo for their engagement pic. The water is cold does not feel like 70 degrees as mentioned in a couple of reads on the FB Havasupai page. But that will not deter you from enjoying this beautiful spot. Head here early too so you can catch some rays while playing in the water.

As a first time backpacker, I came super prepared for what I thought would be a normal camping trip…read morewith just a really long hike. Boy was I in for a surprise! My group checked in with reservations (no reservations=double the fee!) without any problems. We stayed 2 nights and it came out to be around $80 total for all the tourist charge/entrance fee/ per night charge/etc. The staff is extremely helpful and caring. On the second day, we had to evacuate to higher grounds (back at the village) due to flash flooding. I am so thankful for the camp ranger to come by our tent to see if anyone was there. While almost all of the campgrounds was evacuating, I was actually sleeping through the rain and had no idea it was that bad. My other friends were still out hiking, too! The ranger had to radio in to the helicopter to search for them! Again, SO SOOO thankful they were eventually found (stranded on a little piece of high ground surrounded by roaring muddy rapids.) I will never forget the ranger's kindness that day. I was about to have a nervous breakdown having to quickly pack up my stuff, my friends' stuff, and all our tents up, but he had this calmness about him and reassured me that everything was going to be okay. He even offered to carry a pack or two up to the Ranger's station. Up at the Village, they had campers set up tents on the basketball courts and in the community center if we didn't have tents. Suzanna made sure we got whatever we needed (food/drink/toothbrush/etc) and kept us up to date on the situation. Their actions spoke loud and I will always be grateful to the Havasupai Tourist staffers. Since hiking conditions back were questionable (weather was unpredictable), we opted for a 12 minute helicopter ride back to the parking lot. ($85/pp) It definitely made for a memorable ending to my first backpacking trip.

Hiking the Havasupai Trail has been one of the best experiences of my life. The scenery is…read morebreathtaking, the water is amazing, and the physical challenge is something to be proud of. It is a gentle 8 mile hike to the Village, where you can stop for food & beverages (the Indian Fry bred is amazing...). From there, it is a 2 mile hike to the campgrounds, which are well maintained, & located at the base of Havasu Falls. Remember, what goes down must come up, so prepare for the 10 mile hike OUT of the Havasupai. This is a safe trail to hike on, even if you are a small group or simply hiking alone. Of course hiking safety guidelines should be maintained. You need to listen for mules, they will not get out of your way. If you are on the switchbacks for a cliffy area, hug the inside of the cliff, because they hug the outside of the trail & you will likely be bumped off...adios. This is NOT a day hike, bring at least 3 quarts of water (You can refill at the campground), food for your camping trip with snacks in your day pack, sunscreen, bug spray, proper clothing (check the weather!) etc. AND GOOD, BROKEN IN SHOES WITH SYNTHETIC SOCKS. You need to hang your food bag in a tree so that the squirrels wont get to it (although they are getting more brave...mine had a little hole chewed threw it last time, but no food was compromised). It is easy to have a bad time in the canyon. Simply bring the wrong clothing, little water, bad equipment, no sun screen, no bug spray, and dont hang your food bag. I love this place, my mom has been a backpacking guide in the Havasupai for 10 years, with about 40 years of experience in this part of the canyon, & she still goes back every single year, more in awe of its beauty than the trip before.

Did a tour of the bottom of the canyon. The canyon itself was amazing. The wildflowers were in full…read morebloom. The temperature was great. The guide was on time. The stop on rt 66 was fun. However the guide was very hard to understand and his lack of knowledge about flaura and fauna was shocking given how much the trip cost. The pre recorded audio was ok, but a real guide would have customized the trip to the time of year and the specific flowers in bloom and perhaps identified scat and tracks or otherwise found ways to share some passion for the canyon. There was also a mixup regarding the hike so I didn't get to do the one thing I was looking forward to most. Overall I would not recommend.

We were very disappointed in this tour. My son had never seen the Grand Canyon, and I remember…read morebooking a tour that took us to the south rim overlook, and also down to the Colorado river water level, as well as a stop in an Indian reservation. I chose this only because it was the top result in the google search I made. Instead of the view of the grand canyon, we got to spend over seven hours in a smaller bus, with no air conditioning for much of the time captive inside on a very hot day. Much of the tour time was spent in construction traffic on the road, and on a very dusty bumpy dirt road. There was not much of a view where we were, and the water was very muddy and dirty, compared to other locations higher up the river in the canyon, which of course is out of the control of operators. This tour was twice the money as other options, but I felt we got much less than other tours. Other tour reviews rave about the great food, but in this case, we got a subway box meal. Our driver left for a section of the tour when we got to the river, causing us to be hassled by a local ranger, who wanted to know who was on the tour and to see our permit. I was not able to provide the permit for our tour bus, and he stayed by my child until we could find the driver who had the permit. We never went to the Grand Canyon Park, or the overlook, and this tour wasted our entire day on our limited vacation. Unfortunately, our efforts to get into the park the next day were thwarted by very heavy weather, and so we will have to actually see the grand canyon another time a few years from now. This tour went through the town of Seligman, an interesting and historical section of old Route 66, and the inspiration for the Disney movie "Cars", but did not even stop there. We saw other tour buses let people out for pictures and to walk around, but not this tour. Very disappointed. I cannot imagine who this tour is designed for, but I would not recommend it to anyone.

What a thrill. Just got back from the 8 day motorized raft trip! Been waiting my whole adult life…read morefor this trip and it did not disappoint! Our guide Adam was the best. He knew the river and canyon backwards and forwards. He was a great storyteller and a wonderful guide and boatman. I always felt safe and he got us the best camping spots and the knew the best side canyons to explore. Swamper Orion was awesome. He was a great cook and a hard worker. We were never hungry! Both these guys were the best.

What can you say? This was glamping beyond my wildest expectations! The food was fresh every day,…read moretwo hot meals and a cold lunch each day, cold juice and soda beverages at any time. The guides, Glade and Hannah, were terrific, like personal chefs there to assure you had a great time and were safe. They aimed at the best part of every rapid- a real E-ticket ride. Some advice: 1. bring more alcohol-it was hot in August, probably 100, we are not big drinkers but 3-4 cold beers a day would sure have been nice, we ran out on day 6 2. wear light colored clothes if the weather is going to be warm 3. bring a walking stick, very helpful on the hikes scrambling over boulders and rocks 4. bring more alcohol 5. a waterproof day pack to have some gear readily accessible on the raft would have been nice 6. Have a set of river shoes, and a set of hiking shoes for shore excursions. My river shoes were great on wet rocks in the river, but tenuous at best when hiking 7. bring more alcohol 8. I balked at the sarong idea and regretted it, sarong would have been great to keep cool on the raft and to provide additional sun protection 9. Gel or spray on deodorant would have been nice, I brought body wash but it did not really cut it. 10. Consider going in May-mid July time frame when river is running clear. Once monsoon season starts in Arizona the river runs silty. Still a great trip. GCE is one of the few companies that provides cots and sleeping pads and sleeping bags as part of the experience, other companies might charge extra.

We just returned from the best adventure travel experience in our lives - a 4 day hiking/camping…read moretrip through Wild Land Trekking. Our guide, Mary H. was amazing, providing direction and and encouragement to help us prepare for and enjoy this challenge. She made gourmet meals everyday, gave us great information about history, nature and culture of the area, and made sure we were safe through some incredible climbs. Our group of 6 agreed it was the best vacation ever!

While you can certainly hike the Grand Canyon without a guide, I can guarantee you won't enjoy the…read moreexperience nearly as much. Mike was a wealth of knowledge on the formation of the Grand Canyon, the foliage, and other points of interest. It was a very HOT day there, and he ensured for our safety and maximum entertainment. The snacks and lunch he provided/ made hit the spot and was absolutely delicious. He provided frozen Gatorade, and hiking sticks also. Who knew those would be so beneficial! Don't think twice about using Pygmy. The only glitch we had was communicating about the meeting time/ place. My cell service was spotty in the area, and Mike's busy schedule caused me to be a little panicked. However patience endured and a fantastic time was had by all.

Going down is optional, going up is mandatory!…read more Our guide Josh provided us an unforgettable experience. The Grand Canyon is one of those things that no matter how good a photo is, needs to be experienced in person to truly appreciate its beauty. Add and hike down from the top, and this is something we haven't been able to stop talking about. Josh was a true professional and never once made us feel rushed or ill-prepared for our time together. I wish there was more to say, but the cheesy grin that I've had planted on my face since our hike is really the biggest compliment I can give. I think Josh may have talked us into a longer trip in the future. I would adhere to their advice on the website in how to properly prepare for a hike, regardless of the distance.