Havasu Falls is known throughout the world and has appeared in numerous magazines and television shows, and is often included in calendars that feature incredible waterfalls or beautiful scenery. Visitors from all over the world make the trip to Havasupai primarily for Havasu Falls.The vibrant blue water contrasts against the striking red rocks of the canyon walls as Havasu Falls plunges nearly 100 feet into a wide pool of blue-green waters. This, the most striking waterfall in the Grand Canyon, sports a wide sandy beach and plenty of shady cottonwood trees to relax by.Calcium carbonate and magnesium occur naturally in the waters of Havasu Creek. The pools and natural dams form when the calcium carbonate precipitates out of the water and deposits onto rocks, branches, or man made structures building up over time. Havasu Falls and Havasu Creek get their blue color from the magnesium in the water. As the pools deepen and the calcium carbonate is slowly released from the water, the bluer the water appears as the relative magnesium content increases.Havasu Falls is just a quarter mile from Lower Navajo Falls and about a quarter of a mile before you reach the campground. Easily accessible from several paths leading down to the refreshing waters, of course you must take a swim. Below the major pool, you can explore smaller pools as the stream cascades and winds its way towards the campground.

The Grand Canyon is a major attraction to the state, and the bonus is its associated swimming holes and jaw-dropping falls. Havasu Falls is one such place and a Hollywood style perfect oasis. Red scorched rock contrasts with the 100ft high cascade of water that lands to form an impossibly blue pool. This is not an easy spot to get to; in fact, the US Postal Service still uses mules to deliver to the nearby villages. To visit you will need to make a 10-mile hike or hire a helicopter which, needless to say, means that this spot doesn’t get over crowded. The rewards are great; stunning scenery and 72 degrees Fahrenheit water in a place like no other.

The out-and-back hike on the Havasupai Reservation in the Grand Canyon to the famous Havasu Falls is a 10-mile, 2000-foot descent of moderate difficulty that is a bit more challenging on the ascent. The Hualapai Hilltop Trailhead begins with a series of switchbacks through tall cliffs and colorful sandstone and shale canyon walls for approximately a mile. At the end of the switchbacks the trail continues through sandy washes and over gravel and dirt footpaths until reaching an area known as the Narrows. Eventually the trail passes from Hualapai Canyon into Havasu Canyon before reaching the Havasupai village of Supai. Supai is approximately 8 miles from the trailhead. The village has the Havasupai Tourism Office in addition to a general store that sells cold drinks and food and a Tribal Cafe. From Supai you'll have plenty of opportunities for further exploration, including the highly recommended hike to Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls. Note that the return trip is steep and exposed; consider hiking early in the day, and be sure to bring plenty of water and sun protection. Advance reservations for camping and lodging in Supai are recommended. Phone numbers and mailing address can be found on the national park site, and more information on fees, permits, and lodging can be found on the Havasupai tourism site.

Starting at the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot, the Havasupai Trail kicks off with a mile of switchbacks descending into the Grand Canyon. The trail is well-maintained, made of packed dirt and rock, and about 10 feet wide with small rock walls on its sides. About a mile and a half in, the trail completely flattens out and you’ll find yourself on the canyon floor, weaving along a 20-foot wide riverbed for the next 4 miles or so. By the time you reach mile 5, the canyon narrows a bit more. The trail is about 10 feet wide again with some shade for the first time, thanks to the canyon walls. The walls are also much taller by now, standing well over 100 feet. Once you’re closing in on the 6-mile mark, the scenery changes vastly, and becomes more representative of what’s to come in Supai and the various waterfalls ahead. Some packed sand comes into play, trees start to appear in the distance, and you can hear Havasu Creek flowing if you listen closely enough. The trail also descends into the canyon a little bit more dramatically at this point, signifying that you’re only a couple of miles from Supai. Seven miles in, you’ll find yourself under lush Gambel Oak trees in more sand. The walls are even taller now, ranging up to a good 300 feet, and Havasu Creek will soon appear on your right. A half-mile later, about 7.5 miles in, you’ll cross a bridge over to the right side of the creek, move away from the water a bit, and finally descend into Supai. Once you reach the bottom of this descent, about 8 miles in, the canyon opens way up and you’ll see Supai. Upon reaching the village’s main area, the Havasupai Tourist Office will show up on your left, where you need to check in. You’ll then make your way through the village and descend 2 miles further into the canyon, with the exception of a couple short uphill sections. Navajo Falls appears below the left side of the trail, a little over 9 miles in, and after crossing another bridge, Havasu Falls will soon appear below the trail on your right. After one more mile of descending, you’ll finally reach the Havasupai Campground, and you can start planning your trip for the way back. Make sure to check out Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls, too, which are located 0.5 and 3.5 miles past the campground, respectively. Flora & Fauna Flora: Gambel Oak, Scrub Oak, Prickly Pear Cactus, Yucca Fauna: Bobcats, Mountain Lions, Rams, Mule Deer, Common Kingsnakes, Rattlesnakes, Wild Horses, Domesticated Horses, Pack Mules History & Background The Havasupai Indian Tribe has lived on this land for about eight centuries, long before the Grand Canyon was established as a National Park in 1919. Very little is known about the tribe prior to the creation of the Havasupai Indian Reservation in the 1880s. The reservation was officially created in 1880 on just 518 acres. But in 1975, through the Grand Canyon National Park Enlargement Act, the reservation was expanded to 188,077 acres, allowing the Havasupai people to build a new economy around tourism. This tourism economy has its downfalls, though. Managing such a large piece of land is a lot of work, and visitors often leave their trash behind, degrading the environment in the process. It’s also expensive to manage this land, and it doesn’t appear that the tribe has the resources it needs. For obvious reasons, visitors must treat this sacred land with the utmost respect.

Until the August 2008 flooding, Navajo Falls was the first prominent waterfall in the canyon. They were named after an old Supai chief. It was located 1.25 miles from Supai and is accessed from a trail located on the left side of the main trail. This side trail leads down to the creek, where there is a crude bridge that crosses over the creek. The trail then leads back into the trees, where the main pool and falls are located. The pool is popular for its seclusion and its ease to swimmers. The falls were approximately 70 feet tall and consist of separate sets of water chutes, the main one located on the right side where the water cascades down the canyon hill. To the left of the main chute there are other smaller ones that are steeper and more vertical. There are a few places that are viable for cliff jumping, although extreme care and caution should always be taken. In August 2008, Navajo Falls was completely destroyed by a flood. The New York Times said the following: "Within 12 hours, several surges of high water roared down the creek, destroying the campground, stranding a Boy Scout troop from New Jersey and setting off a massive mudslide that obliterated Navajo Falls, one of four spectacular canyon waterfalls that attract tourists from around the World".

When you imagine the Grand canyon, you imagine a giant hole in the Earth, but what you can imagine are the wonders that are held within. Havasu Falls are one of many waterfalls in the Grand Canyon, but they're the most beautiful in my sincere opinion. To get there, you need to go to the Havasupai Navajo reservation and make a short hike into the canyon. Since it's a desert, it tends to get pretty hot during the day but cool at night. You can go swimming in the little pool at the foot of the waterfall. The water has a high mineral content and they say it's good for the skin. At least it was for mine!