Ultimate Havasu Falls Camping, Hiking and Permit Guide (2024)

The Havasupai Reservation and Havasu Falls is one of the most special places I have ever visited. I’ve been twice now, and both times I was MIND. BLOWN. Before my first visit, I’d only seen photos of Havasu Falls and the milky turquoise blue waters of Havasu Creek. I knew it was going to be special, but I didn’t realize how incredibly magical this place really is. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Havasu Falls is reached by a 10-mile hike departing from Hualapai Hilltop in Arizona down through a dry sandy wash. It’s a long hike carrying your backpacking gear (especially on the way back up), but once you arrive and take off your pack, you’ll be rewarded with swimming holes, 5 big waterfalls, and relaxing creekside camping.

If Havasu Falls is on your bucket list, there are some important things to know before you go. First, you MUST have a Havasupai permit PRIOR to your visit. Permits are not given out on-site and there is no day hiking allowed. Permits are also very competitive and they typically sell out for the whole year the day registration opens in early February.

To help you get the best chance of securing your Havasupai Falls Permit, this blog post covers everything you need to know including dates, fees, and more. I also highlight some important Havasu Falls camping information and a 4-day itinerary so you can get the most out of your time there.

All of this information has been updated with the 2024 reservation process and fees.

Important Reminder: As it goes in all of the destinations we share, please practice good trail etiquette and remember to Leave No Trace. This means packing out all of your garbage (including toilet paper), being respectful to others, and following the established rules.

How to Get a Havasupai Permit

As I mentioned above, in order to visit Havasupai and Havasu Falls, you MUST obtain a permit before your trip. The permit process helps to preserve the natural beauty of Havasupai and provides the Havasu Tribe with an income.

The biggest obstacle to planning a backpacking trip to Havasu Falls, though, is actually getting a Havasupai permit. In most years, permits sell out for the entire year on the day that the reservation system opens. Reservations for the season open on February 1st at 8:00 AM Arizona Time.

The Havasupai Tribe closed access to the falls in March 2020 due to the pandemic and has not allowed access since. 2023 was the first year since its closure that guests have been allowed to visit the falls. This means the permit process in 2024 will continue to be very competitive.

How to get a Havasu Falls permit in 2024

Permits for Havasupai are available on a first-come-first-serve basis, which is different than a lottery-based system where everyone has a fair chance of winning a spot.

Your best chance of getting a Havasu Falls reservation, then, is to be online and ready the minute registration is open, which is 8 AM Arizona Time on February 1st.

Be sure to make an online account at HavasupaiReservations.com anytime before February 1st. Then, on February 1st, log into your account before 8 am Arizona time and be ready to refresh your screen the minute the lines open.

Havasupai permits will likely sell out within a few hours.

Havasupai Permit FAQs

Tips for obtaining a permit

Getting a Havasu camping permit is very competitive, so to increase your chances, follow these tips:

• Create your online account before February 1st. You don’t want to waste precious time creating your account the day reservations open.
• Have flexible dates. Mid-summer is when everyone is on summer vacation, so it’s also going to be the most competitive time. If you can go mid-week in March or late November, then you’ll have a better chance of getting a permit.
• Remember that Arizona doesn’t do daylight savings time. Double-check what that means for your time zone. It would be a bummer to log in an hour late!
• Create your Potential Alternate Trip Leader (PATL) list in advance. A PATL is the ONLY person your permit will go to if you can’t make your trip. If you don’t designate a PATL, you risk forfeiting the trip for everyone in your group. You can choose up to 10 Potential Alternate Trip Leaders.

Pack mule reservations

If you would like your gear carried in by a pack mule, you can add your name to a waitlist after you’ve secured your campground reservation. You’ll be notified if the Tourism Board has approved your Pack Mule request. All mule requests must be made BEFORE your trip.

Here’s a rundown of pack mule reservations:

• Pack mules cost $400 and can carry up to 4 bags with a maximum weight of 32 pounds per bag and a maximum size of 36 inches long, 19 inches wide, and 19 inches tall.
• Ice chests/coolers are NOT permitted
• All baggage must be soft-sided with nothing hanging off the outside
• If you have a mule reservation, you must drop your bags off by 10am at the trailhead and by 7am at the campground
• If you don’t have a backpacking pack, we saw several people using blue IKEA bags to haul their stuff
• Try to pack light – you still must carry your gear from the dropoff point to the campground and back, which includes a bridge and a steep hill by Havasu Falls. There are wheelbarrows you can borrow, but we saw many people struggling with too much gear.
• Don’t expect to get your stuff in a timely manner. We saw people still waiting for their bags at 6pm and having to set up camp in the dark. Similarly, we saw people waiting at the trailhead for 3-4 hours at the end of their Havasu Faslls hike waiting on bags.

Personally, I recommend packing lightweight backpacking gear and backpacking food like you would for any other backpacking trip and carrying your own gear. Don’t bring coolers, float toys, or other excessive gear that is going to be uncomfortable for you to carry yourself. That way you’ll save money and won’t be waiting on your bags. And while I didn’t observe this personally, people have emailed me saying the mules they saw on the trail looked undernourished.

Getting a camping permit through a cancellation

If you don’t score a 2024 permit before they sell out for the year, you may still be in luck. The online Havasupai Reservation System has a Cancellation/Transfers Page where you can purchase canceled trips. This list is updated daily at 8am Arizona Time, so be online every morning for your best chance at getting a permit.

If there are dates that work for you, but the permit includes more spots than you need, you can sell those extra spots on the official transfer system after you purchase the canceled trip for a 10% fee. When BFT contributor Courtney bought permits off the transfer list for April 2023, she had an extra spot which she released back into the system. It was snatched up the next day and the money was refunded to her account within a week.

Before your Havasu Falls Camping Trip

If you’re lucky enough to nab a permit, you’ll need to do some planning since the Havasupai Indian Reservation and Havasu Falls are quite remote and you need to carry in and out all of your supplies.

Here are a few tips to help you plan your Havasu Falls camping trip:

1. Have everyone in your group make an online account

While only one name is on the camping reservation, all members of the group must make an account at havasupaireservations.com to confirm that they have read and understood the Havasupai Rules and Laws.

A summary of these Havasu Falls Camping Rules and Laws includes:

• NO cliff jumping
• NO rock climbing
• NO littering
• NO amplified music
• NO feeding animals
• NO fishing
• NO kayaks, standup paddleboards, pool floats, or other watercraft
• NO alcohol/drugs/smoking (including marijuana)
• NO fires (aside from gas cooking canisters)
• NO drones
• NO nudity or inappropriate clothing
• NO photos allowed in the village or of Havasupai tribes members

You can read the complete list of rules here (under “Permits”). There are fines ranging from $200 to $5000 if you get caught doing any of these things or even jail time. Please be a kind, respectful visitor and don’t break these rules, ruining it for everyone.

2. Pick up your Havasu Falls Camping Permit and Wristbands

You will need to pick up your official permit and wristbands for your entire group at a hotel that’s 90 miles from the trailhead BEFORE you head to the trailhead or start your hike down.

Check-in for all permit reservations takes place at Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, located at mile marker 115 near Seligman. The trip leader must check in for all members no later than noon on the first day of your reservation.

Check-in hours vary by the season but I highly recommend checking in the day before your reservation starts so you can get an early start on your first day.

When Courtney visited in April 2023, check-in hours were from 8-5pm but starting mid-May they were extended to 6am-7pm. Always double-check the hours!

There is no camping or sleeping in your car allowed at the trailhead parking area. There is a guard on the road to the trailhead who will check your permits, so don’t try to sleep in the lot. Water is also not available in the parking area, but there are bathrooms. Be sure to fill up your water BEFORE heading to the trailhead.

Options for accommodations the night before you start your Havasu Falls hike include:

• Closest Cities with Hotels
  • Peach Springs (68 miles/1 hour 20 minutes from trailhead).
  • Seligman (90 miles/1 hour 40 minutes from trailhead) *Note: Grand Canyon Caverns Inn is where you will check in for your Havasupai trip and pick up your permit. They have hotel rooms available. BFT team member Courtney stayed at Supai Motel in Seligman.
  • Kingman (118 miles/2 hours from trailhead)
• Closest Campgrounds
  • Grand Canyon Caverns RV Park & Inn *Note: this is where you will check in and pick up your permit
  • KOA in Seligman
  • Kingman has a number of camping options

3. Organize your Havasu Falls camping gear

For your 4-day 3 night trip to Havasupai, you need to pack in AND OUT all of your gear and supplies. This includes food, supplies, trash, and camping gear. Water is available at the campground.

There is a small store in the village of Supai where you can get basic snacks and drinks, but don’t rely on supplies here.

For a complete list of what hiking and camping gear you need for Havasu Falls, check out our full Havasu Falls Packing List. You’ll want the basics (tent, sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, water filter, etc) plus gear for hiking and swimming at the falls, and a bear canister to protect your food.

Camping at Havasu Falls

Here is what to expect when you arrive the campground at Havasu Falls.

Havsu Falls Campsites

The camping area at Havasupai is about a mile long and sits between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls. Do not expect solitude at the campground – Havasu is CROWDED and you will have neighbors. Campsites are first-come-first-serve and are scattered throughout. If you are concerned about getting a prime campsite, get an early start from the trailhead. We also saw many people move campsites on morning #2 after early risers left the campground to hike back out.

A majority of the sites are right on the river that runs through the campground, and most of the sites have picnic tables. It’s also important to note that there are campsites on both sides of the river, although access can be a little tricky with limited footbridges to cross.

Both times I visited Havasu Falls, the crowds seemed thinner the further down the campsite area we walked. The only disadvantage of being nearer to Mooney Falls toward the end of the campground is that the water spigot where you fill up your water bottles is located near the start of the campground.

The campground is also hammock heaven with tons of trees to swing from. IDuring my first trip, I slept in my ENO DoubleNest Hammock for the first time, and it was perfect. If there’s a chance of rain, don’t forget to bring a tarp if you plan on sleeping in a hammock. On my second trip, I brought a lightweight backpacking tent since the weather was looking more iffy.

Toilets

There are four composting toilet facilities evenly spaced throughout the campground and they were surprisingly clean with plenty of toilet paper. There are NO showers. Please use the toilets provided to ensure the area stays pristine for others’ use.

Campfires

Campfires are not allowed in the Havasu Falls camping area or anywhere in Havasupai.

Water

There is potable water available in the Havasupai campground. You will need to bring vessels to transport your water back to your campsite. If you don’t want to constantly walk back and forth to the spigot, we recommend bringing a water storage bag.

Wildlife

Watch out for marmots. They are sneaky and will get into your food if it’s left out where they can get to it. When you leave your camp to go for a swim or a hike, make sure to hang it or store it safely. Bringing a bear canister is easier than hanging your food in a tree and is recommended by the Havasupai Tribe.

Havasupai Camping Rules

When you are camping in Havasupai it’s important that you:

• Practice Leave No Trace in order to keep the campground and the falls clean for everyone to enjoy.
• Be respectful of other campers and watch your noise at night. It travels fast in the canyon and is an easy way to get on your neighbor’s bad side. Quiet hours are from 8pm to 5am.
• Use the restrooms rather than going outside your tent.
• Pack out all of your trash and don’t leave your trash in the bathrooms for the campground staff to pick up. All trash left behind must be sent out via helicopter, so it’s much easier if everyone does their part to carry everything out that they brought with them.

Havasupai Lodge: If you’re not a camper, there is a lodge in the village of Supai. You still need a Havasu permit to stay at the lodge. To make a Havasupai Lodge Reservation, use the online HavasupaiReservation.com system.

Havasu Falls Trail Guide and Itinerary

Day 1: Hiking to Havasupai Campground

• Distance: 10 miles one way (8 miles to Supai Village)
• Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
• Elevation Change: -2,400 feet
• Time Needed: 4-6 hours

On the day of your reservation, make your way to the Hilltop Trailhead parking area with a full tank of gas. The closest gas station is 70 miles away. There is a ranger who will check your permit and wristbands about 5 miles from the parking area. After parking in the visitor’s area, display your Campground Reservation Confirmation Code visibly on your dashboard.

At the trailhead, you can organize your gear and get ready for your Havasu Falls hike. The total distance to the Havasu Falls campground is approximately 10 miles one way and the trail begins at the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot at an elevation of 5,200 feet.

Immediately, the trail begins a 1,000-foot descent over the first mile, dropping you into Havasu Canyon. Once you reach the wash, the trail follows a dry river bed for the next 6.5 miles, gradually dropping another 1,000 or so feet until you reach the village of Supai at mile 8.

Note: there is no water available at the trailhead or on the trail, so make sure you pack enough to make it to the campground.

The hike on the way in is long but not too difficult and the initial descent is on a well-maintained series of switchbacks. Once you are in the dry river bed, the hiking can be a bit slow due to the sandy gravel, but the trail is very easy to follow.

If at any point you think you’ve lost the trail, just keep following the river bed until you meet back up with the path.

At mile 8, you’ll enter Supai village. No photos or videos are allowed in this area and in 2023 there were signs asking you to wear a face mask throughout the village. Please be respectful and obey the current wishes of the locals. Once you pass through the Supai village, it’s another 2 miles and a couple of hundred feet down to the Havasupai campground.

On the way you’ll pass Navajo Falls and Fifty Foot Falls, both are worth exploring on days 2 or 3.

Day 2: Day Hike to Mooney and Beaver Falls

• Distance: 7 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate-Strenuous
• Elevation Change: +/-1,200 feet
• Time Needed: 5-6 hours (not including time at the waterfalls)

Havasupai has five waterfalls you can visit. The two lower falls include Havasu Falls (the most famous one), Mooney, and Beaver. The upper falls include Fiftyfoot and Little Navajo Falls.

I recommend hiking down to Mooney Falls at a minimum during your visit to Havasupai, but if you have the energy for a full-day hike to Beaver Falls, it’s well worth your time. For Beaver Falls, you’ll want to pack plenty of water, your swim suit, an ultralight towel, and hiking snacks so you can relax and enjoy it once you get there.

Also, don’t hike in flip flops. For the hike down to Mooney and Beaver Falls, you’ll going to want sturdy water shoes or hiking sandals (like Tevas) that you don’t mind getting wet.

The hike down to Mooney Falls, which begins right at the end of the campground, is challenging, very steep, and requires the use of chains for support and ladders. You’ll even have to crouch down as you slither your way through some narrow sections with a cave-like feel.

Take your time, and don’t feel rushed by other people. You’ll be proud of yourself when you get to the bottom, and in my opinion, going down is scarier than going back up.

Once you’re down there, the trail continues to Beaver Falls. It is stunning with way fewer people than you’ll find around Havasu Falls. Pay attention to the trail since it crosses the river a number of times. With a leisurely pace, the hike to Beaver Falls takes about 5 hours round trip.

The hike to Beaver Falls has a few steep sections, but is fairly flat for the majority of the hike. You can’t miss Beaver Falls when you arrive. There is a sign and sometimes a ranger is present. There is a path down to the water so you can swim as well as place to sit and eat lunch.

Beaver Falls is an amazing place to take a dip, so if you want some sun for your swimming excursion, get there earlier in the day before the sun goes behind the canyon wall.

Some people hike all the way to the confluence of the Colorado River, where you can see the turquoise water of Havasu mixed with the muddy brown water of the Colorado. This is a LONG day – 16.5 miles roundtrip from the campground – so only attempt the confluence hike if you are fit and prepared.

Day 3: Hang at Fifty Foot and Navajo Falls

• Distance: 2 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Easy
• Elevation Change: +/-250 feet
• Time Needed: 1 hour (not including time at the falls)

Day 3 is all about relaxing and swimming at the falls near the campground. It’s nice to have a mellow day to rest your legs since you’ll have a long hike out on day 4. Of course you should swim at Havasu Falls, but for a quieter experience head back towards the village to explore Fifty Foot and Navajo Falls.

Like day 2, pack your towel, swimsuit, sun protection, water shoes, snacks, and maybe even a lightweight camp chair and a good book. Remember, climbing and jumping from the falls is not allowed.

Navajo Falls has tons of different shallow pools broken up by limestone, perfect for hanging out in. Since it was so close to our campsite, we brought our inflatable sleeping pads up to the falls and used them to float around on.

Day 4: Hiking Back to Hualapai Hilltop parking lot

• Distance: 10 miles one-way
• Difficulty: Strenuous
• Elevation Change: +2,400 feet
• Time Needed: 5-7 hours

The hike back out to your car is a bit more challenging than the hike into the campground. By the time you reach the climb at the end, it’s likely that you’ll be a bit tired. Make sure you have plenty of water and snacks for the return. You’ll pass by Fifty Foot and Navajo Falls once more if you decide to cool off before you begin the hike out.

Also, as you noticed on the way down, there is very little shade on the trail, so depending on the time of year, the hike out from Havasu Falls can be deathly hot. That extreme dry heat can suck the life right out of you, and even in March when the temps were in the mid-80s, it was quite hot hiking out.

If you are doing this hike in summer, plan to start the trek out in the very early morning, like 4am early, or stay and swim and hike out in the early evening. The trail officially closes at sunset, so just plan to be off the trail by the time it’s dark.

Option to take a helicopter out

If you’d rather not hike out from Havasu, there’s a first-come, first-serve helicopter that leaves from Supai village. From March 15 to October 15 it flies on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays, and the rest of the year it only flies Sundays and Fridays. It costs $100/person (tack on a $10 fee if paying by credit card), and it’s not guaranteed you will be able to use it. Locals get first priority and the helicopter doesn’t fly in bad weather. You are allowed to bring one bag on the helicopter up to 40lbs.

When BFT team member Courtney visited in April 2023, she chose to take the helicopter out to save time and energy for the drive home. She started the hike to the village at 5:30am and was #9 in line for a ride out.

Flights begin around 10am so be prepared to arrive early and wait around. The helicopter takes 6 passengers at the time, and based on the number of locals, she ended up on the 3rd ride out of the day, arriving back to her car by 11am.

I imagine if you’re trying to fly out in peak summer heat, you need to arrive even earlier and be prepared to wait for hours. They will continue flying until everyone is accommodated or until it gets dark.

Taking the helicopter was a unique experience (what other backpacking trip can you take a helicopter out of?!) with stunning views of the canyon, but always be prepared to hike out in case you can’t make it on the helicopter.

The Best Time to visit Havasu Falls

The best time to visit Havasu Falls depends on what you want to do there. Do you want to swim? Or do you want to avoid the crowds? Here are the pros and cons of visiting Havasu Falls for the different seasons:

Spring or Late Fall

• Pros: Fewer bugs and fewer people
• Cons: Variable weather could mean less than ideal swimming temps. One year I went in March and had swimming weather (80 degrees) during the day and very cold nights (40 degrees). On my most recent trip in May, it rained and was not suitable for swimming until the last day. The plus side of this is that the hike out (which can be unbearably hot) was very tolerable.

Summer or Early Fall

• Pros: Hot weather means you can sit and hang out in the water all day
• Cons: Hot temps mean hiking could be miserable and potentially even dangerous. In the heat of summer, when Havasu Falls is the busiest, people get up at 4am to begin the hike out. Summer is also monsoon season with flash floods being most likely from mid-June to late September.

A note about monsoon season: Monsoon season in Arizona typically runs from mid-June through September. Havasu Canyon has historically seen flooding, including dangerous flash floods. Be prepared by checking the weather forecast, complying with rules and regulations, and checking in at the tourist office before you head to the campground.

I hope this guide helps you plan an unforgettable backpacking trip to Havasupai! It’s one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited for its beauty and magnificence. lt’s truly a special place.

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What questions do you have about planning a backpacking trip to Havasupai in 2024? Did you get a Havasu Falls permit this year? Leave a comment below!

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