Havasupai Falls Permit Info, Hiking, & Tips

Havasu Falls is the most famous of the aqua-blue Havasupai Waterfalls that spill over deep-orange, travertine cliffs in a desert oasis of stunning beauty. The stark contrast between the arid desert landscape of the Havasu Canyon and the lush vegetation near the water is a juxtaposition of harsh desert and a sumptuous tropical paradise. The five Havasupai Falls include: Navajo Falls, Fifty Foot Falls, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls. All are located on the Havasupai Indian reservation in a side canyon of the Grand Canyon. The waterfalls of the Grand Canyon are like no other in the world, and visiting them is the opportunity of a lifetime.

Havasupai Falls Grand Canyon

Plan Your Trip to Havasupai Falls in 2026

In order to maintain the pristine beauty of this isolated desert paradise, the Havasupai tribe limits the number of visitors allowed to visit the reservation.

Do I need a permit to hike to Havasu Falls?
Yes! There is no day hiking allowed. Every visitor needs a valid Havasupai camping reservation made before you arrive.

When do Havasupai permits become available?

Permits for Havasupai Falls camping reservations open on February 1st every year on HavasupaiReservations.com.
Permits for Havasu Falls sell out within hours — sometimes minutes!
All reservations are for 3 nights and 4 days with up to 12 people allowed per reservation.

How much does it cost to camp at Havasupai Falls?
Expect to pay about $455 per person for 3 nights/4 days, including all taxes and fees. If you want to fly in, add around $200 per person for round-trip helicopter transport.

What happens if permits are sold out?
You can try to get a last-minute Havasupai permit cancellation through the official transfer system on the tribe’s website. Check the Cancellations/Transfers page often. New permits pop up at 8 AM daily.

Pro tip for securing Havasu Falls permits: Create your account on HavasupaiReservations.com before February 1 and be logged in by 8 AM opening day. Have one-person book for your entire group so you all get the same dates.

There is only one name on the reservation - and a reservation is only valid if the person named on the reservation is present at the Tourist Check-in Office in the Village of Supai (on the way to the campground) with photo ID - otherwise the reservation is NOT valid and will NOT be honored. People included on your reservation may reimburse you for up to the face value cost of their spot on your reservation. Native American discounts are processed upon check-in with a valid reservation and identification. All reservations are paid in full at the time the reservation is made and are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-changeable. Reselling of reservations (in whole or in part) is strictly prohibited. Trip/travel insurance is highly recommended.

Be sure to bring:

A printed copy of the email confirmation of your campground reservation (or at least a screenshot of it on your phone)
Write down (or take a photo of) the license plate number of your vehicle that is parked at the trailhead - you will need it when you check-in
Your government issued Photo ID
Your health insurance information in case something goes wrong

How To Get To Havasupai Falls

Anyone who wishes to visit the waterfalls must choose one of three options: hiking, helicopter ride, or pack mule.

Hike

There are no roads to the Supai village. Access to the village is via trail that begins at Hualapai Hilltop. From Hualapai Hilltop, it is 8 miles to the Supai village and 2 additional miles to camping and waterfalls. * Please Note: Hiking in the middle of the day is not wise, especially during the summer months. Most hikers begin just before sunrise to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures. There is no drinking water available at any point along the hike.

Where does the Havasupai Falls hike start?
All visitors hike from Hualapai Hilltop trailhead to Supai Village.

Trail distance: ~8 miles from the trailhead to Supai Village + 2 more miles to the campground near Havasu Falls.

Round-trip hike: 20 miles minimum, not counting extra miles to Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls.

When is the best time to hike to Havasu Falls?
Start your hike before sunrise to beat the desert heat, especially in summer. Carry at least 1 gallon of water per person, as there is no water on the trail.

Is hiking to Havasu Falls difficult?
The hike is long and remote but not technical. It’s mostly a downhill trek into the canyon, but remember: the hike back out is uphill and can be very strenuous, especially in the sun.

How to get to Havasu Falls without Hiking

Helicopter

Helicopter travel is provided by Airwest Helicopters and is weather-dependent.

Dates of Operation: March 15 - October 15 Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, & Fridays
Oct 15 - March 15 Fridays and Sundays
The cost for a helicopter ride into the canyon is $100 per person each way. Children 2 years and younger fly free. Dogs cost $25 each way. No luggage can be flown without a passenger. Cargo Slings up to 900lbs can be purchased for $340 per sling.
Each passenger is allowed 1 carry-on bag up to 40lbs. Any additional luggage or weight is charged at $0.40/lbs.
Reservations for helicopters cannot be made and are flights are never guaranteed. You must show up at Havasupai Hilltop or Village Landing and sign in before 10am and flights take place between 10am-1pm. IHS and Tribal members receive priority boarding. Tourists are boarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Once signed in, be ready to fly. You must be there when your name is read. If you not there, name will be crossed off the list.

It takes approximately 15 minutes to fly from Havasupai Hilltop to Supai village. To see the waterfalls, you will still need to hike 2+ miles from the village. For more information, call Airwest Helicopters (623) 516-2790. Always be prepared to hike in case the chopper doesn’t fly.

Pack Mule

Pack mules are available. Please consider hiking in your own gear or taking a helicopter as your primary option.

Where to Stay: Havasupai Falls Camping vs. Havasupai Lodge

Campground:

Primitive, “camp wherever” style along Havasu Creek.
Room for ~300 campers per night.
Bring your own tent, food, and gear — pack in, pack out.

Havasupai Lodge (in Supai Village):

Limited to 24 rooms.
3-night minimum stay, about $2,277 per room (up to 4 guests).
Sells out fast!

Best Time to Visit Havasupai Falls

March–May & Sept–November: Best hiking weather. Warm days, cool nights.
Summer (June–August): Water is warm, but risk of flash floods during monsoon season (July–August).
Winter (Dec–Feb): Cold, fewer crowds — lodge stay is best if you don’t want to camp in the cold.

Amenities Available at Havasupai Falls

If you are camping, you are responsible for bringing all the necessities for sleeping and cooking for yourself. There is drinking water available in the village and at the campsites or you can bring a strong filtration system and drink from the river. Composting toilets are available in several locations in the canyon. Occasionally, TP runs low so it is wise to bring your own! There is a store in the village that provides basic necessities; however, everything is flown in via helicopter so donâ€™t expect any cheap prices and availability may be restricted. For those not wishing to cook for themselves, a cafe near the lodge in Supai Village serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The lodge is equipped with WiFi and electricity for those of you who can't imagine a day without the Internet.

Rules and Respect

The Havasupai tribe is very generous to open their land to visitors and share their beautiful waterfalls with the world. Please keep in mind that the natural landscape is fragile. Try to decrease your impact by staying on trails and taking any trash out with you. Firearms, alcohol, recreational drugs, and drones are all illegal on the Havasupai reservation. Please refrain from laud behavior and treat the land and the people with respect. Last but not least, enjoy your trip and take lots of photos!

Not Permitted:

Alcohol/Drugs
Littering
Drones
Campfires
Diving/jumping

How long should you stay?

All reservations are now 3 nights/4 days. That will give you enough time to visit all the falls at a leisurely hiking pace with plenty of time to play in the water. Also, this is typically the amount of food and water supplies that most visitors are willing to hike in with. If you choose to stay longer and need a larger amount of supplies, consider sending a member of your party down in a helicopter with your supplies rather than using a pack mule.

Approximate Trail Distances

Hualapai Hilltop Parking Lot to Supai Lodge: 8 miles / 13 kilometers
Supai Lodge to Havasupai Falls Campground: 2 miles / 3 kilometers
Hualapai Hilltop Parking Lot to Havasupai Falls Campground: 10 miles / 16 kilometers
Havasupai Falls Campground to Mooney Falls: 0.5 miles / 0.8 kilometers
Mooney Falls to the Colorado River: 8 miles / 13 kilometers

*Distances are one way

Check-In at Supai Village

Once you reach Supai Village after your hike down into the canyon, you will be required to present your reservation at the Tourist Check-In Office. The person whose name is on the reservation must be present and have a photo ID handy.

Be prepared to show your campground reservation—it will have been emailed to you, so print a copy and bring it with you. There is no phone reception in Supai Village or the Havasu Falls areas.

Safety and Risks

When visiting Havasupai Falls, safety precautions are essential due to the remote and rugged environment. Flash floods pose a significant risk, particularly during monsoon season, so visitors should stay alert to weather conditions and avoid hiking in exposed areas when storms are forecasted. You should research best practices for flash flood safety if you are considering going during monsoon season (typically July - September). It’s crucial to pack appropriate gear, such as sturdy shoes, and be cautious on slippery rocks near the falls to minimize the risk of injury. The trail to the falls can be physically demanding, so adequate preparation, hydration, and knowing your limits are very important for mitigating risk. Hygiene is also a very important consideration, as the area relies on a small water supply. It's best not to travel to the falls if you are feeling ill as diseases such as Noro Virus, Covid, and the flu will spread quite easily in such a small area. It is strongly recommended that visitors should bring biodegradable soap and avoid contaminating water sources.

About the Havasupai Tribe

The Havasupai Tribe currently sits on 188,077 acres of land in the southwest part of the Grand Canyon. When the Grand Canyon was originally established in 1919, the Tribe was allotted 518 acres in a nearby side canyon, but have since returned back to their original homelands, which includes the beautiful blue-green waterfalls they share with us today. These lands are sacred to them and they draw their strength and spirituality from it.

The population of the Havasupai Tribe is 640 and tourism is their main industry. Packing animals for trips, accommodating guests, and providing other services for the tribal enterprise is their main source of revenue. The nearest community to the Reservation is Peach Springs, 64 miles southwest from Hualapai Hilltop. The Havasupai Reservation consists of plateaus dissected by deep canyons, most notable geographic features include The Great Thumb, Long Mesa, and Tenderfoot Mesa, which converge on the Coconino Plateau at the south end of the reservation. Havasu (Cataract) Canyon, which is where the waterfalls are located, has a varied topography of the plateaus, gentle, rolling slopes, to escarpments of Kaibab Limestone.

Closest Accommodations to Havasupai Falls

This will mostly be convenient the day before or after hiking into the canyon. If you are visiting the falls, you'll be either camping or staying at the lodge at the bottom of the canyon during your time there.

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