Backpacking to Havasu Falls, Arizona
Quick View Itinerary
* Note - Tourism to Supai and Havasu Falls is currently suspended.*
Distance: ~20 miles, out and back
Time: 2 days, 3 nights minimum
Difficulty: Moderate (3/5)
Highest Elevation: 5,231 ft
Ascent: 4,724 ft
Descent: 9,174 ft
Day 1: Drive to Hulapai Hilltop to start your hike, then trek to Supai, and on to Havasu Falls Campground. ~ 10 miles
Between First and Final Day: Spend time exploring canyons and falls that are in the area and relaxing at the campground.
Final Day: Hike back to Hulapai Hilltop to end your trip. ~ 10 miles.
Good to Know
Reservations with the Havasupai Tribe are required to visit Havasu Falls. You can make your reservations on their website here: https://www.havasupaireservations.com/
You must stay a minimum of 3 nights in Havasu. This is due to the strenuous nature of the hike in and out. No day hiking is allowed.
If you are unable to carry a fully loaded pack or manage the hike into the village, there are guide services available that can transport you or your gear on horses / mules.
Respect this special place. Pack out all trash, and make an effort to learn about the people that live there before your visit. More information on the Havasupai Tribe can be found here: https://theofficialhavasupaitribe.com/
Flash floods can occur in this area. Understand the risks that these pose, and how to monitor weather and conditions for their approach.
Temperatures in the desert can easily exceed 100ºF. Drink plenty of water, and bring clothing that will help shield you from the sun as well as keep you cool. There is no water available on the trail, so carry at least one gallon per person on the hike.
Keep an eye out for snakes and scorpions.
Hiking shoes or boots are recommended for the hike; water sandals or water shoes are very nice for swimming and hiking along streams.
There are no public health facilities in the area. The only way out of the village quickly is via helicopter.
About Havasu Falls and the Havasupai People
Trekking to Havasu is a dream come true for backpackers. A permit is required to attend this bucket list destination. Permits can be obtained through the Havasupai Village website. The permits are highly coveted and can often take years of waiting to finally work through the queue of requests and be issued to a party.
Deep in the Grand Canyon live the Havasupai People, the sole guardians of the pristine paradise they call Havasu Falls. “Havasu” means “blue-green water”, and “pai” means people in the Havasupai language. As soon as the falls come into sight, it’s easy to see why these indigenous peoples were proud to carry the namesake of their lands. The spectacular waterfalls and isolated community within the Havasupai Indian Reservation attract thousands of visitors each year. The Havasupai are intimately connected to the water and the land. When you enter their land, be respectful - you are entering their home.
The falls are found down river from Supai Village, which is about a 10 mile trek from the starting point at Hulapai Hilltop. The trek goes over desert sand, rocky paths, eventually intersecting with an oasis of green that follows the Havasu Creek, a tributary of the Grand Canyon, to the Supai Village. Because there is no way to access the village and the falls upon arrival, all supplies must be carried in by foot, donkey, or other mode of transportation.
Day 1: Hiking In ~ 10 miles
The trek to Havasu is a beautiful journey of browns, blues, greens, whites, and blacks; large cliffs loom on each side of the trail, and fine sand crunches underneath hiking boots. It seems unlikely that any sign of civilization would be found here. Once Havasu Creek comes into sight, it’s a short distance from there to the village. Wooden signs begin to pop up along the trail, pointing the way. Before long the canyon and trees open up, and the buildings of Havasupai Village come into view.
Once in the village and in the falls, there’s a plethora of sights, sounds, and activities to keep visitors entertained and content. Village stores sell food, drinks, supplies, and more. Dogs wander the village freely, and almost every house in the area has some sort of livestock grazing behind rickety wooden and barbed wire fences. Many families grow and manage their own gardens; corn stalks shoot up from behind houses, and through the center of the village neatly rowed lines of crops take center stage. One striking reminder of the outside world sits dead smack in the middle of the village - a helicopter pad with a modern, high tech helicopter resting on it. Besides following the path to the starting point ten miles back or scaling the canyon walls (not recommended), the helicopter is the only way out of the village.
Beyond the village the river continues to run, and the canyon continues to carve its path downwards. Several falls precede Havasu, building up the excitement to the canyon’s namesake. All of the water in the creek and in all of the falls in the canyon is a vibrant bright blue green, giving it the illusion of being from some fairy tale or made up of a sugary concoction. The creek’s color comes from the large amounts of calcium carbonate in the water that help to form the limestone that lines the creek. This combined with the reflection of the limestone in the creek gives off the blue-green color that the creek and the falls are so famous for.
Camping at the Falls and Exploring the Surrounding Area
Only so many people are allowed in the canyon and to the falls at one time, which is why it can take so long to be issued a permit by the village. Despite these limitations, a good number of visitors can be seen swimming in the blue pond below, jumping off rock cliffs near the falls, and relaxing next to the pond, taking in the scenery.
All of the camping spots are first come first serve, and space near the entrance is extremely limited. Campsites can be spotted all the way through the valley. Hammocks are popular and recommended, as there is a large number of trees that stretch along the creek, their roots digging deep down for moisture in this otherwise dry environment. There is also a pure natural spring that flows conveniently out of the canyon side right in the middle of camp, so freshwater isn’t an issue, and water purifying equipment is not necessarily required, but still recommended.
Generally the weather in the canyon is hot and dry, but rain can and does occur quite often. Flash floods in the Grand Canyon can occur and while they are extremely rare, are incredibly dangerous. When hiking to the village the water line from the previous floods are clearly visible on the canyon walls, giving a firsthand idea of how much water can flow through the narrow channel during a flood. Always check weather conditions and the US National Park Service website before heading out. Hikers assume responsibility for all risks while traveling in the park. Come prepared for hot temperatures - daytime temps can reach up to 115 degrees fahrenheit. No day hiking is allowed, and as mentioned before, permits are required for all backpackers.
There are countless offshoots and falls in the area that you can explore. If you do plan on going off the beaten path, try to bring a map with you as it can be easy to get lost in the slot canyons.
One of the spots that you have to explore and can easily access from the campground is Mooney Falls. Heading downstream from the campground, you’ll reach a drastic cliff that shoots off into space. If you peer over the cliff you’ll get your first glimpse of Mooney. At 200 feet, it’s twice the size of Havasu, and the tallest waterfall in the Grand Canyon. You can get down to the base of the falls via a steep path, with only ladders and chains to aid your descent. Below Mooney are a series of smaller waterfalls and fun caves to explore. Don’t miss out on the out of this world flora and amazing rock formations created by the constant waterflow.
Trekking to Havasu Falls is a dream come true for any backpacker, adventurer, or sightseer. While there are many details that need to be arranged prior to taking the trip of a lifetime, once those are in place, all that is left is to enjoy the red sand, the blue green water, and the journey there and back. The way back will be bittersweet - I can guarantee you won’t quite be ready to head back to your normal life after this experience!
