Beaver Falls Arizona: A Guide to the Hike at Havasupai Falls [2024]

HIKE TO BEAVER FALLS, ARIZONA (HAVASUPAI RESERVATION)

Beaver Falls in Arizona is an oasis in the Desert Southwest.  It’s technically on the Havasupai Reservation, adjacent to the Grand Canyon.

Visiting Beaver Falls, and the other stunning waterfalls along Havasu Creek, requires a permit, overnight camping, and a lengthy hike through a desert canyon. 

It’s all part of the adventure to Havasupai Falls!

KEY TAKEAWAYS ON BEAVER FALLS

Beaver Falls gets overshadowed by the more majestic and “Insta-famous” Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls on the Havasupai Reservation. Still, it’s well worth a hike, and many visitors find it to be the most enjoyable spot along Havasu Creek to spend the day.

I always recommend upgrading to the “Pro” version of the AllTrails app for a trip to Havasupai Falls.

There’s no cell reception during your hikes to the different waterfalls, but you’re able to access maps you’ve downloaded on the app the entire time. Plus, you’ll still be able to see your location as a “blue dot” as you hike along Havasu Creek through the canyon.

This map shows where Beaver Falls sits along Havasu Creek, as it flows from the village of Supai up toward the Colorado River:

Mooney Falls is named after a miner who died trying to save a fellow injured miner, by trying to scale the rock wall with the man on his back.  

A few years later, some who were part of the same mining company blasted holes in the rocks to form tunnels which you’ll still use to this day in part of the descent.  The tunnels aren’t long, and once inside you can almost immediately see the light on the other end.

After the tunnels, things get more nerve-wracking for people who don’t like heights.  It’s a vertical drop down the rest of the way.  A series of chains, precariously secured into the rocks, will help you climb down slowly.  There are chunks in the rock wall for you to use as steps.

Eventually, your feet will hit the wooden ladder near the bottom. From here, the rest of the climb down becomes easy (and less dangerous).  

In addition to conquering any fears of heights, you’ll also be hit with mist from the waterfall the entire way down Mooney Falls.  It might be refreshing on a hot summer day, or bone-chilling on a cool day in the early spring.

Thankfully, there’s no moss or anything slippery growing on the rocks or the ladders here.  

Havasu Creek Crossings

Once you make it to the bottom of Mooney Falls, the hard part is over!  Again, I know some people love rock climbing and vertical drops.  I’m not one of them, so at least *for me* the hard part was over!

From there, you’ll follow Havasu Creek for three miles to Beaver Falls.  

The trail to the falls will cross the creek three times.  The first crossing is about a third of a mile in.

The water is usually knee-deep or waist-deep, depending on the creek’s flow and the hiker’s height.

Thankfully, the rocks you’re walking on aren’t slick at all.  There’s not much moss or algae growing on the creekbed at Havasu, so you’ll have an easy time on the crossings.  

How you choose to handle the crossings when it comes to footwear is up to you.  There’s no “right” answer.

I changed shoes at every crossing, alternating between dry hiking boots and wet water shoes.   It’s not ideal, and it becomes tedious to have to dry your feet off and change shoes several times on your hike in … and again on your hike out.

Some people just wore water shoes with hiking treads on the bottom.  Some people wore hiking sandals the whole way.

I’d choose the option you think will leave your feet least-prone to blistering!

Aside from the creek crossings, the trail to Beaver Falls is beautiful.  I kept thinking, “I can’t believe this is in the Arizona desert!”

The trail includes sandy stretches that go through meadows, which bloom with wildflowers in the spring.

In other parts, you’ll wind through mounds of grapevines on either side of the trail.  You’ll also hike by a few picnic tables if you feel like relaxing and having a snack.

Later in the hike, you’ll have to scramble up rocks and eventually down a steep descent to get to the falls.

You’ll hike by several other waterfalls, which look like smaller versions of Beaver Falls.  They’re also great spots for swimming or picnics.

Your first visual of Beaver Falls will be from a cliff above.

Wildlife Encounters: Big-Horned Sheep at Beaver Falls

You’re also likely to see desert big-horned sheep on your hike back to the campground! 

I’d heard about the sheep in the area, but wasn’t sure we’d get lucky enough to see them.

Sure enough, two days in a row, as the sun started to drop below the canyon walls, the sheep climbed down for dinner.

Ladders along Havasu Creek change over time, as seasonal floods come through and wash them out.  It happens every year or two.  Sometimes, it happens more than once in a 12-month span!

Flash floods hit in October of 2022, and then again in March of 2023, forcing the Havasupai Tribe to rebuild and replace the ladders along Havasu Creek between the village of Supai and Beaver Falls.

A traditionally wooden ladder on the hike to Beaver Falls is now replaced with an aluminum ladder, tied to the rocks. It arrived as part of the latest round of FEMA disaster relief the tribe received.

Right at the end of the hike to Beaver Falls, you’ll rely on a few older, wooden ladders (and structures that resemble ladders) for the final descent.

Hikers might find a couple of spots challenging on the way to Beaver Falls. Really, once you get beyond the chains and ladders at Mooney Falls, the rest of the three miles to Beaver is very enjoyable and not very difficult.

While some of the ladders are makeshift, like the one below, they’ll help give you the boost you need up the rocks!

Moving at a decent pace, you’ll make it to Beaver Falls in an hour.  

The big unknown is: how long will it take you to get down Mooney Falls?  Sometimes there’s a long wait, since it’s single file down the ladder.  Generally, from the bottom of Mooney Falls to Beaver Falls is about an hour-long hike.

You’ll see varying estimates, but the consensus is: Beaver Falls is almost three miles from Mooney Fall, which is at the end of the Havasupai Campground.  So it’s pretty safe to say: From your campsite at Havasupai Falls, expect a three-mile hike to Beaver Falls.

Other distances between the sites on the Havasupai Reservation:

• Supai Village to Little Navajo Falls:  1 mile
• Supai Village to Havasu Falls: 2 miles
• Supai Village to Havasupai Falls Campground: 2 miles
• Havasu Falls to Mooney Falls: 0.7 mile
• Length of the Havasupai Falls Campground: 0.7 mile
• Mooney Falls to Beaver Falls: 3 miles
• Beaver Falls to Confluence (Colorado River): 5.5 miles

How Difficult is the Hike to Beaver Falls?

While the main trail will branch off from time to time, it’s impossible to get lost on a hike to Beaver Falls since you’re literally following Havasu Creek all the way there.

You can swim at Beaver Falls!  It’s much easier (and safer) than swimming at Mooney Falls, where the undertow and current can be quite strong.

Beaver Falls is made of a series of cascading pools, which are very nice to wade through and lounge in.

It’s one of the best spots to enjoy the blue waters of Havasu Creek!

Because the swimming holes at Beaver Falls are surrounded by canyon walls, the sun disappears in the afternoon. Most swimmers tend to leave after the sun drops.  Chances are, depending on the time of the year, you’ll be the only people there by late afternoon!  

What Creates the Beautiful Travertine Waterfalls and Pools?

Beaver Falls (and the similar smaller waterfalls in this part of Havasu Creek) are created by travertine shelves or terraces.

You’ll see the same formations in the Havasupai Falls Campground, too.   In fact, I chose our campsite because it had a view of the terraces which I found especially pretty.

The Havasupai Tribe says high concentrations of lime in the water help build the natural travertine terraces over time.

The Water Temperature at Beaver Falls (Havasu Creek)

Contrary to what many blogs post about the water temperature in Havasu Creek, it is *not always 70 degrees.

In the summer months, the water temperature at Beaver Falls will be up into the 70-to-75 degree range.  It fluctuates by a few degrees each day.

In the spring and fall, the water temperature of Havasu Creek is in the 60s, and it drops down into the 50s during the winter.

The US Geological Survey has a temperature gauge, keeping track of Havasu Creek several times each day.    

Here’s how the temperature averages layout over the course of a year:

What to Pack for a Visit to Beaver Falls

In addition to your own personal choice when it comes to hiking boots, water shoes and sandals, here are a few other things to make sure to bring in your day bag on a hike to Beaver Falls.

• SPF for your face and body.  I used a new Neutrogena product on my face for this trip, which I like a lot.  It provides broad-spectrum coverage and an SPF of 60, but it’s invisible.  Your face won’t have that weird milky white residue.  I also like their roll-on stick option for my arms.
• Gloves for climbing down the chains and rocks at  Mooney Falls
• Plastic hiking bag for your wet shoes
• Quick-dry towel for the creek crossings
• Life Straw water bottle (MVP of the trip) so you can safely drink the creek water
• Foot Glide (a last-minute purchase, which spared my feet from blistering)
• Headlamp (just in case the sun sets and you have to climb Mooney Falls in the dark)

Beaver Falls may appear beautiful and serene, and it *is* safe to swim in. Still, some hikers take risks, jumping off the rocks into the water, and have been severely injured and sadly even killed.

In July of 2023, the helicopter had to be called to rescue hikers injured at Beaver Falls at least four times. Each time, the Havasupai helicopter hovers for a while in the canyon over the main pool at Beaver Falls and drops a line down for a hoist rescue.

At least one hiker died at Beaver Falls on July, 15, 2023, after a terrible fall.

The injuries are almost entirely from people jumping off the rocks and cliffs above the Beaver Falls pools, or slipping and falling accidentally while climbing the rock walls surrounding them.

The blue water is so enticing to jump into, especially on a hot summer day, but remember: there are hidden rocks below the surface.

Another young man suffered in agony on the side of the falls with a broken knee, waiting for his rescue. Hikers who witnessed it say he jumped from some rocks, and hit his knee on a rock hidden under the blue water. If you’ve been to Havasupai Falls, you know how remote it is, and can understand why it takes hours for a rescue.

A week later, another woman hit her head and fell into the water at Beaver Falls. Other hikers came to her rescue, before the helicopter flew her to a hospital in Flagstaff. Her friends later said she was checked by doctors and thankfully didn’t suffer serious injuries.

In her case, witnesses say she used a rope to climb the rocks above the main pool at Beaver Falls, but slipped on the rocks and fell from the top of the cascade. She hit her head, lost consciousness, and fell into the water below. Nearly three-hours later, a first responder arrived, and they waited hours more for a helicopter to fly her out.

Several other hikers were also injured at Beaver Falls in the summer of 2023, but didn’t require helicopter rescues. Their injuries ranged from ankle sprains to cuts and scratches from landing unexpectedly on hidden rocks underwater.

The death and major injuries happened as Arizona suffered its most prolonged heatwave in years. Temperatures at Supai were over 100 degrees.

The best time to visit Beaver Falls is mid-April through June.

That’s my opinion, and it may not be best for you.

Here’s my reasoning:

I don’t like camping in the cold, and while temperatures can still dip into the 30s at night at Havasupai in April, it warms up nicely during the day.

The water temperature becomes more bearable in April and downright refreshing by the hotter days in May and June.

Even though Arizona temperatures climb into the triple digits in June, you’ll find plenty of shade along your hikes around Havasupai Falls to keep cool.

Monsoon season sets in from July through September, so you run the risk of flooding possibly impacting your trip. It’s impossible to predict.

With all that said, if someone had a spare permit and invited me along in August or September, I’d jump at the chance!

For Havasupai Falls visitors who want to hike to the confluence, where Havasu Creek meets the Colorado River, the advice from the Havasupai Tribe is to leave the Beaver Falls area no later than 10:30am.

The confluence is another six-miles (or so) from Beaver Falls.

It’s a full-day adventure, and you’ll need the time, especially in the spring and fall when the sun sets earlier. 

While far fewer people make the trek to the confluence, choosing instead to spend more time enjoying Mooney and Beaver Falls, it’s a beautiful hike down the canyon. Plus, it’s interesting to see the turquoise water in Havasu Creek mix with the brown water of the Colorado River as it flows through the Grand Canyon.

Our trip to the confluence from Beaver Falls began at 10:30am, and we were back around 5:30pm.  We took our time, swimming in the canyon and relaxing along the way.

You’ll cross Havasu Creek at least seven times between the start of your hike at Mooney Falls and the point where Havasu Creek hits the Colorado River.

Keep in mind: Beaver Falls is still three miles from the campground.  The entire hike to the confluence is roughly a 17-18 mile round trip!   

The Havasupai Tribe restricts the number of visitors allowed to the campground and waterfalls, to keep the place from becoming over-run and trashed.

Each year, the permits are all snatched up for the entire season on February 1st.  

Don’t despair! Plans change, and people inevitably end up canceling their reservations. Those cancelations are posted each morning at 8:00am on the official Havasupai Tribe’s Tourism website.  

While the Tribe doesn’t publish official numbers, they allow roughly 100 permits a day, which amounts to around 30,000 per year.  Havasupai Falls is usually closed to visitors in December and January.

The cost of a permit to visit Havasupai Falls is now up to $455 for a four-day, three-night visit.  It’s a dramatic increase for people who last came in the 2000s and paid $35.

The Havasupai Lodge reservations are now $2,277 for three nights. This can be split four ways, so it comes down to under $200 per person, per night. 

The Tribe cites the expense of hauling out garbage, repairing bridges and trails, and other factors as reasons for the increase in cost to visit Havasupai Falls. Without roads, the Tribe often has to fly loads of garbage out of the campground, at great expense.

Let’s knock out a few more frequently asked questions for future hikers at Beaver Falls!

When did Beaver Falls reopen?

After a three-year pandemic closure, the Havasupai Tribe reopened Beaver Falls (and all of the waterfalls along Havasu Creek) in February of 2023.

Can you drive to Beaver Falls, Arizona?

No. There are no roads to Supai.  The “easiest” way to get to Beaver Falls is a helicopter from the Hualapai Hilltop (Havasupai Trailhead) to the Village of Supai.  From there, it’s a two-mile hike down to the campground, and another three-mile hike to Beaver Falls along Havasu Creek.

Is Beaver Falls in the Grand Canyon?

Technically… sort of…

The satellite view shows: the canyon you’ll hike to get to Havasupai Falls is part of the large canyon system which includes the Grand Canyon.  

Beaver Falls is on tribal land, belonging to the Havasupai Reservation, so it’s not within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park.

If you choose to hike beyond Beaver Falls to the Colorado River, you’ll pass the official dividing line between the Havasupai Reservation and the national park.  

So, people on a long rafting trip through the Grand Canyon are technically not supposed to make the hike up to Beaver Falls.  It would be considered trespassing on tribal land without the proper permit. In fact, there’s a sign warning against it on the trail:

While the main trail to Beaver Falls will branch off from time to time, it’s impossible to get lost on your hike there since you’re following Havasu Creek the whole way.

A lot of visitors to Havasupai Falls are lured there by the impressive bigger waterfalls: Mooney Falls and Havasu Falls.  But many leave with fonder memories of the day they spent at the less dramatic, but just-as-beautiful terraced pools that make up Beaver Falls.