Havasupai is likely one of the most particular locations I’ve ever visited. I’ve been twice now and each occasions I used to be MIND. BLOWN. Before my first go to, I’d seen photographs of the milky turquoise blue waters of Havasu Falls and I knew it was going to be particular, however I didn’t notice how extremely magical this place is. It’s actually a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.
If Havasu Falls is in your bucket checklist, there are some vital issues to know earlier than you go. First, you MUST have a allow PRIOR to your go to. Permits should not given out on-site and there’s no day mountaineering allowed. Permits are additionally very aggressive and in most years, they promote out the day registration opens (which is February 1st for 2023).
To make it easier to get the very best likelihood of securing your Havasupai Falls Permit, this weblog submit covers every thing you should know together with dates, charges, and extra. I additionally spotlight some vital Havasu Falls tenting info so you may get probably the most out of your time there.
All of this info has been up to date with the 2023 reservation course of and charges.
Important Reminder: As it goes in all the locations we share, please apply good path etiquette and bear in mind to Leave No Trace. This means packing out your entire rubbish (together with rest room paper), being respectful to others on busy trails, and following the established guidelines.
Permit Process for Visiting Havasu Falls
The Havasupai Tribe closed entry to the falls in March 2020 as a result of pandemic and has not allowed entry since. 2023 would be the first yr since its closure that company are allowed to go to the falls.
As I discussed above, with a purpose to go to Havasupai and Havasu Falls, you MUST acquire a allow earlier than your journey. The allow course of helps to protect the pure great thing about Havasupai and offers the Havasu Tribe with an revenue.
The largest impediment to planning a backpacking journey to Havasu Falls, although, is definitely getting a Havasupai allow. In most years, permits promote out for your complete yr on the DAY that the reservation strains open.
Reservations for the 2023 season open February 1st at 8:00 AM Arizona Time!
How to get a Havasu allow
Permits for Havasupai can be found on a first-come-first-serve foundation, which is totally different than a lottery-based system the place everybody has a good likelihood of profitable a spot.
Your finest likelihood of getting a Havasu Falls reservation, then, is to be on-line and prepared the minute registration is open, which is 8 AM Arizona Time on February 1st, 2023.
Be certain to make an internet account at HavasupaiReservations.com anytime earlier than February 1st. Then, on February 1st, log into your account earlier than 8 am Arizona time and be able to refresh your display screen the minute the strains open.
Havasupai permits will probably promote out inside just a few hours (or much less since folks haven’t been capable of go to since 2020).
Havasupai Permit FAQs
How many individuals might be on my reservation?
You can have as much as 12 folks in your Havasu Falls tenting reservation. However, there may be solely ONE title on every reservation and that particular person MUST be current with a sound photograph ID on the time of check-in.
How many days can I get a allow for?
All 2023 permits are for 4 days and three nights. You can select to do a shorter journey, however you’ll pay the identical allow charge value.
Can permits be transferred?
Yes, however solely to somebody in your Potential Alternate Trip Leader checklist (which may embody as much as ten names). You can switch all or a part of your allow reservation by way of the official Transfer System at HavasupaiReservations.com
Are permits refundable?
Permits should not refundable or changeable however might be transferred to somebody in your PATL checklist for those who can’t make your journey dates.
You can ‘sell’ your allow by way of the official switch system situated on the Havasupai Reservations web site.
How a lot does a Havasu allow price?
A allow for 3 nights is $395 per particular person.
Native American reductions are honored at check-in with a sound reservation and identification.
Can I’m going and not using a allow? Is day mountaineering allowed?
No. Per the official Havasupai Tribe web site, all visits to Havasupai and Havasu Falls require a reservation made PRIOR to arrival. No day mountaineering from Hualapai Hilltop is allowed and even when it was, the falls are a lot too far to hike there and again in at some point.
Tips for acquiring a Havasu allow
Getting a Havasu tenting allow could be very aggressive, so to extend your probabilities, observe the following tips:
- Create your on-line account earlier than February 1st. You don’t need to waste valuable time creating your account the day reservations open.
- Have versatile dates. Mid-summer is when everyone seems to be on summer season trip, so it’s additionally going to be probably the most aggressive time. If you may go mid-week in March or late November, you then’ll have a greater likelihood of getting a allow.
- Remember that Arizona doesn’t do daylight financial savings time. Double-check what which means to your time zone. It could be a bummer to log in an hour late!
- Create your Potential Alternate Trip Leader (PATL) checklist prematurely. A PATL is the ONLY particular person your allow will go to for those who can’t make your journey. If you don’t designate a PATL, you threat forfeiting the journey for everybody in your group. You can select as much as 10 Potential Alternate Trip Leaders.
Pack mule reservations
If you want to your gear carried in by a pack mule, you may add your title to a waitlist after you’ve secured your campground reservation. You’ll be notified if the Tourism Board has accepted your Pack Mule request.
What for those who didn’t get a allow?
If you don’t rating a allow earlier than they promote out for the yr, you should still be in luck. The on-line Havasupai Reservation System has a Cancellation/Transfers Page the place you should buy canceled journeys.
If there are dates that be just right for you, however the allow consists of extra spots than you want, you may promote these additional spots on the official switch system after you buy the canceled journey.
This checklist is up to date every day at 8am Arizona Time.
Where is Havasu Falls / Getting to the Havasu Falls Trailhead
The Havasu Falls trailhead is situated at Hualapai Hilltop which is marked on the map under. The two closest airports to Havasu Falls are Las Vegas (4 hours) or Phoenix (5 hours).
Directions to Havasu Falls from Las Vegas
From Las Vegas, take the 93 South in direction of Kingman, Arizona after which head east on Route 66. After 57 miles, flip left on Indian Road 18. Drive for 60 miles till you attain the top of the street. There is a big parking zone with loos on the trailhead. There can be a spot to camp just under the loos, however there is no such thing as a water accessible on the trailhead. Peach Springs, Arizona is the closest place to the trailhead with primary companies like gasoline, meals, and water.
Hualapai Hilltop, the trailhead for Havasupai and Havasu Falls
The Best Time to Visit Havasu Falls
The finest time to go to Havasu Falls relies on what you need to do there. Do you need to swim? Or do you need to keep away from crowds? Here are the professionals and cons of visiting Havasu Falls for the totally different seasons.
Spring/Late Fall
- Pros: Less bugs and fewer folks
- Cons: Variable climate may imply lower than excellent swimming temps. One yr I went in March and had swimming climate (80 levels) throughout the day and really chilly nights (40 levels). On my most up-to-date journey in May, it rained and was not appropriate for swimming till the final day. The plus facet of that is that the hike out (which might be unbearably sizzling) was very tolerable.
Summer/Early Fall
- Pros: Hot climate means you may sit and hand around in the water all day
- Cons: Hot temps imply mountaineering may very well be depressing. In the warmth of summer season, when Havasu Falls is the busiest, folks stand up at 4am to start the hike out. Summer can be monsoon season with flash floods being most definitely from mid June to late September.
How to Prepare For Your Havasu Falls Camping Trip
If you’re fortunate sufficient to nab a allow, you’ll must do some planning for the reason that Havasupai Indian Reservation and Havasu Falls are fairly distant and you should carry out and in your entire provides.
Here are just a few ideas that will help you plan your Havasu Falls tenting journey:
1. Have everybody in your group make an internet account
While just one title is on the tenting reservation, all members of the group should make an account at havasupaireservations.com and ensure that they’ve learn and understood the Havasupai Rules and Laws.
A abstract of those Rules and Laws consists of:
- NO cliff leaping
- NO mountain climbing
- NO littering
- NO amplified music
- NO feeding animals
- NO fishing
- NO kayaks, standup paddleboards, pool floats, or different watercraft
- NO alcohol/medicine/smoking (together with marijuana)
- NO fires (other than gasoline cooking canisters)
- NO drones
- NO nudity or inappropriate clothes
- NO photographs allowed within the village or of Havasupai tribes members
You can learn the entire checklist of guidelines right here. There are fines starting from $200 to $5000 for those who get caught doing any of this stuff and even jail time. Please be a form customer and don’t break these guidelines, ruining it for everybody.
2. Plan your itinerary
Each Havasu Falls tenting reservation is for 4 days and three nights. It’s finest to plan on being at or close to the trailhead earlier than your permitted day so you may get an early begin on the 10-mile hike to the Havasupai campground.
Here is a steered itinerary:
Day 0: Arrive within the space
You need to arrive close to the Hilltop Trailhead parking space the day earlier than you begin your hike to Havasupai Campground. There is not any tent tenting allowed on the parking space, however guests have reported sleeping of their automobiles. Water shouldn’t be accessible within the parking space, however there are loos.
Other choices for lodging embody:
- Closest Cities with Hotels
- Peach Springs (68 miles/1 hour 20 minutes from trailhead)
- Seligman (90 miles/1 hour 40 minutes from trailhead)
- Kingman (118 miles/2 hours from trailhead)
- Closest Campgrounds
- Grand Canyon Caverns RV Park and Inn in Peach Springs
- KOA in Seligman
- Kingman has plenty of tenting choices
Day 1: Hike to Havasupai Campground
On the day of your reservation, make your method to the Hilltop Trailhead parking space with a full tank of gasoline. The closest gasoline station is 70 miles away. After parking within the customer’s space, show your Campground Reservation Confirmation Code visibly in your dashboard.
At the trailhead, you may set up your gear and prepare to your 10-mile hike.
It is 8 miles to the village of Supai the place you’ll test in on the Tourist Office. You’ll obtain a wristband that you could put on all through the length of your go to in addition to a tag for every of your tents, which will likely be checked every day by a ranger who patrols the campground.
After you’ve checked in, you may proceed on the final two miles to the campground.
The subsequent part has extra detailed info on what to anticipate on the path to Havasupai Campground.
Days 2 & 3: Explore!
Havasupai has 5 waterfalls you may go to. The two decrease falls embody Havasu Falls (probably the most well-known one), Mooney, and Beaver. The higher falls embody Fiftyfoot and Little Navajo Falls.
Spend your days exploring these falls (bear in mind, no climbing or leaping) and enjoyable on this lovely spot.
Day 4: Hike again out to the Havasu Falls Trailhead
On your remaining day, pack up camp and begin your 10-mile hike again to the trailhead. If you might be visiting in the summertime, you’ll need to get a really early begin (like 4am) or wait till the late afternoon to beat the warmth.
3. Organize your tenting gear and provides
For your 4-day 3 evening journey to Havasupai, you should pack in AND OUT your entire gear and provides. This consists of meals, provides, trash, and tenting gear. Water is obtainable on the campground.
There is a small retailer within the village of Supai the place you may get primary snacks and drinks, however don’t depend on provides right here.
For a whole checklist of what to carry in your Havasu journey, head over to our Havasu Falls Packing List.
Havasupai Hiking Trail Guides
Hiking to Havasupai Campground
- Distance: 10 miles a technique (8 miles to the village of Supai)
- Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
- Elevation change: -2,400 toes
- Time wanted: 4-6 hours
Elevation profile courtesy of RockHounds.com
The whole distance to the Havasu Falls campground is roughly 10 miles a technique (20 miles spherical journey) and the path begins on the Hualapai Hilltop parking zone at an elevation of 5,200 toes. Immediately, the path begins a 1,000 foot descent over the primary mile, dropping you into Havasu Canyon. Once you attain the wash, the path follows the dry river mattress for the subsequent 6.5 miles, steadily dropping one other 1,000 or so toes till you attain the village of Supai at mile 8.
The hike on the way in which in is lengthy however not too troublesome, and the preliminary descent is on a well-maintained sequence of switchbacks. Once you might be within the dry river mattress, the mountaineering could be a bit gradual as a result of sandy gravel, however the path could be very straightforward to observe. If any level you suppose you’ve misplaced the path, simply maintain following the river mattress till you meet again up with the trail. Note there is no such thing as a water accessible on the path, so ensure you pack sufficient to make it to the campground.
When you attain the Supai Village, your first cease would be the Havasu Falls Campground workplace. Stop right here to test in and get your wristbands.
Once you move by means of the Supai village, it’s one other 2 miles and a pair hundred of toes all the way down to the Havasu Falls campground.
Camping shouldn’t be allowed on the base of Havasu Falls. The campground begins just some minutes additional down the path after passing by means of a fence.
Hiking to Mooney and Beaver Falls
I completely suggest mountaineering all the way down to Mooney Falls at a minimal. The hike down is difficult, steep, and requires use of chains for assist. Take your time, and don’t really feel rushed by different folks. You’ll be pleased with your self once you get to the underside, and in my view, happening is scarier than going again up.
Once you’re down there, the path to Beaver Falls is gorgeous with manner fewer folks than you’ll discover round Havasu Falls. Pay consideration to the path because it crosses the river plenty of occasions. With a leisurely tempo, the hike to Beaver Falls takes about 5 hours spherical journey. It has just a few steep sections however is pretty flat for a majority of the hike. You can’t miss Beaver Falls once you arrive. There is an indication and typically a ranger current.
Beaver Falls is a tremendous place to take a dip. If you need some solar to your Beaver Falls swimming tour, get there earlier within the day earlier than the solar goes behind the canyon wall.
Hiking Back to the Hualapai Hilltop parking zone
The hike again out to your automotive is a little more difficult. By the time you attain the climb on the finish, it’s probably that you just’ll be a bit drained. Make certain you may have loads of water and snacks for the return.
Also, there may be little or no shade on the path, so relying on the time of yr, the hike out might be deathly sizzling. That excessive dry warmth can suck the life proper out of you, and even in March when the temps have been within the mid-80s, it was fairly sizzling mountaineering out. If you might be doing this hike in summer season, plan to begin the trek out within the very early morning, like 4am early, or keep and swim and hike out within the early night. Just ensure you have sufficient batteries to your headlamp in case you get caught at midnight.
If you do determine to remain and benefit from the falls and hike out later within the day, it’s positively value a cease at Navajo and Fifty Foot Falls. Both are pretty, and there are additionally some personal areas you may swim in alongside Havasu Creek.
For extra info on all the totally different waterfalls in Havasu Canyon, try this weblog submit.
Do take time to benefit from the surroundings as you hike. People say that the hike itself isn’t all that thrilling, however the colourful canyon partitions actually are fairly lovely and worthy of some photographs.
Havasu Camping
The space for Havasu Falls tenting is a couple of mile lengthy and sits between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls. Campsites are scattered all through. A majority of the websites are proper on the river that runs by means of the campground, and a lot of the websites have a picnic desk. Note that there are campsites on either side of the river with a number of foot bridges that make for a simple crossing. Campsites should not assigned and are first come-first served. If you might be involved with getting a chief campsite, get an early begin from the trailhead.
The crowds appeared thinner the additional we walked. The solely drawback of being close to the Mooney Falls finish of the campground is that the water spigot the place you replenish your water bottles is situated close to the beginning of the campground. There are 4 rest room services evenly spaced all through the campground, they usually have been surprisingly clear with loads of rest room paper. There are NO showers, and there are not any campfires allowed within the Havasu Falls tenting space.
When you might be tenting it’s vital that you just:
- Practice Leave No Trace with a purpose to maintain the campground and the falls clear for everybody to take pleasure in.
- Be respectful of different campers and watch your noise at evening. It travels quick within the canyon and is a simple method to get in your neighbor’s unhealthy facet.
- Use the restrooms somewhat than going exterior your tent.
- Pack out your entire trash and don’t depart your trash within the loos for the campground workers to select up. All trash left behind should be despatched out by way of helicopter, so it’s a lot simpler if everybody merely does their half to hold every thing out that they introduced with them.
The campground can be hammock heaven, with tons of timber to swing from. I slept in my ENO Hammock for the primary time ever on this journey, and I imagine there are various extra hammock nights in my close to future. If there’s an opportunity of rain, don’t overlook to carry a tarp for those who plan on sleeping in a hammock.
What Gear to Bring in your Havasu Falls Camping Trip
Packing appropriately to your Havasu Falls tenting journey is vital because you’re backpacking in. To ensure you don’t overlook something, try our full packing checklist for Havasu Falls.
You can even evaluation our normal backpacking gear guidelines for 3-day adventures. Don’t overlook these few particular extra items of substances for Havasu Falls:
Water sneakers
You’ll positively need a pair of sneakers you may hike by means of the water with, like a light-weight pair of Tevas or Astral water sneakers. When you go swimming it would make coming into and exiting the water a lot simpler. Also, they turn out to be useful on the hike to Beaver Falls. On this path, there’s a river crossing and getting your toes moist is unavoidable. I did your complete hike to Beaver Falls in my Tevas, whereas my mates wore their mountaineering sneakers and took them off for the crossing. Either manner works, however having sandals or water sneakers makes issues extra handy.
Camera Gear
Havasupai is a good place to apply your images expertise. The panorama is numerous and with so many waterfalls, it truly is a photographer’s dream. If you need to try to get a few of these silky waterfall photographs, it would be best to carry a tripod. Mefoto makes a sturdy, compact tripod for backpacking that I like to recommend. If you need one thing lighter and cheaper, Joby makes some nice versatile tripods for trekking.
I shoot with a Sony A7R2, and when there are waterfalls, I at all times carry a variable impartial density filter to permit for slower shutter speeds even when it’s vivid out (ensure you test the thread dimension in your lens for sizing). For a detailed checklist of my images gear, go right here.
A GoPro can be superior for Havasu Falls since the GoPro is waterproof when it’s in its case. Getting enjoyable video footage is tremendous straightforward with a GoPro as nicely. I shoot with a GoPro Hero7 Black.
Hydration Bladder & Reservoir
There is a contemporary spring within the campground that’s examined for contaminants on a month-to-month foundation. On my journey, that is the place we stuffed up, and we didn’t fear about filtering our water. However, there are occasions when the Camping Office will suggest you filter the water, and for that purpose, it’s at all times good to have a backup plan. Good choices embody easy purification tablets or the Platypus GravityWorks Water Filtration System (learn my full evaluation) which is tremendous light-weight and easy to make use of.
Water is NOT accessible on the trailhead, so ensure you have sufficient with you for the hike earlier than you drive all the way in which out to Hualapai Hilltop. This means it’s best to have a manner of carrying 3 liters of water for the hike out and in, corresponding to this 3 liter Osprey hydration reservoir. I particularly like this bladder as a result of the again facet is tough, making it straightforward to slip out and in of your pack. Multiple water bottles additionally work, and I’m a giant fan of the Platypus Soft Bottles.
Small Daypack
It’s a good suggestion for somebody in your group to have a small daypack that you should utilize to hold gear on day hikes to the waterfalls. This is particularly vital in case you are planning on happening to the bottom of Mooney Falls. That path is barely treacherous and you’re going to need each palms as you make your manner down. A small collapsible daypack just like the Cotopaxi Luzon will make sure you don’t have to fret about hanging on to your water and digicam.
Quick Dry Towel
It’s good to have one thing to dry off with once you get out of the water. A easy fast dry towel just like the REI Multitowel Lite takes up little room in your pack.
Bug Spray
The bugs have been nonexistent after we have been there in March, however we have been informed by the ranger that when the timber begin to bloom, they arrive out in full drive and bug spray is important.
Sunscreen
The solar is loopy intense on the market within the desert, so don’t overlook some waterproof sunscreen.
Other Tips for Camping at Havasu Falls
- Watch out for marmots. They are sneaky and can get into your meals if its ignored the place they will get to it. When you permit your camp to go for a swim or a hike, ensure that to hold it or stash it away.
- There are choices to make use of pack horses or helicopters to move you and your stuff. I say problem your self and get your self down there with your entire gear by yourself two toes. It’s cheaper and a greater exercise. Plus, we observed individuals who gave the impression to be ready fairly a very long time for his or her stuff to reach. If you might be set on getting help, try the official Havasupai Tribe web site for information or inquire with the tenting workplace about your choices.
- Make certain to take a look at my Havasu Falls Gear List and my weblog submit with Havasu Falls Dos and Don’ts
Do you may have another questions on visiting Havasu Falls? Leave a remark under!
