Permit alert for hikers everywhere!! Permits open for Havasu Fall on February 1. Historically, the best dates get snatched up quickly so set you alarm for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Havasu Falls sits atop the bucket list for many hikers from the first time they see a picture of the aqua blue water cascading down red rock walls into the crystal pool below. On the hike, you will see Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls which are some of the most picturesque waterfalls and dramatic scenery found in the Grand Canyon.
There is also Supai Village, a remote Indian village that is only accessible by hiking, horseback, or helicopter. Havasupai is roughly translated to mean, “People of the blue-green water”. The Havasupai people are an Indian tribe who have lived here for at least the last 800 years. If you are lucky enough to obtain a permit and view this magical place, you will understand why they have never left.
Keep reading to find out our nine best tips for hiking Havasu Falls.
Tip 1: Get a Havasu Falls Permit Early
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Tip 2: Consider staying at the Havasupai Lodge
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
You can also reserve rooms in the Havasupai Lodge which is located the remote village of Supai. Located along the creek between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls, their rooms. Lodge reservations (2025 prices) are $2,277 per lodge room – up to four people, 3 nights, but each room contains 2 queen beds, so you could split the cost among friends. They are cozy and have heating and AC units in the rooms. If you are interested in staying at the lodge, you need to wait until they open for guests June 1st 2019. Call often as the lodge will fill up a year in advance within two days.
Sure, it’s expensive but you get to sleep in a bed and eat at the restaurant in the village. There is also a small market in the village. Both accept credit cards. This allows you to not have to pack most camping supplies and travel very light.
Tip 3: Plan to spend the night close by to get an early start
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The hot, dry Arizona sun can sap the strength of even experienced hikers. Of course, you would never catch an experienced hiker heading down canyon in the heat of the day. They would have started in the cool morning shade, or even the dark hours before dawn. The hike starts at Haulapai Hilltop, which is 30 miles down a dead-end road that branches off a desolate stretch of Route 66. There are really only a couple of choices on where to stay: Grand Canyon Caverns, Peach Springs, or Kingman.
Tip 4: Enjoy the Hike Down
Photo Credit: Spencer Smith.
With any luck, your boots will be pounding the ground when the first rays of light shine on Haulapai Hilltop. The trail down starts with a series set of switchbacks. You zig and zag down and impressive, red rock cliff. As far as your eyes can see, the landscape is broken by canyons that were carved by water running into the Grand Canyon and Colorado River for centuries. The switch backs stop, but the hill continues, like a toboggan run dropping you into a dry creek bed about 2000’ below the trailhead.
Soon, the walls of Haulapia canyon have risen around you and you realize that this would have made a fine hike in its own right. Every now and then, you notice green cottonwood trees extracting water from deep beneath the dry creek. You can tell the water is getting closer to the surface, because the trees are getting bigger and closer together. By then end of the canyon, there is a small trickle of water seeping over the rocks. Hardly a stream and much less a water fall. Just when you begin to doubt the possibility of Havasu Falls existing, you come out into Havasu Creek flowing with beautiful, clear, cold water and lined with lush, thick cottonwood trees.
Tip 5: Take a helicopter back to the top from Havasu Falls
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The helicopter charge per person and includes your packs. They accept cash or credit, but charge an additional 10% fee for using credit. It is a magical 10 mile, 5 minute trip back to the top. I highly recommend it. Keep in mind that most campers are planning to take the helicopter back out. In fact, even though the helicopter starts running around 9:00 am, most people start lining up in the Supai Village around 7:00 am. The list is first come, first serve. The Supai tribe members always get to ride first, then it goes to the list. Note, the helipad is in Supai, which is still two miles away from the campground.
Tip 6: Let a mule take your pack
Photo Credit: Spencer Smith.
If you want to travel as light as possible you can send your heavy gear down ahead of you all the way to Havasu Falls Campground. You just need a water pack and some light snacks for the hike, (Good shoes and hiking socks are a must as you will be walking on gravel for extended periods of time). The tribe offers mules to take the heavy packs down and conveniently drops them off at the base of the campgrounds. The mules cost $400 round trip (2025 prices) and can take 4 packs down, each weighing no more than 40 lbs.
Tip 7: Take side trips
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Let’s face it. Even if you used a mule, you worked you ass off to get to Havasu Falls. It would be a shame to leave to quickly. However, every trip down canyon starts by descending Mooney Falls.
Tip 8: The Perfect Havasu Falls Itinerary
Photo Credit: Spencer Smith.
I would recommend coming in on a Thursday or Friday and returning on a Sunday. Why Sunday? Because the Air West helicopter runs on Sunday year-round from the Supai Village. By the end of the trip, you have probably will have hiked over 30 miles and are likely pretty tired. Taking a helicopter from the Supai Village to the top of the Hualapai Hilltop (10 miles) will sound very appealing by then. Jenn Coleman doesn’t agree on this point. She hiked in and out carrying her pack both ways with one new titanium knee and the other needing to be replaced. Something about old school adventure, finishing what you start, and you kids stay off my lawn.
Weekends are the premium days to be at Havasu Falls so make sure get your permits pronto!
Tip 9: When to go to Havasu Falls
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Every season offers something special at Havasu Falls. The winter months offers easier permits, cooler hiking weather (be careful camping on the hilltop), and less crowds. You need to be careful of the summer heat. Make sure you get an early start, carry enough water, and travel fast enough not to get caught in the heat of the day. However, the long days leave a lot of time to play in this wonderland and the heat makes the blue-green water that so beautiful. Spring and fall offer the best hiking weather and most days are warm enough for a little water play.
If you’re planning on going to Havasu Falls, check out our full tips and tricks and 51 item packing list pieces.