The Logistics of Getting There…And Back
From Phoenix you drive to Hualapai Hilltop. We drove to Seligman, Ariz. and stayed the night before driving the 90 remaining miles to the hilltop. Those last 60 miles are all open road with lots of cows and no gas, food or other services. The drive alone is peaceful and picturesque – except when you hit a cattle guard or pothole in the road.
Once you arrive at the hilltop you’ll park and leave your vehicle. You’ve got three options for spanning the eight miles to Supai village (which you’ll follow up with two miles to get to the campground).
Take a helicopter. At only $85 each way, it sounds ideal. Unfortunately, you can’t make reservations and it’s first-come, first-served. It can also be affected by weather or not run at all.
Ride a horse. Saddle horses and pack mules are available for tourists to ride into and out of the canyon. Reservations are needed and the round-trip cost for each animal is $187. If you’re an animal lover, best to avoid this option. Animals are owned by individual tribe members and, to my uneducated eye, did not appear to be well treated. They are first and foremost service animals.
If you have your own horse, you may ride it. You will have to bring your own feed and pay an entrance fee.
Hike. This is the best option, as long as you’re in adequate physical condition. It may not be glamorous, but hiking all ten miles and carrying your own gear is the most reliable way to get into the canyon. I’m assuming you’re awesome, tough and willing to hike so the rest of my advice will cater to the backpacking hiker you are (or are about to be).
