Havasu Falls is one of the most stunning areas in the world. It feels like you’re on a different planet. It’s pure paradise. Dozens of world class waterfalls are just the beginning of the highlights, which include wildly lush greenery surrounded by beautiful red rock canyons, with crystal clear creeks running between them.
Sitting at the top of my US Bucket List for years had been Havasu Falls. I had tried once before to get a permit and failed, and mostly used excuses for not going - until I decided it was time to make the effort. After having hiked down to Havasu Falls I cannot recommend it enough.
It’s a tough journey that includes backpacking 10 miles to a pristine campground, and part of a 4 day, 3 night experience, but the rewards are worth it. Here’s my ultimate guide on Visiting Havasu Falls.
*Note: I hiked this trail a few months before the flooding that occurred in August 2024.
GETTING A PERMIT
One of the reasons Havasu Falls has remained so magical is because they limit the amount of people that can hike into the canyon every day. You can only gain access to the falls by winning a competitive permit lottery. My brothers and I tried once pre-covid with no luck, before securing a spot in 2024.
Post-Covid, the Havasupai tribe has set up new rules for acquiring a permit. There is an early bird presale permit application period from January 5th - 18th, where you can submit for a permit.
You can apply directly on the Havasupai official website.
For more information on how to get a permit, check out Havasu Falls: How to Get a Permit.
You must have an account registered with their website to apply. I’d suggest making it in advance so when you hop on to apply you don’t have to spend time creating an account.
When you apply, you can select two potential start dates, as well as a month. We submitted for two different weekends in May, and selected the month of May, and ended up getting May 5-8th - a Sunday through Wednesday.
All reservations are for 4 days, 3 nights. Only 350 people are allotted permits each day to venture to Havasu Falls.
To apply for a reservation you will be paying a non-refundable $15 per person. If you win the permits, each person will pay $455 total for the trip to camp. If you want to stay at the lodge in Supai Village instead of camping, that will cost $2,277 for a lodge room that sleeps 4 people.
You can apply for up to 12 people total as part of your reservation, but will have to pay $15 for each person on the reservation. If you land a permit, you will be charged for the total amount for all members in your party.
If you don’t get a permit, don’t worry as the official website resells tickets for face value from people that cannot make their reservation anymore.
WHEN TO GO
Havasu Falls permit reservations are open from February 1st until November 30 in 2024. Given the high altitude of the hilltop, the heat of the summer, and the water temperature if you want to swim, there is a bit of a strategy for figuring out when to go.
We were lucky enough to score a permit for the beginning of May, which I found was the perfect time to go. It was starting to heat up, getting to the low 80s during the day, but wasn’t too miserable yet. The water was warm enough to swim, and the evenings were super comfortable for camping in the 50s.
I’d suggest aiming for the shoulder seasons: Spring (April and May), or later in the fall (September, early October). Summer can get some pretty intense heat, which will make your hiking days a bit more brutal with very early starts to avoid the heat (or dealing with the heat). You’re also risking getting poured on or storms during monsoon season in Arizona, which begins in June and lasts through August.
Whenever you are able to get a reservation, it is still worth the incredible journey into paradise, just be prepared for the weather conditions that may be present.
PREPARING
There are a few things to consider when preparing for your trip to Havasu, such as how much to pack, hiking in, and where to stay. Here’s how I feel about these based on my experience hiking there.
HIKING VS HELICOPTER
It is on many people’s bucket list to hike to Havasu Falls, as it was mine, but there is also an option to fly in and out of the canyon on a helicopter for $100 each way. Hiking to the falls was part of the experience for me, and it's an incredible hike, but the option is there if you aren’t the hiking type and want to see the falls.
CAMPING VS LODGE
Most people that are hiking here will also be the camping type, and the campsite at Havasu Falls is easily the most beautiful campground I’ve ever camped at. Having said that, not everyone is a camper (although for this trip you should try it!), and there is an option to stay at the lodge for a higher fee.
The disadvantage of the lodge is that it is about a mile from the campground and Havasu Falls, and about 2 miles to Mooney Falls, so you will have to do a bit of walking regardless. Supai Village is also not the most glamorous place so you’ll be sacrificing some of the beauty that the campgrounds have.
RESERVING A PACK MULE
If you don’t want to carry your whole life for the next 4 days on your back down and out of the canyon, you’re in luck. You can reserve a pack mule to carry bags to the campground for you.
As a group of 5, we decided to do this and it was one of the best decisions we made. I am not morally thrilled to admit we did this, but I can’t imagine how much more difficult the experience would have been without this option.
For $400 you can pack 4 bags on a mule, each weighing less than 32 pounds. Split between a group of people it can not be as pricey, and will allow you to pack lighter for the ~12 mile hike to the falls and campground. You will especially want the lighter weight on the hike back up the canyon, as that is the more brutal of the hikes.
If you want a pack mule, you have to purchase this in advance, after you win your permit. You can possibly find people selling bags to other hikers on places like facebook, etc if you are trying to get a bag last minute.
WHAT TO PACK
Packing for a trip like this can be a bit tricky, and what time of year you are going can affect that. For a more in depth look at what I brought you can check out What to Pack for Hiking Havasu Falls, but here is a snippet of what to pack.
Backpacking Gear
-Backpack
-Backpacking Tent
-Sleeping Bag
-Sleeping Pad
-Headlamp
-Camelback
-Trekking Poles
Clothing & Footwear
-Hiking Clothing
-Hiking Shoes
-Swimsuit
-Water Hiking Shoes
-Lightweight Fleece
-Hat
Health & Hygiene
-Tooth Brush
-Tooth Paste
-Deodorant
-Sunscreen
-Lip Balm
Food & Water
-Water Bottle(s)
-Energy Snacks
-Hydration Packets
-Lifestraw
-Lightweight Meals
Camp Kitchen
-Backpacking Stove
-Lighter
-Fuel
-Eating Utensils
-Bowls/Dishes
-Biodegradable Soap
Personal Items
-Phone
-ID
-Cash
-Printed Permit
-Camera
-Sunglasses
*Alcohol, drugs, and drones are not permitted.
GETTING THERE
I would highly suggest getting to the area the night before, as you are going to want to start the trail as early as possible. The Grand Canyon Caverns Inn is the recommended hotel, as it is the closest to the trailhead and the rooms are affordable. You will also need to check in here the day before your hike - this is where you get your wristbands and mule bag tags, as well as your reservation papers that you will need when entering the Havasupai Reservation.
Note: The staff to get your wristbands and reservation papers only works from 8am-5pm, so make sure you arrive during that time frame the day before your hike.
Double Note: The hilltop trailhead is about an hour and twenty minutes from the hotel, so plan accordingly when driving there the morning of your hike.
When you enter the reservation, you will have to show your papers to a guard to be allowed into the entrance. They seemed pretty strict, and we heard stories of people’s cars being searched, but they did not search our car and let us pass after answering a few questions about our reservation.
THE HIKE TO HAVASU
The hike to and from Havasu Falls from the hilltop is an incredible journey in itself. You’ll start off looking down into the massive canyon, and descend down switchbacks into some of the most beautiful western scenery you can imagine. I personally thought it was more scenic than the times I’ve visited the Grand Canyon.
The way down is pretty quick, and after about 40 minutes you’ll be on flat ground. The trail passes giant rock formations and you will travel through immense canyons.
It’s a long journey, so pace yourself and take breaks when you need them. There’s a decent amount of shade in the canyons depending when you are hiking, but most of the first section is without shade. Bring lots of water and wear sunscreen as the sun can be brutal.
The hike is about 10 miles to get to Supai Village, and another 1-2 miles to get to the campground, depending where you find a campsite. If you purchased mule bags, there is a drop off at the top of the hill before you get to Havasu Falls, and you will have to carry your mule bags about a mile to the campground.
After you cross the bridge where the mule bag drop off is, you will descend as the magical Havasu Falls is first revealed on your right hand side. It was a jaw dropping moment for myself and the rest of our group, as all the effort to get down there paid off immediately.
Continue hiking down until you reach the beginning of the campground. We left the hilltop at 8:45am and reached the campground around 2:30pm, for a total of about 6 hours.
The return hike is clearly more difficult, as you will be heading uphill. The last section is the toughest, as you will be battling the switchbacks and most likely be in direct sun unless you leave super early that morning. We left at 6am from the campground on the return hike and arrived at the hilltop right at 12pm noon, again about 6 hours.
HAVASU FALLS
The reason we all came, Havasu Falls does not disappoint. As soon as you see it, it’s one of those moments where you can’t believe it’s real. “It looks just like the photos” my brother Rob said as soon as he saw it, which is very accurate.
After hiking Mooney and Beaver Falls our first day, we spent the better part of the next day relaxing and exploring Havasu Falls. You can swim in the water, jump off nearby rocks into the falls, or just relax in the sun. Bring a hammock, pack a lunch, or take chairs and a book to enjoy your time in absolute paradise. You could spend all day here and never get sick of the views.
Havasu Falls are very easy to access from the campground, and require a short descent that only takes a minute or so to get down from the main trail.
For more photos and information on the various waterfalls in Havasu, check out The Best Waterfalls of Havasu Falls.
THE CAMPGROUND
The campground at Havasu Falls is by far the best campground I’ve ever camped at before. There are tons of spots right on the creek that runs through the campground. The creek is fluorescent blue and green, super clear, with tons of little trickling falls throughout. The campground is huge and spans for about a mile, with the last spots overlooking the mighty Mooney Falls.
There are four bathrooms that are relatively well maintained with toilet paper, and cleaned daily. There are no showers. There is a spring near the beginning of the campground where you can get clean water from. You can drink this water, although we still chose to filter our water from there before drinking it.
The best campsites we found were right along the creek, near the end of the campground by bathrooms 3 and 4. It’s a bit of a trek to get to them, especially if you need to access the spring a lot or plan on going to the Village, but waking up with views right on the magical creek is worth the extra steps. Plus, you’ll be closer to Mooney Falls.
Tip: If you can’t score a great spot on the creek, wake up early the next day when campers are leaving and snag one of their spots before the hikers that day arrive.
HIKING MOONEY FALLS TO BEAVER FALLS
The most incredible portion of the Havasu area is the hike from Mooney Falls to Beaver Falls. Not only are both of the falls stunning in their own ways, but the journey between the two is pure paradise. You’ll hike through lush green vegetation surrounded by red rock canyons, and cross several crystal clear creeks with cascading waterfalls. But the journey begins at the imposing Mooney Falls.
The descent down Mooney Falls is one of the trippiest, intense sections of a hike I’ve ever done. You have to borderline climb/crawl your way down the steep, rocky, and potentially slippery rocks on the side of the falls to reach the bottom. There are chains to hold onto to help lower yourself down the cliff. At the bottom there is a ladder to get you onto the ground.
I’d recommend taking this section very slowly and carefully, as a bad stumble and losing balance could lead to you falling to your death - but don’t be scared! It’s very doable for the average in shape hiker but requires both mental and physical concentration.
The ascent back up is also a bit treacherous as the mist from the falls can become strong. It is highly recommended to bring grip gloves to climb up and down Mooney Falls, although you will find a massive stack of gloves at the top of the falls that hikers have left behind.
Once you get to the bottom you can look head on at the stunning Mooney Falls, which is taller than Niagara Falls. After admiring the falls, you can either climb back up to the campground or continue on to Beaver Falls.
The hike from Mooney to Beaver Falls includes a bunch of creek crossings, so close-toed hiking water shoes are highly recommended. There are a lot of ups and downs, a few ladders to climb up, but the views make it all worth it. The incredible red rock canyons glow in the sun as you hike through green lush paradise.
It felt a little like Lord of the Rings walking through Middle Earth just to get to Beaver Falls.
We saw a few bighorn sheep on our hike through the canyon.
There are tons of waterfalls you’ll see along the hike before reaching the unbelievable Beaver Falls. It's wild to think some of these magical waterfalls are just part of the scenery to get to Beaver Falls, and not actually the destination itself. The below waterfall was just off the trail with no signage or foot traffic.
One of the most unique waterfalls I’ve ever seen, Beaver Falls does not disappoint. The cascading falls provide a nice rest spot to have lunch and enjoy the scenery. You can admire them from above, and also hike down a little further to get right up next to the falls - you can even swim in them if you’d like.
From here you can either turn around and hike back to the campground from where you came, or continue on to the Confluence.
For a full breakdown on this hike, check out Havasu Falls: Hiking Mooney Falls to Beaver Falls.
CONFLUENCE HIKE
If you want to really go for it, you can hike all the way to the Confluence: the beginning of the Grand Canyon where the Havasu Creek meets the Colorado River. It is an intense, all day hike from the Havasu Campground that is recommended for experienced hikers. There are many relatively deep river crossings and the journey takes people around 12 hours total round trip.
You will descend Mooney Falls and pass Beaver Falls on your way to the Confluence. We did not attempt this hike as the hike to Beaver Falls was pretty magical on its own, and we preferred to spend our other free day to hang out at Havasu Falls and see the other falls near the campground.
WHAT ELSE TO SEE
In addition to the main three waterfalls, there are a few more incredible waterfalls near the campground that are worth visiting.
LITTLE NAVAJO FALLS / 50 FOOT FALLS
One of the most spectacular waterfalls in the canyon is Little Navajo Falls, aka 50 Foot Falls. Between Supai Village and Havasu Falls, it is easily accessed off the main trail with just a short descent. It’s a stunning panorama and you can get into the water for some different perspectives. The best bang for your buck waterfall hike in Havasu for sure.
HIDDEN FALLS
Definitely a bit “hidden”, these falls are a fun adventure worth exploring. In between the campground and Supai Village, near Little Navajo Falls, you can access the path from the main trail. We found this by passing other hikers and asking them where they were coming from.
To get to the falls, you will have to do some wading through waist high water, so bring your swimsuit and water shoes. We made it to the falls by jumping into a section, and borderline swam there. It’s a bit tricky so you need to be in decent shape with an adventurous spirit to make it all the way there. I did not bring my phone or camera along as you will get pretty wet. I was able to take some photos and videos with my waterproof GoPro.
SUPAI VILLAGE
You will pass through Supai Village on your hike to the campground. The village, although surrounded by an incredible canyon, is relatively uneventful. Life is slow, it’s quiet, and the amenities are less than desirable. There is a tiny market with mostly sweets, snacks, and canned foods. They also have water, gatorade, and other beverages.
There is a unique looking church, but most of the houses are more or less run down - some in shambles. There is a lot of garbage everywhere. It’s a bit surprising considering how beautiful the land is there. Tons of cute and unique looking dogs are running wild around the village, and you will see a bunch of mules.
Supai Village also has the helicopter landing zone, the lodge, and the Supai Cafe. Our group really wanted to try the fry bread, but the stand next to the campground was closed the entire time we were there.
We ventured up to the village cafe one day to get some fry bread - which was a regret - as the cafe had run out of fry bread as we were in line ordering. We then pivoted to order other food on the menu, and we waited over an hour to get our burgers and chicken sandwiches, which were underwhelming. I wouldn’t advise using your time in Havasu going to the cafe or really spending time in Supai Village at all.
My opinion would be to stick to the nature, the hiking, and the falls to make the most of your trip.
If you have the opportunity - better yet, make the opportunity - to hike Havasu Falls. It’s a bucket list hike into one of the most beautiful places in the world. I hope this article helps you prepare yourself for a trip of a lifetime.
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