The Intertribal Council of Arizona text describing the Havasupai people and land:
“Havasuw `Baaja”, the people of the blue green waters, are the traditional guardians of the Grand Canyon. Related to the Yuman, the Havasupai have from the beginning, inhabited the Grand Canyon and its environs. Traditionally, the Havasupai farmed during the summer, and hunted and gathered during the winter. By 1919, with the establishment of the Grand Canyon National Park, the Tribe was restricted to 518 acres, 5 miles wide and 12 miles long in a side canyon. When the U.S. government restricted their use of their winter homelands on top of the Canyon, the people became dependant on the government for necessities. The Tribe has since had returned to them 188,077 acres of their former homelands which makes up their reservation today. The Havasupai Reservation is located in Coconino County, at the southwest corner of the Grand Canyon National Park. The nearest community to the reservation is Peach Springs, 64 miles southwest from Hualapai Hilltop.
The previous review:
Inhabiting the Havasu Canyon for over 700 years, the Havasupai Indian tribe operates a lodge and campground near Havasu Falls. Transportation for the 7.8 (12.5 Km) mile trip to Supai Village is by hiking or riding horseback down the trail. Pack animals also carry hiker's personal gear. Helicopter service is available . Havasupai Lodge, the tribal cafe, and the store are in the village. Havasu Falls, the main attraction created by the mineral laden blue waters of Havasu Creek, is another 2.2 (3.5 Km) miles downstream. Fiftyfoot falls is approximately halfway between the village and Havasu Falls. Mooney Falls is approximately a mile downstream from Havasu.
The trailhead, Hualapai Hilltop, is 80 (126 Km) miles northwest of Seligman, and 64 (100 Km) miles northeast of Peach Springs. Both these communities are on old Route 66. The last 60 (93 Km) miles to Hilltop are on BIA Route 18. Fill your gas tank and have a dependable vehicle when driving to Hualapai Hilltop. People often spend a night at Grand Canyon Caverns Motel or Hualapai Lodge before heading to Havasupai. This is not only rural Arizona, it is remote Indian Country. You will not lack for what you need. If you expect Hilton-like service your expectations in lodging or food may not be met. Relax. It's all about the journey and the natural beauty at the end of the trail.
All mail service to Supai is by mule. Special Havasuapi mule-mail postal cachets are available to send loved ones around the world. This destination is a world-class waterfall and geology site. Make reservations early.
Local Nuances
Electricity for Havasupai is delivered over 70 miles of antiquated line sometimes stricken by lightning. Blasting in a new limestone quarry opened just east of Peach Springs jars the lines, occasionally cutting off power. Outages are usually short. Although the water main crossing Havasu Creek was mightily armored and greatly improved after the 2005 flood, the 2008 flood jarred it and shifted earth in some parts of the village. Foot, wheelbarrow, horse and quad traffic affect some shallow pipes. Water outages are also usually short. Patience is a virtue and an attribute of our Creator learned well in Supai. You know what they say on the Colorado Plateau - "Don't worry, be Hopi."
The 2008 Flood
In late August 2008, floodwaters poured across the 3,000 (776,000 Ha) square mile watershed feeding Havasu Creek. Five (1.6 M) feet of water poured into Havasu Canyon and the village. Downstream from Supai Village the flood cut a new channel through sediment beds of past floods, bypassing Navajo Falls, washing millions of cubic meters of mud, rock and trees downsteam. The old channel and travertine formations of Havasu Creek were uncovered at Fiftyfoot Falls and two new plunge pools created downstream. The Havasu Falls escarpment suffered some rock erosion. Siltation reduced the plunge pool size. Parts of the campground got silted and the plunge pool of Mooney Falls was reduced by silt. The creek and falls are world class water, tourists additionally have a stunning world-class geologic event to visit.
The August 2008 Havasupai Flood - http://www.havasupaiflood.com
The State Geologists Havasupai Blog
Arizona Geology Blog Examining the Redlands Dam Failure August 18, 2008
Between September 2008 and June 2009 the tribe has completed phase 1 restoration to return the tourism 400 tribal members depend on for a living. The Falls Bridge crossing the creek is rebuilt. The Havasu Falls plunge pool was cleaned up. The campground was prepared for camping. An opportunity may be present for helping recreate Havasu Creek swimming holes in the campground just the way you like them.
An excellent technical reference and background document for Havasu Canyon floods and Havasu Falls is the US Geological Survey's
For those with a deeper interest in the Havasupai people the following links provide online resources and hard copy book sources:
Another Web Tourist's Guide to Havasupai
An Account of the Controversial Havasupai Diabetes/Genetics Study:
A Trail-ride Extract from "Lasso the Wind", by Timothy Egan, plus other links:
Stephen Hirst's "I am the Grand Canyon" link to book information
Stephen Hirst's "People of the Blue-Green Water link to book information
Jeff Scott's Havasupai Web Page
Flora Gregg Iliff's "People of the Blue Water" an early 20th Century Account of a Teacher at Valentine, AZ and Havasupai - electronic library citation.
"World and I" 1990 For-Pay Scholarly Article on the Havasupai People