Arizona’s Majestic “Chocolate Falls” is Taller Than the Niagara — And Visitors Are Banned

Grand Falls, Arizona

Out in the Navajo Nation, about an hour from Flagstaff, Grand Falls puts on one of Arizona’s best seasonal shows. The 185-foot waterfall transforms from dry cliff face to thundering brown cascade when snowmelt and rain hit the Little Colorado River just right.

Unfortunately, you can’t visit it anymore due to terrible behavior from past tourists. Scroll right for more on that and the Grand Falls.

It’s Inside the Painted Desert

Grand Falls is located around 30 miles northeast of Flagstaff, Arizona, within the Painted Desert on Navajo Nation land. Grand Falls sits in the western portion of this colorful region , surrounded by the characteristic pink, orange, and purple-banded mesas that give the region its name.

Yes, It’s Taller Than the Niagara Falls

Grand Falls is around 185 feet tall, while Niagara Falls has a total height of 176 feet (the actual waterfalls are about 70 feet) because of the rocks at the base.

It was born from a volcanic tantrum

About 20,000 years ago, nearby Merriam Crater erupted and sent lava flows across the landscape, creating a natural dam that forced the Little Colorado River to find a new path. The river had to make a 90-degree turn and spill over the edge of this newly formed cliff. You can still see Merriam Crater from Leupp Road today.

It seriously looks like flowing chocolate

The “chocolate falls” nickname is perfect for Grand Falls. It’s a mix of water and mud, because the Little Colorado River picks up massive amounts of silt and sediment as it flows from its source near Mount Baldy in the White Mountains.

The falls are bone-dry most of the year

Unlike most famous waterfalls, Grand Falls is completely dry around 75% of the year. According to USGS flow data, there’s only about a 13% chance on any given day that water will be flowing at over 400 cubic feet per second (the level needed for a truly impressive display).

The "curvy curtain pleats" of Grand Falls

Above the main falls, the river forms what locals describe as “curvy curtain pleats” stretching all the way across the water. These unusual ridges create a series of small drops, each just a few inches high, forming a stair-step pattern. This geological formation process makes Grand Falls unique among North American waterfalls, as most are formed by glacial activity or simple erosion rather than volcanic events.

It looks like a mini Grand Canyon

The area around Grand Falls is basically a bite-sized version of the Grand Canyon itself. When you’re standing at the viewpoint, you’re looking into a mini-gorge with dramatic canyon-like cliffs surrounding the chocolate-colored river.

Grand Falls has stunning rainbows

One of the most surreal visual effects at Grand Falls happens when sunlight hits the chocolate-colored spray just right. The falls are known for creating vibrant rainbows that hover above the muddy brown water – a color combination that looks completely unnatural.

It’s incredibly remote with no major paved roads

The journey there is genuinely hardcore. The falls sit at the end of a rough 9-mile dirt road, and after heavy rain, even 4WD vehicles can struggle to make it through. You had to be careful when hiking to the base since many sections may look solid, but they’re actually mud.

Grand Falls is on Navajo Nation land

Grand Falls sits entirely within the Navajo Nation where it’s known as “Adah’iilíní”. The name “Adah’iilíní” (sometimes spelled Adahwiilíní) literally means “flowing downward” in Navajo, where “adah” specifically indicates a downward direction.

This sacred site is officially registered as a “traditional cultural property” by the Navajo Nation Heritage and Historical Preservation Department because of its spiritual importance.

Visiting is banned indefinitely

As of March 2023, Grand Falls was officially closed to the public by local Navajo communities.

They got fed up by the disrespectful behavior from visitors, such as littering, flying drones, off-roading into non-designated roads and homesteads, and disturbing the wildlife and locals. Some residents have also seen ATVs chasing livestock and people skinny-dipping in the falls.

The Flagstaff official website has a clear warning: “DO NOT attempt to visit.”