Grand Falls

A roughly 185-foot, sediment-choked waterfall on the Little Colorado River on the Navajo Nation, currently closed to the public.

Grand Falls is a waterfall on the Little Colorado River on the Navajo Nation in Coconino County, roughly 30 miles northeast of Flagstaff in the Painted Desert. Its muddy, sediment-laden flow has earned it the nickname 'Chocolate Falls'; the drop is commonly cited at around 185 feet, taller than Niagara Falls, though the river runs intermittently and the falls can slow to a trickle or run dry outside spring snowmelt and summer monsoon season.

Grand Falls sits outside the Navajo Nation's staffed tribal park system and is overseen locally through the Leupp Chapter rather than a park like Monument Valley. As of this review, the Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department's own rules and regulations page stated that Grand Falls is closed to the public due to debris build-up in the area, with further information available through the Leupp Chapter. Do not rely on older trip reports or general Navajo Nation permit information for current access — contact the Leupp Chapter or check the official Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation site before planning any visit.

Know before you go

Sources & further reading

• Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation — Rules & Regulations ↗
• Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation — Permits ↗
• USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) ↗

This is a researched visitor guide, not a claim that our editors have personally visited. Trail conditions, permits, and access can change.