The turquoise waterfalls of Havasu Creek, set between red canyon walls, tumbling towards the confluence with the Colorado River make for one of the most unforgettable hiking and camping destinations in the Grand Canyon area. Located on the private tribal lands of the Havasupai, or “People of the Blue Green Waters” (ha = water; vasu= blue-green; pai = people in the language of Havasu Bajaa), the Havasupai Trail, alternatively known as the Havasupai Falls Trail or Havasu Falls Trail, is a moderately challenging yet strenuous 10 mile (16 km) hike accessible only by advanced reservation that descends 2,100 ft (640 m) Cataract Canyon past the village of Supai to a hike-in campground and series of waterfalls and swimming holes.
The Havasu Bajaa are the only tribe that continues to live below the canyon rim. When Grand Canyon National Park was established in 1919, the park boundaries encompassed all the waterfalls of Havasu Creek and the Havasupai were forced off the land and restricted to the 518 acres of Supai Village, their traditional summer home. Removed from their seasonal hunting grounds on the rim, and isolated from the outside world, the tribe suffered. It 1975, the Havasu Bajaa successfully reacquired 185,000 acres of homeland on the southern rim of the Grand Canyon as part of the Grand Canyon National Park Enlargement Act.1 Operating the tourist infrastructure for hikers and campers to see the waterfalls now makes up a significant part of the local economy; despite the area’s entangled history with Grand Canyon National Park (you can still find information on Havasupai on Grand Canyon NPS website), it is important to remember that when visiting the waterfalls you are a guest on Havasupai territory.
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Havasupai Trail at a Glance
| Distance | 22 miles (32 km), with optional day hikes |
| Elevation Change | 2,100 ft (640 m) gain/loss |
| Avg Time to Complete | 3 nights/4 days |
| Location | Havasupai Reservation, Arizona |
| Permits | Required |
| Type | Out-and-Back |
| Resupply Available | Yes |
Hiking and Camping Reservations for Havasu Falls
All visitation to Havasupai Tribal Land — whether hiking, camping or backpacking —requires a permit. Day hiking is not allowed and hasn’t been since 2018. Permits are issued as 4 day/3 night stays only, for either the campground or lodge. Campground reservations are $455 per person and lodge reservations are $2,277 per lodge room (up to four people). Despite being one of the most expensive hiking and camping permits in the United States, Havasupai reservations are competitive.
There are two ways to secure a permit for Havasupai: through the early access (formerly presale) reservation system and during the general on-sale period.
Havasupai Permit Presale and EArly Reservation System
In 2026, the presale lottery was replaced with an early access booking period open to those with active accounts on Havasupai Reservations. Both camping and lodge reservations become available during the early access reservation period in January. The early access period allows you to book open dates for an additional $40 per person early access fee (for campground reservations) or a $160 fee for lodge reservations.
The early access fee does not go towards the final cost of the camping permit. Compared to the flat $6 fee for many of the NPS lotteries, the Havasupai pre-sale is considerably more expensive but if you have limited or specific dates you want to visit, you may find the cost of convenience justifiable.
The 2026 early access period runs from January 21 through January 31, beginning at 8am AZ time.
General On-Sale Period
All remaining camping availability opens to the public on February 1 at 8:00 Arizona Time. Remember Arizona does not recognize day-light savings time. This is a “click fast” situation as permits will sell out quickly. To increase your chances of securing a Havasupai permit during the general on-sale period, create an account on Havasupai Reservations portal prior to the release of the general on-sale dates. Be logged in and ready to refresh your screen at the top of the hour.
The Havasupai Reservations website has had difficulty in the past handling the increase in web traffic during peak periods of use. Bring your patience.
Havasu Reservation Cancellation policy
Reservations will only be issued to the identified trip leader or potential alternative trip leader(s) outlined at the time of purchase. If an original permit holder is unable to complete the trip, or if the number of people in their party has changed, cancellations can be made 90 days prior to the start date for a 50% refund. No other resell or transfer of permits is allowed. The Cancellation/Transfer list for reservation resale was discontinued in 2026.
If you were unable to secure your desired dates when the general sale opened, checking back to look for availability resulting from cancellations is your best option. Last minute permits are frequently available, even during peak times of the year.
how to get to Havasupai
There is nothing convenient about getting to Havasupai, but it is absolutely worth the effort. The permit office is located ~2.5-3 hrs away from either Las Vegas (LAS) and Phoenix Sky-Harbor (PHX) International Airports. Note that during Standard Time, there will be a one hour time difference between Las Vegas and Arizona. There is no public transportation to Havasupai; car rentals are required if flying into the region.
Havasupai hiking and camping permits must be picked up in person by the trip leader at the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn in Seligman, AZ during seasonal business hours, roughly 6-8am to 5-6pm. There is a separate office on the backside of the building, well marked by signs.
We recommend picking up your permits the day before your start date so that you can drive to the Havasupai trailhead in the pre-dawn hours the following day, and begin hiking at first light. The Hualapai Lodge, located in Peach Springs on the neighboring Hualapai Reservation, is the closest hotel to the Hilltop Trailhead (and is still over an hour’s drive). The rooms were clean and comfortable with microwaves, refrigerators and coffee makers for early morning departures.
The Hilltop Trailhead is located at the very end of Indian Road 18, off of History Route 66 (if using Google maps, search for “Havasupai Trailhead”; it’s located at 36.159361, -112.709245) . It’s a long 60 miles down this two lane road but it imperative that you go slow and look out for wildlife! In the early morning hours, you are likely to see rabbits and fox darting out into the road as well as elk and cows standing on it. Even driving cautiously, you’ll probably end up slamming on your breaks at least once. Don’t start your trip by killing an animal with your car.
Indian Road 18 dead-ends into the parking lot for the Havasupai Trail. The lowest section of the parking lot is paved with marked spots; additional parking is located on each side of the road in unmarked gravel spots. Latrine style toilets are also located at the trailhead.
The Magical Waters of the Havasupai
The main attraction of Havasupai are a series of waterfalls and travertine terraces formed by Havasu Creek as it flows though the Havasupai Indian Reservation before joining the Colorado River at the base of the Grand Canyon. Periodic flash floods, the most recent in June 2025 and another major flood in August 2024, have altered the landscape of the canyon— diverting the flow of the water, washing away terraces, drying up falls and creating news ones — but the picturesque beauty of turquoise waters flowing over red canyon walls endures.
What makes the water of Havasu Falls so blue?
Though the vibrant color of Havasu Falls looks almost unreal, as if lifted from a otherworldly movie set, it is not the result of camera editing, but rather one of chemistry and geology.2 The aquamarine waters owe their color to the high concentration of dissolved calcium carbonate and magnesium. Beginning as rain and snowmelt atop the Kaibab Plateau, named for the layer of Kaibab Limestone that forms the rim of the Grand Canyon, the water slowly absorbs minerals from the ancient seabed as it seeps down through the rock. A gentle sloping of the bedrock channels the waters towards Cataract Canyon, where they emerge as the headwaters of Havasu Springs.
Those same minerals then begin to precipitate out as the water tumbles down the canyon, forming the travertine terraces, rock formations, and swimming pools at the base of the falls. Think of it like a cave turned inside out.
The Waterfalls of Havasupai
There are three named waterfalls at Havasupai — Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls — with countless other lesser cascades. Each have their own character and all can be accessed by day hike from the Havasupai Campground or Lodge.
Havasu Falls
The most iconic falls of Havasupai is the eponymous Havasu Falls, while tumbles approximately 100 ft (30m) down into a large pool formed by the travertine. Havasu Falls is located just before the entrance to the Havasuapi campground and is fully visible from the main trail.
There are several short spur trails that lead to the base of the waterfall itself. These trails are all unmarked, but it’s a safe bet that if you’re on the main trail facing towards Havasu Falls, and you see a well worn pathway leading off to the left, it will take you to the official path cut through the rock to the base of the falls which is marked with an informative placard about the travertine itself.
Havasu Falls is the most accessible of the named waterfalls in Havasupai and the pool below is deep enough for swimming. It does not require any exposed climbing to reach the base of Havasu Falls.
Mooney Falls
Located at the end of 200 ft cliff, Mooney Falls is the tallest waterfall within Havasupai Canyon and is located a mile beyond Havasu Falls. Getting to Mooney Falls is almost as exciting as reaching the falls itself. The trail descends from the campground through a small cave and then down a series of near vertical steps worn into the side of the wall and some old ladders. The hike (or climb) to Mooney Falls is not for the faint of heart or those with extreme fears of height – if can be slick and steep and the relief at having reached the bottom is only tempered by the realization you’ll eventually have to climb back up – but if you’re careful, it is absolutely worth it.
Beaver Falls
Beaver Falls is a series of cascading travertine terraces part way through Havasu canyon en route to the confluence with the Colorado River. It’s located at the border of Grand Canyon National Park with Havasupai Tribal land.
Accessing Beaver Falls requires a 6 mile round trip hike past Mooney Falls and entails several crossings of Havasu Creek along with a few short ascents via ladders and rock scrambling. You’ll definitely want to be wearing water shoes for this hike, otherwise you’ll be spending a lot of time taking shoes on and off.
The blue-green pools of water formed by the travertine are perfect for sunning, swimming and lounging. There are also a few picnic tables along the way for lunch.
The hike to Beaver Falls is not particularly long, but it does get hot as the sun moves ahead. Carry plenty of water (or a water filter) if venturing this far into the canyon.
Little Navajo And FifTy-Foot Falls
After the most recent flood in early June 2025, the river rerouted around Fiftyfoot Falls, leaving Little Navajo Falls dry (Little Navajo itself was formed after the flood of 2008, after Navajo Falls went dry). A new series of tiered waterfalls is already forming where the water has been diverted, but has yet to be named.
In time, the area will heal, the travertine will form, and the area will re-green, establishing a new, but equally magical, location. We were sadly one of the last visitors to experience Little Navajo Falls and Fifty-Foot Falls in their prime, but future visitors will get to be among the first to see the new falls form.
The Havasupai Campground
Camping at the Havasupai campground is first-come first-serve and there are no formally designated campsites. Instead, campers are free to set-up anywhere they choose between an area roughly a mile long between the ranger station near the base of Havasu Falls and the cliff face overlooking Mooney Falls. With each flash flood, the exact layout of the campground differs slightly but the general overview remains the same.
[IMAGE OF CAMPGROUND MAP]
Identifying the “best” campsite is a fools errand, but there are certain features that some campsites have and that others don’t. Ultimately you have to figure out what features you want to prioritize, and then look for a campsite that offers them. Those features include:
- picnic table
- flat space to pitch a tent (or good trees to hang a hammock)
- creekside view
- privacy
- proximity to a restroom
- proximity to the spring
- proximity to the waterfalls
In general, the sites further into the campground tend to be closer to the creek, but they also tend to be less private.
Havasupai Campground Amenities
Apart from requiring a 10 mile hike from the trailhead, camping at the Havasupai Campground is more like camping in the front-country than the backcountry. Campsites are easily identifiable and have well established areas to pitch a tent, even though there are not formal tent-pads. Many campsites feature picnic tables, and potable water and restrooms are available. Campfires are NOT allowed.
Havasupai Restrooms
There are three restroom buildings located within the Havasupai Campground: one at the entrance to the campground, one across the creek near the midway point, and one on the far end the campground by the trail to Mooney Falls.
Each bathroom has a composting pit toilet and toilet paper. Instead of using water to flush, you use handfuls of wood shavings that absorb the odor and encourage the breakdown of waste products. As a result, the bathroom situation at Havasupai makes for some of the nicest backcountry toilets I’ve ever had the pleasure of using. They were remarkably clean and well stocked with toilet-paper for the duration of our trip (but it’s still always a good idea to bring your own backup TP and hand sanitizer, just in case).
There are no showers and no running water at the restrooms. There is also no electricity. Skylights and high windows provide good ventilation and lighting during the day (not to mention some pretty nice views!). At night, you’ll need to take a headlamp with you.
drinking Water
Safe drinking water is available from Fern Springs, a natural water source close to the entrance of the Havasupai campground. The spring flows continuously out of the rocks via a spigot. Our party drank and cooked with this water unfiltered and had no issues. To prevent contamination of your water as well as the campground’s water source, do not touch the spigot with your hands or with your water vessels. Position your water containers into the free-flowing stream of water.
Flash Flood Safety and Precautions
Flash floods are the most serious threat to hikers in the canyons of Havasupai and the larger Grand Canyon region. Floods can result from thunderstorms or rainfall happening miles away – just because the skies overhead are clear does not remove the risk.
Before hiking or camping in the canyon, familiarize yourself with the the early signs of flooding and heed any warnings from tribal officials. Early warning signs include slowly rising or muddying waters flowing down the creek. If the water beings to turn brown, get to high ground immediately. Ignoring these signs can have potentially deadly consequences; Havasu Creek is just the end of a “funnel” of much, much larger watershed.
The video below was taken by Havasupai hikers in 2024 and the first five minutes do a good job illustrating how quickly conditions in the canyon can change. Their reaction was far from perfect (you could tell they did not understand the urgency of the situation until it was too late, and you should never try to carry a fully erect tent in an emergency) but it does serve as a good learning for others.
Grand Canyon River Alerts
If you have a Garmin, you can register for Grand Canyon River Alerts that will alert your device to any alerts issued for the area.
what to pack for a Havasupai camping trip
Whether Havasupai will be your first backpacking trip or your fifith, here are a few packing notes you’ll want to consider.
DO TAKE
In addition to your standard camping kit for a 4 day/3 night trip, you’ll want to take the following gear specifically for camping within Havasupai and Havasu Falls area
- Water Shoes. You’ll want to wear hiking shoes to get in and out of the canyon, but once there, water shoes will let you move seamlessly from the travertine pools, over the creeks, and back along the trail to camp. I was so surprised (and impressed) by the lightweight DLGJPA water shoes I ordered off Amazon before the trip, that they’ve become the go-to camp shoes for everyone in my party.
- Jetboil. Campfires and open flame stoves like sterno are not allowed, so you’ll need a gas stove or Jetboil to cook your meals. A Jetboil uses significantly less fuel than a traditional camp stove to boil water, and is perfect for preparing freeze-dried backpacking meals.
- Daypack. You’ll want to leave the heavy backpacks at camp while you explore the waterfalls of Havasupai, but will still need something to carry your lunch, snacks, water, camera, towel, sunscreen and anything else you may need for the day. What’s great about the Exped Splash 15 is that it doubles as a dry bag, meaning I felt extra confident stashing my camera equipment and other electronics in it during the multiple creek crossings. Had I lost my balance, nothing inside would have gotten wet!
- Opsak Bag (or dry bag). Hanging your food off the ground not only keeps your campsite clean and unmolested, it also protects wildlife. Crows, squirrels and other rodents will make an epic mess if they are able to access your food. A critter proof “Ursak Allmitey” doubles as an approved bear-proof bag if you plan to backpack in other areas, but if this is your first/only backpacking trip and you don’t want to invest in a ratsack, use a 20L dry bag instead. Whichever you choose, don’t leave your food out.
- Swimsuit (or quick drying outfit). Whether to soak or to swim, you’ll definitely want to get in the water!
- Microfiber Towel. You’ll want to towel dry when you get out of the waterfalls, and a microfiber towel will be your lightest weight option that packs down super small, making it easy to fit inside your day pack.
- Grippy Gloves. The chains hiking down to Mooney Falls can get cold and wet, and a set of well-fitting grippy gloves can provide the extra traction you’ll need to get a confident handhold. If you’ve seen photos online of a pile of gloves at the top of the falls, note that those are not put there for people to use; they are trash left there by irresponsible campers who didn’t want to pack out what they packed in. Bring your own pair of gloves, and then take them out with you (or if you choose to use a wet, smelly pair from ‘the pile’, commit now to packing them out with you to trash later)
DO NOT TAKE
The following items are NOT ALLOWED within the canyon. When you receive your permit, you sign an agreement not to take any of the following with you. If you cannot respect and abide by the rules of the Havasupai Tribe while camping in the canyon, you simply should not go.
- Pool Floaties and/or Inflatables are not allowed.
- Alcohol or Drugs are not allowed.
- Drones are not allowed.
- Amplified music/blue-tooth speakers are not allowed.
Are you planning to hike and camp to the blue-green waterfalls of Havasupai? Leave us your questions or comments below!