Explore Paradise on Earth. 🌎 There’s truly nothing that compares to camping at Havasupai Falls deep in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Vibrant blue waters cascade over red cliffs creating a stunning scene that will leave a lasting impression.
There are 6 major waterfalls, including Havasu Falls, throughout the reservation and each one is prettier than the last. The only way to get to this incredible place is by backpacking 10 miles down into the canyon and camp for 3 nights among the falls. But, it’s probably the best campground in the entire country and well worth the trip! 🙌🏻
My husband and I had the privilege of camping here in April and I think this may be the most beautiful place that I have ever been! 🤩 We were seriously giddy the entire weekend as we swam in the stunning blue waterfalls of Havasupai. It felt as if we were in a magical fairytale land.
Camping at Havasu Falls is a bucket list item for any outdoorsy individual. However, it’s extremely hard to get permits and to plan for this trip. So, I’ve created this Havasupai Falls guide that has everything you need to know about camping in Havasupai. it includes tips for getting permits, things you need to know, and hiking details!
You Might Also Like These Posts:
- The Perfect One Day Grand Canyon Itinerary
- Hiking Beaver Falls in Havasupai Arizona Guide
- The Only Havasupai Packing List You’ll Need
Disclaimer: There are affiliate links in this post. I may make a small commission at no extra charge to you! Thanks for your support
Table of Contents
Planning Your Camping Trip to Havasupai Falls
Havasupai Location
Havasupai is a reservation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The Supai people are known as the “People of the Green Water.” It’s a fitting name as the gorgeous turquoise waters of Havasu Creek run down through the canyon creating gushing waterfalls.
Now, Havasupai reservation is pretty remote. The closest large city is Flagstaff, which is 2 hours and 45 minutes away, while Seligman and Kingman are about 90 minutes from the trailhead.
The only way to get down to the Havasupai reservation is to hike 10 miles or take a helicopter. Most people, including myself, do the long trek because getting a helicopter is pricey and they can get canceled for weather.
Havasu Falls Camping ⛺️
Now, if you are on this blog post, then you’re probably planning on camping in the Grand Canyon. The only other way to stay in the Havasupai area is to stay at the Havasupai Lodge, but getting reservations is very difficult!
Havasupai Camping Tips:
- You MUST get a permit ahead of time. They go on sale in February and you can read more below.
- Right now, you must book a minimum of 3 nights and the camping permits cost $455 PER PERSON. 💸
- Camping sites are first-come, first-served at the Havasu Falls campground.
- There is a spring to refill water bottles and bathrooms throughout.
- Campers must pack in and PACK OUT everything they bring, so keep that in mind!
- In my opinion, the best campsites are closer to Mooney Falls, so keep walking to get a nice spot.
- The village of Supai is 2 miles from Havasu campground. There’s a grocery and cafe there where you can buy food and drinks.
- Alcohol, campfires, and amplified music are not allowed at the campground at any time.
- You may check in the day before your hike from 8 am-5 pm and you must check in before 2 pm the day of your hike!
How to Get a Havasupai Camping Permit
Havasupai camping permits are tough to get, so you will want to know all the details before you try!
First things first, you’ll want to create an account on the Havasupai Reservations website before you even attempt to secure a permit. Then, you’ll put in all your account details and trip leader info!
In 2024, Havasupai had a presale in the month of January, where you could apply for a few dates, then get the results later. But most people secure permits in the regular sale.
Regular permits go on sale on February 1st at 8 am mountain time. Be ready to choose your dates then!
Once you get your permits, everyone in the group will need to create an account on the site as well to spend time at Havasupai campground. If you miss out on permits, you can check the cancellations page regularly throughout the year.
Things to Know Before You Go
☀️ Weather changes quickly in the canyon. Large rainstorms can cause flash floods. It’s important to check the weather before you go and travel to high ground in the case of rain.
⛺️ You will need to get permits for Havasupai, which are a minimum of 3 nights and cost $455. Campsites can have up to 12 people, but everyone must have an account on Havasupai.
🎫 When you check in you must have the trip leader’s ID, a printed out confirmation, and a mask for your hike through Supai village. You can check in the day before or day of before 2 pm!
🎟 When you check in, they will give you a wristband and a tent tag. You must wear the wristband the whole time you’re in Havasupai and the tent tag must be displayed.
🦅 There is a lot of wildlife throughout the area. Make sure to keep your distance and do not feed any animals!
🦮 Pets are not permitted on this hike or in the campground.
🐴 You can pay to pack your things on mules/horses, however, I STRONGLY suggest that you do not! These animals are not treated well and it’s very sad to see them travel through the canyon.
👨👩👦👦 Because of the hard hike and camping conditions, it’s recommended that you don’t bring any small children with you.
📸 There’s no commercial photography permitted and you may not use drones when you are in Havasupai.
🚁 If you want to helicopter in or out, then you can contact the helicopter company directly.
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles and PACK OUT everything you bring. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
How to Get to Havasupai
Havasupai Trailhead or Hualapai Hilltop is 1.5 hours from the closest town in Arizona, Peach Springs. So, it’s very far from most places. The best airports to fly into are the Phoenix or Las Vegas airports.
From there, you will want to drive to Peach Springs to check in at the Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn. You can stay here the night before your hike and check in for the trek. If you are in a van or RV, you can stay in their RV park or a truck stop 20 minutes further down the road.
The morning of your hike, you’ll have to drive an hour and half 🚗 to the trailhead from Peach Springs. Parking gets full very quickly, so you may have to park along the road. At the top of the trailhead, there is a bathroom that you can use before you set off!
Havasupai Hike Details
Your hike begins at the Havasupai Trailhead. From there, you can see miles beyond down into the canyon.
Once you start hiking, you will go down a series of switchbacks that descend (or ascend depending on your direction) for a mile and 1000 feet. Then, you’ll begin to hike through the scenic canyon floor with red cliffs surrounding you on all sides.
Mules and horses will pass you on the trail, make sure to move over. They have the right of way!
At about 6 miles in, you’ll see a sign for Supai Village. Continue for two miles where you’ll get to Supai Village. You can stop here for a bite to eat at the cafe or grocery if you want!
A mile after Supai village Navajo Falls will come into view and you’ll begin to see the stunning waters of Havasu Creek. You’ll feel like you are almost at the finish line and you are!
Finally, at 9.5 miles you will start to see Havasu Falls and you will be in awe of the incredible cascade. The campground is just a .5 mile further and has a clear sign at the beginning. There are bathrooms and a spring to refill your water. Now, you can choose your campsite, set up your tent, and relax for your time!
Quick Hike Info
Distance: 10 miles one way, 20 miles round trip
Elevation: 2700 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 4-8 hours one way
Difficulty: Hard (you will be carrying your stuff and it gets hot & steep)
Best Time to Camp at Havasu Falls
Havasupai is seriously beautiful year round. It’s like a magical oasis in the desert and you will absolutely fall in love. But, the best times to go are when the temperatures are mild.
The best time to camp at Havasupai is the spring or fall. 🌸🍂
Most people will tell you that the spring months and fall months are wonderful times to visit. Temperatures are usually wonderful, skies are sunny, and there are plenty of opportunities to go swimming. We went in April and I truly believe that it was THE PERFECT time to visit!
If you plan on visiting in summer, you should know that there are often monsoons. 🌧These monsoons can cause flash flooding and change the water color of the waterfalls. However, many people that go in summer still enjoy themselves!
Meanwhile, if you plan a winter trip, then you should prepare for freezing temperatures. 🥶 The water remains at 70 degrees all year, so you may still be able to dip your feet in. But, it will be a different experience.
Quick Packing Guide and Tips for Havasupai Falls 🎒
Packing is a bit complicated and can get very overwhelming. So, you can read my dedicated guide for your camping trip to to Havasupai Falls.
That being said, my best tips for packing are below:
- Pack light!
- Get a good quality backpack and hiking poles. Make sure to test them before
- You will want a bear canister or rat sack the squirrels are relentless and will chew through backpacks!
- Bring sugar or candy 🍬 for the tough uphills
- Add water shoes to your packing list for the river crossings.
- If you plan on going to Mooney Falls, pack gloves and a raincoat!
- Hammocks are a great luxury item to bring to Havasupai.
- You can hike in the same clothes multiple days, but bring a rope or utility cord so you can hang things to dry.
- Bring cash to get food at the local fry bread stands.
Things to Do in the Havasupai Falls Area
One of the best part about camping at Havasu Falls is that you can really explore, swim, and make the time whatever you want! Once you’ve set up camp, then there’s so much around the area to see. There are 6 major waterfalls- Havasu, Mooney, Beaver, Navajo, Fifty Foot, and Hidden Falls, each one is worth a long visit!
My recommendations for your schedule:
- Spend the first day hiking in and setting up camp
- On day two trek to Mooney, Beaver Falls and optionally add the confluence (16 mile hike)
- Enjoy the swimming holes of the upper Falls on Day 3
- Leave very early to hike out or swim in the falls and hike out late in the day! Just avoid the heat of the day for your long hike.
Visit & Swim at Havasu Falls
Havasu Falls is the most iconic waterfall in Havasupai and there’s no doubt about it this cascade is breathtaking. The large waterfall gushes off of the cliff below it and falls into a bright blue pool.
You will be mesmerized by the stunning beauty of Havasu Falls.
Luckily, Havasu Falls is very close to camp, so you can spend tons of time around the waterfall. There are even a couple of picnic tables there! So, spend a day swimming in the pools there, watch sunset over the cliff, or eat dinner by the falls. You won’t get sick of it.
Explore the Upper Falls
Although the lower falls of Mooney and Beaver get all the hype, I seriously loved the upper falls. My husband and I spent a whole day just swimming in their waters and reveling in the sunshine. These waterfalls are all stunning destinations that you do not want to miss!
Navajo Falls
Navajo Falls is viewable from the main trailhead and you’ll pass it on your way to Havasu campground. However, the best way to see it is to hike down to the bottom. Ribbons of water flow over the side of the cliffs and it is like a scene from Tuck Everlasting.
Again, Dylan and I lucked out and had the whole waterfall to ourselves. We spent a while climbing under the streams and swimming through the waterfall. It was definitely one of my favorites in the entire area!
Fifty Foot Falls
If you want the best views of Fifty Foot Falls, then you’ll need to get wet! Take the trail from Navajo Falls where you’ll see a brown sign that says “Trail.” Continue past it and then you’ll see a blue sign for Fifty Foot Falls on the right.
From there, you’ll walk through the water to get to the gorgeous views of Fifty Foot. This waterfall spans a large swath of the cliff and has lovely cascades. Again, it’s a great place to swim, but there’s nowhere to put your things down.
Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls is one of the least visited waterfalls in the Havasupai area, but it was one of our favorites! When we went, we had the waterfall all to ourselves and spent time swimming and laughing in the waters.
Getting to Hidden Falls is a little tricky, so I’m gonna share the directions. You’ll want to hike up from Havasu and once you pass the fry bread stand area you’ll see a structure with four poles. Go to the right there and down the trail. You’ll see a sign for Hidden Falls.
Once you see that sign, you’ll want to hug the cliffside to the left. At points you will walk through water and others you’ll walk over the cliffs. But, as long as you stay to the left you’ll make it. Finally, you’ll come upon the gorgeous water of Hidden Falls!
Climb Down to Mooney Falls
Mooney Falls is definitely the most treacherous waterfall to get to in the area, but also one of the best! In order to get down to Mooney, you’ll need to walk through a cave, climb down soaking wet ladders and hold onto chains. It’s pretty harrowing and very slippery, so take your time, use gloves, and just focus on each step.
If you are afraid of heights, then you should not hike down to Mooney Falls! 🚫 You still have a great view of the falls from above.
Once you get to Mooney though it will all be worth it! This powerful waterfall fills a turquoise pool and it’s another great place to swim or admire the falls. It’s definitely a crowd favorite and we loved watching sunset from above the falls most nights!
Hike to Beaver Falls
Many people will say that Beaver Falls is the prettiest waterfall in Havasupai with terraced levels of cascades. Hiking here is a bit of a trek at 8 miles round trip from the Havasu campground.
Bring your hammock and spend the day swimming in the bright blue water! 💙
Once you get down to Mooney, you’ll walk through water crossings and the scenic canyon. Towards the end you’ll have to walk up and down two ladders. I suggest going early in the day, we left the campground at 7 am and had it all to ourselves!
Quick Hike Info:
Distance: 8 miles
Elevation: 1200 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 3.5-6 hours
Difficulty: Hard (you will need to use chains and climb ladders)
Trek to the Confluence
If you are up for a long endeavor, then you can hike all the way to the confluence with the Colorado River! This hike is very long at 16 miles round trip from the campground and you will need to wayfind. So, I suggest downloading Alltrails before you go.
We chose not to go, so that we could rest and swim more. But, people love it!
Quick Hike Info:
Distance: 16 miles
Elevation: 3000 Feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 7-10 hours
Difficulty: Hard (you will need to use chains, find your way, and cross rivers)
Final Tips for Camping at Havasupai Falls
Camping at Havasupai Falls is one of the most memorable trips that I have ever had. But, it definitely took a lot of preparation and effort to visit. Make sure to plan far in advance, pack your bag a week in advance, and practice hiking with your pack before you go! So, go to Havasu and fall in love with the mesmerizing green waters!
Let me know if you enjoyed this guide in the comments!
📍 Pin Everything You Need To Know About Camping at Havasupai Falls to Pinterest
This was so helpful! Such a thorough guide. All of the waterfalls are gorgeous!!
They are absolutely incredible!!
Such an in-depth & valuable guide!! Saving for when I (fingers crossed) do this one day!! ❤️
I hope you go sometime!!