supai indian village

The waterfalls are breathtaking and beautiful and the hike is stunning as well (except for the trash that can be seen along the trail). It makes you mad that such a beautiful place is covered with trash. The village of Supai is shocking to see. It's dirty, there is trash everywhere and the horses are being abused, standing in their own manure. The customer service was horrible, not a smile from anybody. The lodge we stayed in had black hair all over the pillows, blankets and even the bathroom. It is very expensive and you don't get a single smile. Even the graveyard has trash all over the graves. We saw horses tied up on trees, they looked like skeletons, all of their ribs were showing. They couldn't move more than two feet and were forced to stand in their own manure. It is a true shame what these people are getting away with. There was even a huge trash pile right behind the lodge, you can see it just looking out of the lodge window.

I hiked in from Hualapai Hilltop with 14 others, 8 miles to the village then another 2 miles to our campsite. Spent 3 nights in the campsite and explored Havasu falls, Mooney Falls, Carbonate Canyon, Ash Canyon and the river that ran behind our campground. Truly the most unique experience of my life. Traveled with National Geographic's so we were extremely prepared for the village and the hikes. I did not hike back out but took the helicopter out. Cost me $85 but after all the adventure I don't think I was up to the hike out. The copter ride took about 7 minutes after waiting about 3 hours to get on. But it was also a great experience. The campsite does have very nice composting toilets, so that was a nice surprise. There is a water refill station at the village and also at the campground.

it has changed over the years but it is still the quiet secluded village like no other in the U.S.A.

Walking into the Supai Indian Village is like walking back into the not too distant simpler past. Kids play out in the middle of the paths playing in the dirt, dogs scampering around, no cars or busses zooming by. If you are used to the busy city and all the hustle etc, you will NOT find that here. Everything runs at a snail's pace here and that may include service.The Supai village is small and dusty with lots of dogs (lots of Red and Blue Heelers which I love!), horses and mules. It's not unusual to get wiffs of horse/mule poop every so often if you're downwind. The dust is so fine that it gets into everything and anything. If you're a photographer, be cautious when you swap lenses. I carried a bandana to breathe through on my hike because there is a bit of mule/horse traffic on the trails that kick up a lot of dust... a LOT of dust! This is a small village with a single grocery store, mule train post office (they send daily mail to the trail head via mule), two cafes, a school, community center, church and a lodge. Some folks forget that they are in an acutal village and not a resort town catering to them. Keep this in mind. You can get some supplies from the grocery store such as snacks, bottled water, breads etc. The selection is limited since everything is either brought in by mule or by helicopter. I believe the grocery store closes at 7pm. There is one cafe when you first walk into the town. This one opens until 8pm. The main cafe is just across the street from the grocery store and is a lot bigger than the other. The washrooms are clean which is always nice. This cafe closes at 7:30pm when we were there in October. Other say it was close by 7pm. They did close the gate at 7pm but we were already sitting inside when they did so. They serve your typical fast food fare ie chicken fingers, burgers, hot dog, fries, taters, banana bread, cereal etc. Don't expect to be eating healthy.Church service is on Sunday's at 11am if you feel inclined to do so.The trail to the falls is just left of the church. Just follow the dusty trail. It's about a 1.5 mile hike to the Navajo Falls. It's another half mile to Havasu Falls and a mile further will bring you to Mooney Falls. The trails are relatively flat and easy to navigate. Watch out for the broken railing on the wooden bridge on your way to Havasu Falls unless they have repaired it by the time you get there. If you are staying at the lodge, it is just to the right of the church. It opens from 8am to 12noon then 1pm -5pm. You don't want to miss your check-in time so plan accordingly! They offer coffee next to the reception desk but that is all. There are no laundry facilities, no coffee makers, TV or microwaves in the rooms. You do have access to free wifi but it is S L O W.I would highly recommend packing an MRE or some form of emergency ration just in case you are running late and can't make it time to the cafe or grocery store before it closes.There are NO bathrooms or water refill stations along the hike from the parking lot to the village and there are NO day visits to the village. If you want to hike down to see the falls, you've got to stay at least a night either at the lodge or at the campsite. I couldn't fathom hiking in and back out the same day! That would be one very long, tiring day!Wear good hiking shoes with good support. I've seen some folks do it in running shoes but I would definitely recommend hiking shoes instead. I got a case of runner's knee from the uneven trail and was excruciating on the way back to the parking lot. If you have bad knees, better pack some wraps or bring your knee brace and pack your hiking sticks!If you are camping, there is a visitor center near the hellipad to check in.Sadly some hikers do not respect the land and you can find discarded water bottles, pop cans and candy wrappers along the trail.Those looking for 5 start resorts, fine dining and being pampered, look elsewhere. If you enjoy a good hike, great scenery, learning about another culture and don't mind getting dirty, you might find your nirvana here.

After hiking with eleven friends from Minnesota from the North Rim to the South Rim of the GC, then driving almost 200 miles to Hualapai Hilltop, and then hiking another 8 miles to Supai we realized that it was no small feat to finally arrive in this dusty town that appeared to have more dogs and ponies than people.We were a bit nervous about the place due to other TA reviews, and therefore had less than high expectations. It turned out to be an experience of a lifetime. Food was plentiful and excellent, people were reserved, but friendly, and the natural surroundings were spectacular. Supai should be a movie set - dusty western Native American town next to the Garden of Eden with the most beautiful pools and waterfalls on the planet.

I have read the reviews both good and bad of Supai so thought hard about my experience. We had a great experience here. I travel extensively in third world countries. Supai is very much like those countries. We were caught in the flooding near Las Vegas and had to take a long detour to get to the trail head on Hill Top. So our hike down was in the dark. We arrived at Supai at 10 pm. Nobody came out to help us as we wanderd around in the dark trying to find the Lodge. We did eventually find it. The town is a dusty hot little town in the Grand Canyon. The Havasupi tribe live here. They were not always outgoing but when we would engage them in conversation they opened up. Take the time to look around the town and not just see the town square. We walked down to the rodeo grounds and the little LDS church at the other end of town. There is a nice little store down there for groceries. It is just a 10 minute walk to the other end. It is about 1-2 miles to the falls depending on which you go to. We stayed in the lodge and did not mind the walk at all. You need to go understanding that Supai is on an Indian Reservation. Their culture is not the same as mine. I respect that and enjoyed being there. I saw things that I did not agree with such as animal and human health issues. We were treated just fine and they were honest in our dealings. Just matter of fact. There are dogs around but they were all friendly and healthy looking. We had a dog hike the whole 8 miles with us down to the village. We enjoyed his company. To sum it up my group of 16 women on a girls (all age 56 and older) trip loved visiting this village and the falls. The falls are so beautiful. I would call this hike a moderate one and most should be able to do it. We let the mules carry our bags down. We hiked in and 5 of us took the helicopter back up just for the experience. We went in September and so it was a little cooler. It was around 90 everyday. The Lodge was not the nicest place in the world but it was clean. It needed some repairs but we just used it to shower and sleep. The Cafe had pretty good food. Look at it as a unique experience. Climbing down the cliffs into Mooney Falls is a pretty hair raising experience but everyone did it just fine. Don't look down if afraid of heights. Stop and get a deliscious fried Indian bread at the little shack on the way back up from Mooney Falls. Best ever. I will go back here again if the opportunity comes up.

Hiking into Supai was incredibly different than anything my husband and I had done before and the differences didn't end there. The village itself was simple and fascinating. Dogs and horses roaming free all around. Some of the residents were welcoming and others were stand-offish. The cafe was pretty good considering how they get all of their supplies. The lodge was VERY basic but you can't beat the location. The hikes in and out were challenging. We decided to hire a mule to pack out one bag. Finished the hike in at 4 hours and out in less than 3. We left at 6AM and managed to keep out of the sun for all of the trip except for the last 30 minutes or so. The waterfalls are incredibly beautiful. Go down to the base of Mooney Falls. If you are the least bit fit you can do it. Fantastic trip!

There are much better places to camp and hike in the Grand Canyon...here is why:The short version of my experience:This was my 10th time visiting the Grand Canyon and my 5th time camping in various locations.....THIS LOCATION is NOT worth the trip......this was my Worst Grand Canyon visit and very disappointing.....there are better falls to see and better hiking & camping within the Grand Canyon at other locations.....I would not recommend coming to Supai village....the whole place is very dirty....I have been to rural Mexico in the past and it was much cleaner than here.......the local village people are very rude, unhelpful, tried to scam us, and the worst thing is they mistreat the animals beyond belief......mules are given way too much weight, don't get water, have open sores & old scares, and I saw their "un-usable" horses which were like walking skeletons because they let them starve to death (according to a volunteer veterinarian that I spoke with)........I am sad that I went here......in a normal city, these people would be arrested for animal cruelty.......The Grand Canyon is very large and I would seek a different part of the Grand Canyon to explore.

I have no idea what other people that are giving 5 stars to the Supai village are reviewing. Maybe they just copy-paste their own review of the Havasu Falls. So make sure that you read those reviews correctly. Havasu Falls are beautiful and unforgettable. But Supai is just ugly, dirty village in the middle of nowhere. Only reason to go there is to see waterfalls. Keep in mind, closest waterfall is 1.5 miles down the river, not in the village. I know, know... lot of poor people live in the village. But to clean your own front yard you don't need to have lot of money. Be aware of dogs running all over the village. They are usually harmless, but you never know. Anyway: if you want to see Havasu Falls, you don't have much choices.

The village is filled with friendly travelers. When I first crossed the border of the village I saw a sign for a store I was sure to have expensive cold drinks. I was wrong. It seemed normally priced for the fizzy sort of nutritious drink. I could have gotten frozen Gatorade, next time. I walked to the back of the store for that but could have gotten food as I entered the swinging gate onto very nice grass.After I opened my drink, enjoying refreshing coolness against the backdrop of the Ten AM heat, I spied two ladies sitting by themselves on the picnic table. I walked over and found out that they had met the revelers of my group who had been there 3 days already. We walked to the tourist office and was hugged and they departed as though they were guiding angels for the weary hiker. LOLThe workers were amiable enough but did not seem to enthused about their employ...neither would I answering the same questions day after day as if in Purgatory. But I got may questions answer and a poor map representing the village and to the campground. I stopped to get my pack for 20$ that landed via helicopter as I asked when my pack would get there.I did not even go into the store which seemed to be populated with many campers looking for real food and snacks of the western civilization. Dusty road and many had a scarf of sorts, I need this next time, to avoid breathing in the dust. I hacked it up the next day hiking up and down the hills several times anxious to get to the cool water. All in all it was nice.

The hike is long, take plenty of water. You are greeted by Rez Dogs that are nice and gladly accept bits of your trail snacks. The dogs remained the greeters throughout the trip. The scenery throughout the canyon is great. It's a long trip to the Village. The Village is accommodating. The people are nice. Don't expect a lengthy discussion from every local you see. Remember you are a guest in their land. Be respectful. This is not a trip for those who expect to be waited on. The hike to the campground is interesting as you walk through the Village. Again remember you are coming in contact with a different culture. The scenery is beautiful to the campground. The campground is quite nice. The restrooms were clean and available through the campground. A Spring water outlet is available and I did not need to filter. A plus was the Fry Bread stand! After a long day of hikes it was fun to grab fry bread and a cold soda. The entire stay was fantastic. The hikers were kind and respectful as were the locals. I hiked alone at times and had no fear.

Obviously, the village isn't the main point of the trip. Being 2 miles from camp, you can get necessities if desperate. However, don't sleep on the fact that these people make it work in one of the most difficult environments and austere terrain. Only mule train or chopper gets anything in or out, so the people are very resilient.

My kids and I just spent 3 days at the Native American Reservation near the Grand Canyon. We had a fantastic time. This adventure is for the person who likes to hike. The way to and from the reservation is by hiking or riding horses/mules down the 8 mile trail. Once at the village, the main attraction is hiking down the 4 mile trail full of 6 to 8 water falls. The first half of the water falls are an easy walk down the trail seeing the blue green water flowing over the rocks. Then to get to the remainder of the falls, one must climb down at Moony Falls about 75 to 100 foot of steps made from or in the rocks and some wooden ladders. This part of the trail has 3/8 chains on either side for hand grips to assist with your trip up or down. The trail first starts by going through a cave like cut out of some rocks to finally being on the outside of a set of rocks descending straight down. Once you are pass this point the trail becomes easy to traverse. The stream must be crossed two more times to reach the end. This can be done by either balancing across rocks or fallen trees (the kids) or wading across the stream (dad). If wading I would recommend taking some water shoes with you. The first stream crossing had very sharp feeling rocks while the second crossing rocks were smooth to the feet. I did not make it to the last fall (Beaver Falls) but my son told me that when you are within the last 1/4 to 1/2 mile it gets treacherous. After the last fall you enter the Grand Canyon Recreational Park (need a pass :)) and it is about another mile to the Colorado River. Throughout the park, there are picnic tables spaced periodically to use. It's a good place to rest or have something to eat. We brought package food that could be eaten throughout the day but each night had a meal at the "Cafe". Their food is good but it is more expensive then the local eateries. For example, a cheese burger was $8.50 and another $3 for fries/onion rings. They have a wide selection of food to choose from and it looked good. Also, the village people have similar sized lots to ones in the city. However instead of having cars they have horses. So their lots are fully surrounded by fencing to keep their animals in and they roam right up to the front door. The camp grounds is a good options for sleeping. However, we stayed at the lodge. It is a very basic motel room without TV. The rooms are clean, beds conformable, showers and electricity. They do have Version cellular service. Not a hole lot to do after eating so bringing some cards or puzzle books might be useful. What i discovered is that the majority of the supplies are taken to and from the reservation by horses/mules. The trains start out at the village between 7 to 9 am and reach the trail head from 9:30 to 11. My ride down took about 3 hours and the return trip an 1.5 hours. If you are riding down a horse, I would be ready to go at 11:15 but probably won't leave until noon. Generally the horses need about an hour to recoup before making a return trip. A helicopter does fly but has a limited fly schedule. I think it done 2 or three days out of the week. The times just depends...... The locals gets first choice to ride but I was told the helicopter will continue flying until everyone is accommodated. There are two stores, a cafe, school and a medical building. Not sure what services are available at the clinic. The people were quite, friendly and very reserve. I felt very safe and secure during my time. Temperature was in the 50 to 60 degree range. I would also keep track if it is going to rain. It sounded like they continue making their trips until they get alot of rainfall.

Rated Excellent for the views and reality of the People. Why go to the Havasu Indian Reservation? The falls is one, to be told by a native that his People, the Supai, have been there since the time of Christ is another. The village of Supai is there to support a tribe that cannot function as it did even 200 years ago. I accompanied a fellow interested in geology and another that read the book "I Am The Grand Canyon" about the history of the Supai, so it was an exploration in all respects. You might stay in the lodge if you want to interact more with the Tribal members, as the campground is 2 miles from the village itself. We spoke to many there on a variety of topics. Some were not responsive verbally but did say hello; the native language is not English so excuse those who do nothing but smile. Due to massive flooding in October, 2013, the campground just reopened February 1, 2014. We had moderate temperatures, which going into Supai in May thru September may be like a furnace and be prepared; many go at this time to be in the blue/green waters. Reserving a pack horse is recommended, maybe taking a cooler of ice water and sodas. Or you can hike the 2 miles from campground to the village and if the supplies are available, get the frozen electrolyte drinks to take back. Havasupai, I am told, is translated to 'the people of the blue/green waters' and it is difficult to think of many places that are so beautiful. After the village, the first set of falls include Little Navajo and Old Navajo Falls. Feb 26 we saw people in these waters. Just when you wonder when you will get to the campground, you are re-invigorated by Havasu Falls on your right, a breathtaking, tall falls. About a mile from here, beyond the campground, is Mooney Falls, a 190 foot drop of beauty. Bring water shoes, as the bottom is travertine, a lime deposit, that will scratch your feet. To get to the pools at the bottom of Mooney falls you need to scramble down a set of stairs carved in the rock as well as use ladders. Once at the foot of Mooney Falls, you can hike another 2 miles to Beaver Falls. Did not visit Beaver Falls this trip, but this is not a tall waterfall but many pools. A tour guide met on this trip indicates you will cross Havasu Creek, and water shoes are needed. See review by DonnaSPDX for detail on other issues. We likely crossed paths with her, maybe even spoke with her. Wanted to add a photo, but you can find them with an internet search and unsure if OK to do, as photos on Indian reservations, where allowed, are to be for personal use only, commercial use prohibited without a permit.

Complaints I have seen about this village include fat people, rude people, stray dogs, starved horses, and third world conditions. My sister and I have none of these complaints.Before you start complaining about Supai, pause to consider what it takes to live there. *There is no road* to Supai. No truck hauling a shipping container can get there. The largest vehicle that can make it to Supai is a helicopter. That's right; every single thing you see in Supai got there via horse, helicopter, or was carried by a single person eight miles down a steep canyon. They can't go to WalMart and get a lightbulb, or to Home Depot and pick up a replacement part. This is one of the most remote communities in the United States. Even the local garbage is carried out by mule or horse.Pause to consider also that *this is where real people live real lives*. They fall in love, get married, have kids, go to work and school, suffer illness and injury in this village. They go to church and bury their dead here. It's the same as your neighborhood that way, The village does not exist to be a tourist attraction, anymore than your neighborhood does. Understanding the remoteness of the place, and the difficulties inherent in living there, my sister and I had a wonderful visit in Supai. The tribe sees a steady stream of visitors through the season, so multiple services for tourists are available. We were traveling at the very end of the off season, so business hours and service availability were slightly decreased. The selections at the cafe and store vary day to day based on the helicopter delivery schedule.Dogs. Yes, there are a lot of dogs in Supai. Most of them are not stray. They are family dogs. The Supai allow their dogs a lot more freedom than a typical American family, who feel it best if the dog does not leave the property. Supai dogs often have the run of the village. They are well-fed, friendly, and honestly, kind of a joy. Supai is currently working to reduce the overall number of dogs by trying to adopt some out. It is a work in progress.Abused horses: We saw none of this. There was one very thin horse at Hilltop. I do not know the story of that horse. All other horses appeared well cared-for. These horses work alongside the Supai every single day. We saw no horse carrying more than the weight of an American man, and saw loads adjusted to the size of the individual horse. Our horse guide was excellent with his horses, and clearly managed them carefully.Rude people: We didn't experience this at all! Everyone in Supai we greeted returned the greeting. People smiled, and gave us directions when we were lost. If you come from white American culture, remember that in many cultures around the world, silence or the use of few words is not considered rude or cold. We did not find most of the people of Supai to be chatty by our standards, but we are chatty ladies. We judged them rather by their actions and demeanor, which were kind and civil. And Lord knows giants groups of tourists hot and cranky from a hard hike take a lot of patience.Fat people: I am perhaps most outraged by this complaint. Different ethnic groups evolved according to their home environment. Some groups evolved with food abundance. Some evolved with food scarcity. My understanding of this tribe is they evolved with food scarcity. Their historical lifestyle is seasonal farming, hunting and gathering, all the while ranging across hundreds of thousands of acres to make their living. The creation of Grand Canyon National Park, the granting of grazing rights to settlers on their historical range, a shocking theft of their lands, and a changing climate at the canyon mean it is now impossible for them to pursue the kind of life to which their bodies are uniquely adapted. The obesity you see is a living reminder of all the tribe has lost, and goes along with a devastating epidemic of diabetes. Set aside your judgements.Supai is a living town populated with real people. It is not a canyon Disneyland, where everyone's job is to see that you are happy. They are not a cultural display. This is not Colonial Williamsburg. Count your blessings for having the privilege to visit this amazing place. They own the land, They can stop letting you in any time they choose.