[Ania]

I'm hiking the Havasu Falls this summer. However, we have decided to arrive on Friday somewhere close by and stay the night and then early in the morning start the hike on Saturday. I was wondering if anyone can recommend a hotel/motel and an area. We will be coming from Phoenix. It was recommended to stay in Peach Springs, but by looking at the map posted here with directions, it appears we would be getting farther away. Wouldn't staying in Williams or Grand Canyon make more sense? I'm thinking at least Williams is on the way and by looking at the map, Grand Canyon is closer even if we need to turn around. Anybody??? Thank you! Anna

[azpride]

Ania- You will actually drive quite close to Peach Springs on the way to Havasupai. You turn onto the 66 at Seligman, then take the 66 to tribal road 18 which is right before you hit Peach Springs. My recommendation, however, would be to just camp at the trailhead.

[azbackpackr]

I don't recommend either one. I would say motel at Grand Canyon Caverns, which is very close to the turnoff for the Supai road, or camp at their campground. The restaurant is not bad, either. We always eat there after the trip and get the salad bar or veggie burger, pie, etc.

They have a website.

[rally_toad]

When I went a few years ago, we slept in the Hualapai Hill Parking lot the night before.

[big_load]

We camped out on Hualapai Hilltop, too, not far from where they line up the mules. It's not the best campsite ever, but it has a great view.

[Jim Lyding]

I've always stayed at Grand Canyon Caverns. They have a life-size representation of a giant sloth. Hualapai Hilltop obviously has the advantage of being *much* closer to the trailhead, but I've heard that security is a concern there.

[writelots]

I love staying in Seligman. Not as close as Grand Canyon Caverns - but there are some great kitchy old motels in the area, and Lilo's Westside Cafe has some of the best pre- and post- hike food anywhere. But, then, I'm driving from Tucson, so just the trip to Seligman is 5 hours easy - just about when I'm ready to stop for a while! It's over an hour to the TH from there. I stayed in Peach Springs once, found the rooms very over priced and lacking in any flavor, and the restauraunt was only eh.

[Ania]

Thanks for the replies. I think they overcharge for the rooms also at the Hualapai Lodge ($110) per night. I think maybe because they don't have any competition. So there is a possibility of camping at the Hualapai Hilltop? However, it would be nice to take a shower before the hike and have nice breakfast

[Ania]

Also, I was wondering how long does it "really" take to get down to the falls and the return back up? I understand everyone hikes at a different pace but I'm trying to figure out an average...

[big_load]

We got to the falls in about three hours at a relaxed pace. The hardest part was fine, deep sand near town, but there may be less of that after the flood. (Around here they call that sugar sand). It took a little over 4 hours to get out, and it was snowing heavily.

[nonot]

My times were very close to big load's. However my friends took their sweet time and didn't arrive in camp until 45-60 minutes after I had secured a campsite.

I'd put most people in decent shape at 3-4 hours down 4-6 out, unless you take a chopper or horse.

[nonot]

Oh, "camping" on the hilltop usually indicates sleeping on the parking lot, possibly between other cars. There may be a prime spot right next to the port-a-potties though

[Ania]

ok. I'll pass on camping by the port-a-potties. I think I'll stay at a hotel "nearby".

[big_load]

Oh, "camping" on the hilltop usually indicates sleeping on the parking lot,

We were out on the ledge. It was the kind of spot where you have to think twice before stepping out of the tent.

[TwoWeims]

Lilo's Westside Cafe has some of the best pre- and post- hike food anywhere

I second the part about Lilo's. Don't miss that.
I've never stayed in the area. Being form Prescott, it is not that far of a drive.

[Ania]

Awesome! Great info! Thanks.

[base871]

There is the aztec inn in Seligman, only has 8 rooms but its only 38 bucks a night. Nice folks who own it too.

[WilliamnWendi]

I am curious about "Claiming a spot". Everyone talks about "Leaving from the top early" or "Hiking fast" in order to claim the good spots. How does the actual "Claiming" work. How do you know if (assuming you get there early) which spots, if occupied, are opening up? Do they have a way of letting you know which sites are opening up. I've read that the spots closest to the falls are the primo, so I'll be shooting for those but I am not sure what protocol is.

[trekkin gecko]

it's a free-for-all

[WilliamnWendi]

Sweet!