Havasu Falls Directions: Hike to the Havasupai Campground [2024]

hAVASU FALLS DIRECTIONS & THE HIKE TO THE HAVASUPAI CAMPGROUND

Hiking to Havasupai Falls is a dream trip for people from around the world.  The oasis in the desert southwest, near the Grand Canyon, is famous for its series of waterfalls plunging into turquoise blue pools of water.

Havasu Falls is one of the main waterfalls at Havasupai, and sits at the entrance of the campground on the Havasupai Reservation.

The 11-mile hike to the Havasupai Campground is strenuous but beautiful, and all part of the adventure of a visit to Havasupai Falls!

Havasupai Falls is in a remote location adjacent to the western edges of the Grand Canyon National Park.

A visit to Havasupai Falls requires a road trip from one of the nearest airports and cities, and likely an overnight stay in a hotel nearby.

Las Vegas to Havasupai Trailhead

• 220 miles
• 3.5 hours drive
• Stay halfway in Kingman, AZ (120 miles from trailhead)
• Or stay in Peach Springs, AZ (65 miles from trailhead)

Phoenix to Havasupai Trailhead

• 260 miles
• 4+ hours drive
• Stay in Flagstaff
• or stay in Peach Springs, AZ (65 miles from trailhead)

Flagstaff to Havasupai Trailhead

• 165 miles
• 2.5 hours drive

Sedona to Havasupai Trailhead

• 190 miles
• 3+ hours drive

South Rim Grand Canyon to Trailhead

• 190 miles
• 3+ hours drive

This can be done the day before your permit.

Check-in is only available at the Caverns during certain hours. The window widened from 8:00am – 5:00pm …. and is currently open from 6:00am – 7:00pm.

It’s worth calling the Caverns before you arrive to double-check and make sure they haven’t changed the hours again.

I’d definitely stay in the vicinity the night before your hike, since you have a long day ahead.

This interactive map of hotel options centers on Peach Springs, which is the closest small town to the Hualapai Hilltop Trailhead (an hour drive north).

While you can stay right at the motel at the Grand Canyon Caverns (where you check-in), I’d recommend the Hualapai Lodge, which is 12 miles away in Peach Springs, AZ.

It’s along Historic Route 66, with a gas station across the street.  

The Hualapai Lodge also has a restaurant serving big breakfasts early in the morning which are perfect before your hourlong drive up to the trailhead.

You’ll drive an hour north along Indian Road 18, which you’ll take up from Route 66 to the Havasupai Trailhead.

There’s a checkpoint around five miles from the trailhead, which may or may not be staffed when you drive through.  

If you drive up early, before 8:00am (assuming you checked in the day prior at Grand Canyon Caverns) you likely won’t even see anyone staffing the checkpoint, and can drive right through the cones.

Keep in mind: the person at the checkpoint may stop allowing visitors to pass by 2:00pm, so make sure you’re there before that point.  

The Havasupai Tribe put a new rule in place in 2023 that you have to start your hike from the trailhead no later than 2:00pm.

Hike to Havasu Falls in the Summer

• Temperatures hit 100 in the early afternoon.
• Many people use headlamps to begin hiking at 4:00am (or earlier) to get to the campground before it gets too hot.

Hike to Havasu Falls in the Winter

• Daylight is limited from 7:30am to 5:00pm.
• Starting before noon so you can arrive before sunset is advisable.

Hike to Havasu Falls in the Spring/Fall

• Daily temperatures fluctuate, so check the forecast for Supai.
• Generally, you’ll be okay hiking anytime during the day (with proper water and breaks).

The Road to the Havasupai Trailhead

Indian Road 18 is nicely paved, so a 4×4 is not necessary to get to the Havasupai parking lot.

I was surprised by the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot, and how many cars were parked there.  It was jam-packed, so most people end up having to park along the road.

Some people parked more than a half-mile away from the trailhead, adding some length to their overall hike.

Just be sure to leave your reservation paperwork in the windshield wherever you park.

No Sleeping at the Hualapai Hilltop Lot

The Havasupai Tribe put a new rule in place in 2023, banning hikers from sleeping in vehicles at the Hualapai Hilltop.  You’re also not allowed to camp in the area, or camp along the trail.

Trailhead Bathrooms & Office

This is your last chance for a bathroom before the Havasupai campground, more than 10 miles away.

It’s also your last chance to organize your backpack before heading down the trail.

You’ll likely see mules up at the trailhead parking lot, which have just brought packs and supplies out of Havasupai Falls, or are preparing to bring mail and supplies back down into Supai and the campground.

The trailhead will likely be your last glimmer of cell signal for many miles.

Depending on your carrier and conditions, you can get a weak signal on the road just before the parking lot, near the “locals only” lot.  

From here, put your cellphone on “airplane mode” to preserve the battery while you hike to Havasu Falls.

Leave Food in Your Car

Make sure to leave some food and snacks, plus water in your car.  You’ll appreciate having it when you arrive back after your visit to Havasupai Falls!

I’d also leave a pair of clean shoes and fresh clothes to change into.  You’ll need it!

The hike to Havasu Falls is overshadowed by the majestic beauty of the falls themselves .. BUT … it’s a beautiful part of this adventure that I wouldn’t want to miss out on!

While the sign says it’s 10 miles to the campground, it’s really 11.

THE FIRST TWO MILES: Switchbacks Down Into the Canyon

The hike to Havasu Falls begins with a series of switchbacks along a trail, which will bring you eventually down to the canyon floor.

It’s about a two-mile descent down.

The Tribe does a lot of maintenance work on the switchback part of the trail, so you’ll find rock steps and wooden rails in spots to stabilize the path.

There is no shade in the initial part of the trail to Havasupai Falls, unless the sun hasn’t yet risen over the canyon walls.

THE NEXT FIVE MILES: The Dry Wash & Canyon

You really can’t get lost, because you’re basically following the canyon all the way to the village of Supai.

The loose gravel is most challenging since it’s hard to get a full step in your stride.

In other spots, you’ll find more hardened rock and sand to walk across.

More importantly, you’ll be in awe of the beautiful canyon walls, the giant boulders that have broken free, and the desert life around you.

Thankfully, hikers will have plenty of shade on this long stretch of the hike through the canyon to Havasu Falls.

There are trees in spots, plus caves carved out of the canyon walls to rest in.  Breezes blow through, helping you keep cool.

FINAL THREE MILES: Havasu Creek & Supai

About seven miles into the hike, the trail splits and you’ll see a sign for Supai, the village on the Havasupai Indian Reservation.  

Just down the trail from the sign, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Havasu Creek, and its blue water.

You’ll follow this into the village, where photography is banned and masks are required (though half the hikers and most locals don’t wear them).

The village has a market, where you can buy some food and drinks at reasonable prices.  Plus, the restaurant in town may be open.

It’s another two miles from Supai down to the Havasupai Falls campground. 

Little Navajo Falls

On the hike from the village of Supai down to Havasu Falls and the campground, you’ll pass Little Navajo Falls.  It’s the first impressive site (aside from the blue water itself) along Havasu Creek!

Some of the trails in this area were washed out in floods in 2023, but you can still get down to the water.  You’ll find it to be less crowded than the bigger waterfalls down farther along Havasu Creek.

From Little Navajo Falls, it’s about another mile down to Havasu Falls and the Havasupai Falls Campground.  While you’ll likely want to keep going to the campground on the hike in, this is a great spot to hike up to for a while during your stay at Havasupai Falls!

There are no steps down to Navajo Falls, but you should be able to maneuver through the rugged trail to get down and enjoy the swimming hole at the base of the falls.

Some people look forward to hiking to Havasupai Falls to go “off the grid” for a few days and unplug.

For people hoping to check voicemails and send text messages, you might get the chance in a couple of spots near Havasu Falls.

One of them is right above Havasu Falls, on the trail just beyond the fry bread stand.

My signal was stronger up closer to Little Navajo Falls on the same trail.  I took my phone off “airplane mode” just to send a text home that we were alive after our hike!

According to the Tribe, horses have the “right of way” in the canyon, so hikers have to yield to them.

You can’t ride one yourself into the campground, but you can hire one of the pack animals to carry your backpack, tent, and gear.

Hikers have to reserve a mule online before arriving for their visit to Havasupai Falls.

Mule Prices at Havasupai

The price to have a mule carry your gear is $400 (round trip).  Most hikers put their backpacks and gear into an extra duffel for added protection.

Other information about hiring a pack mule at Havasupai:

• Drop bags off by 10:00am at the Hualapai Hilltop Trailhead
• Drop bags off by 7:00am at the Havasupai Falls Campground (on the way out)

Havasupai Mule Regulations

Pack mules and horses have been part of life in Supai and with the Havasupai Tribe for many years.

After tourists posted a series of photos of abused and injured mules in 2015, animal advocates launched a campaign to prevent further neglect.  They pressure visitors to Havasupai Falls to avoid using pack mules and horses.

Many people in the Havasupai Tribe were also alarmed and concerned by the accusations of mistreatment, and support the measures taken since then to improve the conditions of the pack animals.

There are new restrictions on the amount of weight each animal can carry:

• Each mule can carry a maximum of 4 bags
• The maximum weight per bag is 32 pounds
• The maximum measurements of baggage are: 36 inches long, by 19 inches wide, by 19 inches tall
• Baggage must be soft-sided
• No ice chests or coolers

The hike to Havasu Falls is definitely challenging for a number of reasons:

• There’s a lack of water along the way, so you have to bring it in with you.
• The final climb up the switchbacks on your hike out is exhausting.
• Hiking with 30-40 pounds of gear on your back hurts your hips, knees, and ankles.
• The loose gravel is tough and unstable under your feet.
• The summer heat often climbs into triple digits.

With all of that said, if you take your time and prepare, you’ll be fine!

Is the Havasupai Falls hike good for kids?

We saw a few 10-to-12-year-old children hiking to Havasu Falls with their parents and enjoying it.

Is a Havasu Falls hike good for seniors?

As long as you’re used to walking, take your time, and bring plenty of water, seniors will enjoy hiking to Havasupai Falls.  We saw a few people in their 70s.

Maybe put your backpacks on the helicopter (if it’s available) for a much easier hike out!

What’s the elevation on the hike to Havasu Falls?

You’ll descend from an elevation of 5,200 feet at the Hualapai Hilltop down to Supai, which is 3,205 feet above sea level.

Elevation at Havasu Falls and the Havasupai Falls Campground is 2,800 feet.

It’ll depend largely, of course, on your hiking experience, how in shape people in your group are, and the weather.

We passed several groups along the way, having a lengthy picnic in the shade on some rocks, or by Havasu Creek when it first appears at the seven-mile mark.

Distances and Miles Between Hualapai Hilltop to:

• Supai Village: 8.5 miles
• Little Navajo Falls: 9.5 miles
• Havasu Falls: 10.5 miles
• Ranger Station at the Campground: 11 miles
• Mooney Falls: 12 miles
• Beaver Falls: 15 miles
• Colorado River (Confluence): 21 miles

Distances and Miles Between Havasupai Falls Sites

• Peach Springs to Havasupai Trailhead: 67 miles (driving)
• Havasupai Trailhead Hilltop down to canyon floor: 2 miles
• Canyon floor to Havasu Creek: 6 miles
• Havasu Creek to Supai Village: 1 mile
• Supai Village to Little Navajo Falls:  1 mile
• Supai Village to Havasupai Falls Campground: 2 miles
• Supai Village to Havasu Falls: 2 miles
• Havasu Falls to Mooney Falls: 1 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

Again, it’s good to leave some food, water bottles, and fresh clothes in your parked car.  You’ll be glad you did at the end of your return hike from Havasupai Falls!

If it matters to you, remember to check your cell signal one last time between Havasu Falls and Little Navajo Falls.  Then put your phone back on “airplane mode” to save battery for the remainder of the hike to the hilltop trailhead.

Most people seem to try to keep the weight of their backpacks and gear to about 30 pounds, though for many it rises to 35.  Ours happened to hit 40 pounds each, because camera lenses and batteries are unavoidably heavy!

Even packing “lightweight” tents and other camping gear, it all adds up.

Footwear for the hike to the Havasupai Falls Campground

For the hike to the Havasupai Falls Campground, sturdy, close-toed hiking shoes are recommended. Good ankle support is necessary for the trek through the loose gravel.

A separate pair of water shoes or sandals are recommended for the creek and the water around the campground.  

Bring extra socks, and good hiking socks.  For the hike, I wore a base layer of thin, moisture-wicking socks under a thick pair of socks meant to prevent blistering.

As I mentioned before, under it all, I used Foot Glide to prevent blisters. A lot of campsites seem to have a “sock branch” where various pairs of hiking socks were hanging out to dry for the next day!

Bring a First Aid Kit on the Hike to Havasu Falls

Blisters are almost inevitable on a visit to Havasupai Falls!

Bring Aleve or Motrin or Advil or whatever pain reliever works for you. Even if you’re young and in good shape, you’ll be stressing your joints and using muscles that aren’t used to being worked so hard!

Reapply SPF & Sun Protection

I use a set of two products: one for my face, and another for my neck and arms.

I reapplied both a few times each day and didn’t burn at all.

Food Items I’m Glad I Brought

In addition to the instant coffee, Quest Bars, and nuts, these items were crucial for camping:

Life Straw (water bottle with filtration)

Jet Boil (to boil water in a minute)

Freeze-dried meals (I’d recommend the chicken teriyaki!) 

Camping utensils

You have to strike the right balance with your packing.  It’s important to bring enough food for the hike, but not so much that it weighs you down.

In addition to freeze-dried options to boil up at the campsite, bring protein bars, nuts, and other snacks to eat along the way.

The Havasupai Tribe recommends at least one gallon of water per person for the hike to Havasu Falls.

Dump Liquid IV or another hydrating powder in water.

Quest bars were life-savers along the way!

We used cooler water that suddenly emerged from the rocks five miles into the hike to fill our filtered bottles. I assume there’s a hidden spring somewhere which empties onto the trail.  It was a nice surprise.  I avoided the stagnant green puddles and searched for water from a flowing mini-stream to draw from.

It held us over for the next few miles until we got to Havasu Creek.

You’ll arrive at the Havasupai Falls Campground very excited to get the pack off your back!

As you walk down the final trail into the campground, Havasu Falls will reveal itself to you as the perfect welcome.

Walking down past Havasu Falls, you’ll pass a small ranger station.  You may (or may not) find a ranger inside.  

This is the emergency evacuation area, in case of a flash flood. It’s also a bit of a yard sale at times.

You’re likely to find supplies other campers have left behind.  Some of it’s for free, and some is for sale.

Hikers are not supposed to leave anything behind at all.

From fuel to water shoes to tent supplies to food, you really never know what you’ll find. If you forgot spikes for your tent, check the ranger station. If your sandals broke, they might have something in your size.

Some of it, like mayonnaise and salad dressing (left sitting out in the sun) is just trash other hikers didn’t want to carry out.

As always, you’re supposed to “pack out what you pack in,” so I’m not endorsing this … but rather stating it as a fact that people leave things behind at the ranger station. If you’re conflicted, you can always ask the staff member there on duty.

As you walk through the Havasupai Campground, resist the urge to set up camp in the first open spot you see.  The campground stretches quite a ways down the creek, so you’re bound to find the perfect spot for your group!

Make sure to be far enough from the bathrooms that the smell doesn’t waft over to ruin your fresh air.

Find a spot with a picnic table, if you can.  About half of the sites come with tables.

Campfires usually aren’t allowed, unless the Tribe is looking to have campers help burn debris from flooding in the early spring months.

The hike is part of the great adventure of experiencing Havasupai Falls.  We saw kids as young as 10 make the trek, along with a couple in their 70s.

Still, different people have different abilities.  While you can’t ride a horse to Havasupai, some people choose to fly in to Havasu Falls on a helicopter.

The same helicopter that’s used to carry supplies into the village of Supai also carries tourists between helipads at the Hualapai Hilltop Trailhead and Supai.

Helicopter to Havasupai Falls (Supai Village)

A helicopter can fly you from the helipad at the Hualapai Hilltop Trailhead to a pad right in the middle of Supai.  The flight is quick and scenic, with the chopper flying pretty low over the canyon.

Helicopter out of Havasupai / Supai Village

Again, with the helicopter at Havasupai, nothing is guaranteed.  You should always be prepared to hike out with all of your gear, in case high winds or an emergency or a holiday prevents the helicopter from flying.

The pilot will keep flying until everyone who’s paid is taken out (unless the weather prevents it).

The advice is to hike up from the campground to Supai (two miles) early on your departure day.  Otherwise, you risk waiting several hours for your ride. You’ll hear a variety of anecdotes about wait times.  

On our departure date, people who were at the Supai helipad by 7:00am flew out by 9:00am (on the first flight).   People who arrived by 8:00am waited around until 1:00pm.

Another factor in wait times is: tourists are the lowest priority.  Locals looking to fly out of Supai move to the front of the helicopter line.  Construction workers are also given high priority for chopper flights at Havasupai.

Here’s the info to keep in mind about the Havasupai helicopter:

• $100 per person (each way)
• Possible $50 luggage charge
• Available Sundays / Mondays / Thursdays / Fridays
• Flights out begin at 10:00am (though sometimes earlier, by 9:00am)
• Sign up at the helipad in Supai on the Air West sign-up sheet
• Credit cards accepted

You can also just send your backpack and gear on the helicopter for $30, and hike out with a much more enjoyably-light load on your back!  That’s the option I’ll choose next time I go!   Hikers will then pick up their bags at the Hualapai Hilltop.

Most importantly, you need a permit to visit Havasupai Falls.  They’re notoriously difficult to get.

The system has evolved from a telephone call-in process to online reservations.  They traditionally open up the year’s permits on February 1st.  All slots are booked within minutes or hours. Many times you’ll get to the final payment page only to have it boot you back to “step one.”

An alternative to the February 1st rush is to try to snag cancelations.

The Havasupai Tribe posts canceled permits each morning at 8:00am, which can be transferred from the original permit holder to a new one.  You *do have to log on to check right at 8 (or 7:59:59) because the cancelations are snatched up within a minute or so!

How Many Permits Are Granted at Havasupai Falls?

The Tribe says around 100 permits are given out each day, to keep visitor levels at an enjoyable and manageable level.

Generally, the Tribe welcomes 30,000 to 40,000 visitors each year.

the Best Time to Hike to Havasupai Falls

The best time to hike to Havasu Falls or visit Havasupai Falls in general is up for debate.  I think it’s too cold during the winter months, so for me that rules out October through March.  The campground is closed to visitors from December 1 through January 30 each year.

By mid-April, the weather is warmer and much more enjoyable, so I’d aim for mid-April through mid-June. 

Remember: June can be very hot for a hike to Havasupai Falls.  Summers in Arizona hit triple digits.  While you’ll find shade along the hike, you should set out before dawn to get to the campground before the intense heat of the midday sun.

Plus, later in the summer, you run into the risk of monsoon storms.  Monsoon season traditionally runs through September.  While you may not experience any storms at all during the season, it’s definitely something to keep in mind.

These two photos show Havasu Falls during a flash flood in March of 2023, and after the water cleared and the campground reopened in April.

Let’s address a final few frequently-asked-questions about hiking to Havasupai Falls.

Can you hike to Havasu Falls without a permit or reservation?

No, for many years now a permit has been necessary to enter the Havasupai Tribe’s land to visit the falls and the campground.

Permits are for four days and three nights. They don’t sell partial permits.

How many hours does it take to hike to Havasu Falls?

It should take around six hours, depending on the heat, how in shape you are, and how often your group wants to stop to rest or eat.

When did Havasupai Falls reopen?

Havasupai Falls closed in the spring of 2020 at the start of the Covid pandemic, and reopened three years later, in February of 2023.

The reopening has come with challenges, including a flash flood in March which wiped out the campground and left piles of debris in the canyon.

All campers were evacuated safely, with the help of the Havasupai Tribe.  The blue waters remained chocolaty brown for a week, before clearing again.

Can you do a day hike to Havasu Falls?

No.  While it physically may be possible, there’s no point in doing a day hike to Havasu Falls.  With the cost of a permit now approaching $400, it wouldn’t make sense to spend all morning hiking in, just to spend all afternoon hiking out.

Do you need 4×4 / four-wheel-drive to get to the Havasupai Trailhead?

No, Indian Road 18, which runs north from Route 66 in Page Springs, Arizona, is nicely paved.  It may close temporarily during the winter months during snow storms.  Otherwise, there’s no need for a 4×4 to get to the Hualapai Hilltop.

Is there cell signal on the hike to Havasu Falls?

You’ll lose cell signal at the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot, and won’t pick it up again until you reach Little Navajo Falls (after the village of Supai) on the hike.

At times along the way, if you turn “airplane mode” off on your phone, you’ll see an “SOS” at the top of your phone screen.  This means you’ll be able to make an emergency call only.

Can you bring dogs to Havasupai Falls?

Dogs are not allowed, though hikers will see a dog accompany each mule train as it walks through the canyon. Plus Supai is full of dogs running through the yards and streets.

Is Havasupai Falls worth the Hype?

You’ll hear a lot of people say they thought photos of Havasu Falls and the others must have been photoshopped or over-saturated with color… only to realize: the water really is that blue!

For me, a hike to Havasu Falls is worth all the hype, because there’s really no place like it.  It’s a beautiful oasis in the desert southwest.

It’s a challenging few days, but you’ll come away from it having learned and experienced a lot and feeling very accomplished.

Are there snakes on the hike to Havasupai?

Yes, snakes and scorpions are the main animal threats.  You likely won’t see any at all on your visit, but be aware: it’s the desert and they’re around!

What medical care is available on the hike?

The Havasupai Tribe warns visitors: if you’re injured, it’ll take hours to get treatment or transportation out of the canyon.  The financial burden of a helicopter rescue will be passed on to the injured patient.

When did Beyonce shoot a music video at Havasu Falls?

In July of 2019, Beyonce shut down Havasu Falls for several hours to shoot a couple of scenes for a music video.  Her song, “Spirit,” was featured in the newer version of “The Lion King.”

It’s unclear how much she paid the Havasupai Tribe for a helicopter ride in and exclusive access to Havasu Falls.  Tribal leaders praised Beyonce for “advocating for the preservation of water rights around the world.”  They saw her quick visit as a tribute to the natural beauty of their land (even though she didn’t really experience much of it beyond wading into the pool below Havasu Falls).

As you might expect, some visitors were excited by the celebrity drop-in, while others were annoyed that (as paying permit-holders) their visit to Havasupai Falls was disrupted for a day.

Havasu Falls can be seen for just a few seconds in the video for “Spirit.”

While you’re in a really remote area without many people around, you don’t have to worry about getting lost on the hike to Havasu Falls.

Plus, this is just the start of your adventure around Havasupai Falls!   The 11 miles into the campground will likely be matched or topped each day of your visit to other parts of Havasupai Falls.