Hiking to Havasu Falls | Grand Canyon

About thirty miles west of Grand Canyon Village lies Supai, a small village within the canyon that’s home to the Havasupai Tribe. Havasupai means “People of the blue-green waters.”

Below the village there’s a series of five major waterfalls that cascade down to the Colorado River – New Navajo Falls, Rock Falls, Havasu Falls, and Mooney Falls. A fifth cascade called Beaver Falls is far below the campground near the Colorado River

Though only thirty miles away, the idyllic Havasu Canyon is a branch of the Grand Canyon that could be not be farther from the South Rim Village. To drive from the South Rim to Hualapai Hilltop (The trailhead) is a 200 mile road trip, and Havasu Canyon exudes an atmosphere completely apart from the National Park… and for that matter, the outside world in general.

From Peach Springs, AZ to the trailhead at Hualapai Hilltop, there’s a 60 mile road with abslolutely nothing on it but desert – no power lines, no gas stations, nothing. Then the only way to reach the Supai village is via helicopter, horseback, or on foot. It’s an eight mile hike down to the village, and the waterfalls are even farther down the canyon.

On the morning of June 29, James and I woke early and drove to the Hualapai Hilltop for a day hike to Havasu Falls.

From the rim at Hualapai Hilltop, the trail descends into the canyon with typical switchbacks. Also typical of Grand Canyon hiking, this upper stretch is the most strenuous part of the trail on the return.

Don’t miss the small riders on horseback in the above photo. This hike is puncuated frequently by passing pack mules/horses carrying supplies to and from the village.

The man in yellow below waved to us and said “Welcome to Havasu!”

Note that the package on the back of this mule reads “United States Postal Service.” With the exception of Phantom Ranch, Supai Village is the only place in the U.S. that still has its mail delivered by mule.