Grand Falls (of the Little Colorado River)

Grand Falls, when it's on like it was when we were there, is one of the most attractive waterfalls in the US (let alone the

What makes this proclaimed 181ft waterfall so attractive is its width combined with the multiple terraces before plunging in three tall leaps. Encompassing the scenery that is a microcosm of the mighty Grand Canyon itself, the muddy Little Colorado River jumps and cuts its way into the GC-like cliffs. And we think it's this unusual mix a waterfall plunging over such cliffs that really makes this waterfall stand out.

However, with all the superlatives we're throwing at this waterfall, there are a pair of caveats. First, you have to time your visit for March through April and possibly May depending on how much snow has been accumulated in the White Mountains. The falls quickly trickles until going dry for the rest of the year except for a brief revitalization from the thunderstorms of the Summer monsoons. But timing the monsoon (not to mention the flash flooding complications) is not an easy thing to do.

The second caveat is that you have to find this waterfall (see directions below). It's not exactly a well-signed attraction and we were glad we used a combination of a GPS with TOPO! map to help us out (though it did lead to a little bit of confusion as the map had some outdated road lines).

Once you're at the car park or at the top of the falls, you might notice a handful of gazeebos perched right at the cliff's edges providing various angles of the impressive falls itself as you circle around the gorge rim. If you want to get to the bottom, there is a steep scrambling path (trail of use) into a gully further downstream of the falls. We witnessed some people even get up behind one of the side tiers of the falls after negotiating a real muddy stretch drenched by the falls' spray.

We took that path and got right in front of the base of the falls. The scrambling isn't too bad and you just have to take your time. But getting all the way to the falls and even behind part of it required going through a real muddy stretch (due to the mist from the falls), and we opted not to walk through that.

Despite the unsigned nature of this attraction, it's still quite popular as we shared it with at least a half-dozen carloads of people or so. We suspect many are locals (either of Flagstaff or of the Navajo Reservation) or tourists who look for gems like this on the internet :)

Here's where it gets tricky.

The key is to look for an obscure turnoff just past the Navajo boundary sign on your left. There might be a Grand Falls Bible Church sign near this turnoff. Take this turnoff (very easy to miss) and follow this dusty unsealed road formally known as Indian Road 70 (trying to ignore spur roads around you) until you get near the Little Colorado River Crossing. There is an unsigned turnoff on the left before reaching the Little Colorado River that leads along a rough road to the picnic area at the top of the falls. We were able to make it in our passenger car, but you do have to be careful on that last spur. And even if you don't find the correct turnoff, you can always park near the Little Colorado River and walk along one of the turnoff roads to the picnic area nearby the stream.

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Angled view of Grand Falls with a faint rainbow

More direct view of the falls

Walking closer to the falls at the base of the gorge

At the base of the falls

On the Leupp Road

Not a good place to get lost

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Sweep along the tops of each tier of the impressive waterfall


Sweep of the falls with a guy actually behind one of the falls from one of the uppermost viewpoints


Sweep from right to left at the base of the Grand Falls besides the Little Colorado River


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TRIP REPORTS

• March 13, 2009

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