**Updated for 202o**
Havasu Falls sits atop the bucket list for many hikers from the first time they see a picture of the aqua blue water cascading down red rock walls into the crystal pool below. On the hike, you will see Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls which are some of the most picturesque waterfalls and dramatic scenery found in the Grand Canyon. There is also Supai Village, a remote Indian village that is only accessible by hiking, horseback, or helicopter. Havasupai is roughly translated to mean, “People of the blue-green water”. The Havasupai people are an Indian tribe who have lived here for at least the last 800 years. If you are lucky enough to obtain a permit and view this magical place, you will understand why they have never left.
Table of Contents
2020 Updates
Per the Havasupai Tribe –
all Havasupai tourism remains suspended. It is not currently known when tourism will resume.
As of today, Reservations with dates between March 15, 2020 and July 21, 2020 are considered affected by this closure and are eligible to be rescheduled to the 2021 season.
Holders of affected Reservations will be able to reschedule their Reservation through their account dashboard here:
2019 Updates
- Get ready date – January 8, 2019 – First day to set up an account on HavasupaiReservations.com which is required to create a 2019 campground reservation
- Opening Day: February 1, 2019 at 8:00 AM Arizona Time – First day to get reservations for 2019 season. From the Havasupai Tribe – “As the entire season completely sold out almost instantly on the morning of last year’s Opening Day, if you don’t set up an account in advance you will most likely not be able to secure a reservation for anytime in 2019.”
- 2019 Pricing has just been released SEE QUICK TIPS. These prices include all necessary permits, fees, and taxes.
- All campground reservations will be for 3 nights / 4 days and be online here at HavasupaiReservations.com
- There will be NO PHONE reservations this year.
- The person named on the reservation must be present at the Tourist Check-in Office in the Village of Supai with photo ID
- Flood damage report of Havasu Falls – see details in the next section
Flood Report from 2018 Havasu Flood
This is a first hand report from Jennifer Ruiz (@jenoajetplane, jenonajetplane.com). This report was from a trip in November 2018.
In the summer of 2018 Havasu Falls experienced flash flooding that triggered the evacuation and helicopter rescue of hundreds of tourists on site. Thankfully, as of November 2018, it’s back to business as usual at the Havasupai reservation. The campgrounds show no signs of flooding and the trails are easily accessible. The biggest problem experienced was the movement of boulders on the trail facilitated by the flow of water. While most of the paths have been cleared, it is possible that you’ll run into literal obstacles on your way in and out of the Canyon. Try to follows others and stick to populated paths as much as possible to avoid this. [see picture below]
Quick Facts for Hiking Havasu Falls
- First day to get a camping permit: February 1st, 8 am Arizona time
- First day for Havasupai Lodge reservations: June 1st
- Approximate cost to camping at Havasu Falls: There is a maximum of 4 Days / 3 Nights per reservation (but you are welcome to make multiple back-to-back reservations to extend your stay if those dates are still available).
- Pricing for 2019 is as follows and includes all necessary permits, fees, and taxes:
$100 per person per weekday night
$125 per person per weekend night (Friday/Saturday/Sunday nights).
All reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Link to Online Camping Permits (tip: use this)
- Permit Phone: (928) 448-2121 (good luck with this one)
- Link for Havasupai Lodge Reservations
- Trail Length: 22.1 Miles round trip (note this number can vary wildly depending on which trail(s) you do and if you use the copter. Get ready to hike your A* off)
- Limited groceries and supplies available in Supai Village
- Helicopter and mule rides available at Hualapai Hilltop and Supai Village
Tip 1: Get a Havasu Falls Permit Early
Camping permits for Havasupai Falls are some of the most sought after permits in the country. Due to this fact, obtaining them is extremely difficult, though not entirely impossible. You have to know the system and be willing to act quickly. The camping permits can be obtained each year starting on February 1st.
Before 2017, the only way to get them was to call the Havasupai tribe office via phone over and over and pray that someone picks up the phone. It is not uncommon for the entire year to fill up after the 1st day. Fortunately, since 2017 and beyond there is now an online reservation system where you can enter dates and check for availability. The server was reported to crash several times during the day, so be persistent. I would highly recommend using the website if it is available as using the phone lines can be a painful experience.
Keep in mind that you have to pay in advance for each permit you obtain. Each camping permit and day pass costs approx. $50 per person per day. If you are staying for 3 nights, you should budget around $150 per person for a 3 night stay at current rates. The person who obtained the permit must be present within the party with a valid ID to obtain the permits in the Supai Village (about 8 miles down trail). You can obtain as many permits as are available, however, you must pay in advance (new rule started in 2017).
Tip 2: Consider staying at the Havasupai Lodge
You can also reserve rooms in the Havasupai Lodge which is located the remote village of Supai. Located along the creek between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls, their rooms start at $175 a night, but each room contains 2 queen beds, so you could split the cost among friends (they do charge an extra person fee, FYI). They are cozy and have heating and AC units in the rooms. If you are interested in staying at the lodge, you need to wait until they open for guests June 1st 2019. Call often as the lodge will fill up a year in advance within the 2 days.
Pros: The lodge is conveniently located in the Supai Village which is approx. 2 miles from the campgrounds.
You get to sleep in a bed and eat at the restaurant in the village. There is also a small market in the village. Both accept credit cards. This allows you to not have to pack most camping supplies and travel very light.
Cons: The lodge is inconveniently located further from the Mooney/Beaver falls hike. This adds another 4 miles to the already 8-mile round trip Beaver Falls trek, making Beaver falls a 12-mile round trip hike from the lodge.
Tip 3: Plan to spend the night close by to get an early start
The hot, dry Arizona sun can sap the strength of even experienced hikers. Of course, you would never catch an experienced hiker heading down canyon in the heat of the day. They would have started in the cool morning shade, or even the dark hours before dawn. The hike starts at Haulapai Hilltop, which is 30 miles down a dead-end road that branches off a desolate stretch of Route 66. There are really only four choices on where to stay: camping on Haulapai Hilltop, Grand Canyon Caverns, Peach Springs, or Kingman.
Camping on Haulapai Hilltop: A lot of people camp on Haulapai Hilltop before descending down to Havasu Falls. Why not? You already have your gear with you, right? You have never seen a starry sky until you camped on top a mountain in Arizona.
Pros: You will find a parking spot close to the trailhead, which you’ll really appreciate on the way back. You can also start hiking right away and it’s absolutely free. There are port-a-poties available and water for purchase. NOTE: water will not be available until 9:00 or so because the store is closed so don’t plan on getting an early start AND buying water on at the top.
Cons: This is not comfortable camping. It’s a parking lot. You might be able to pitch your tent in front of your car but there will still be traffic leaving all night long from night hikers returning to their vehicles. It’s also cold and windy up on the mountain top. You are 3000’ higher than the elevation of the campground, which equates to about 15 degrees cooler.
Grand Canyon Caverns: This is a cute, kitschy tourist stop from back when Route 66 was traveled. There is a restaurant cave tour, disc golf, memorabilia to make things interesting. You have your choice between hotel rooms or camping. The Grand Canyon Caverns Inn is the closet hotel to the trailhead from the Arizona side but it ain’t that close. (928) 422-3223
Pros: A real bed, air conditioning and heater, running water, hot showers.
Cons: It’s 35 miles from the trailhead down a 35 mph road to get there. You can beat the heat of the day with a super early start.
Peach Springs: Peach Springs is the closest town to the Havasu Falls Trailhead from the Nevada side. There are some restaurants, a grocery store, gas, and hotels here. The Haulapai Lodge would be our recommendation here. (888) 868-9378
Pros: A real bed, air conditioning and heater, running water, hot showers. (sound familiar)
Cons: It’s 36 miles from the trailhead down a 35 mph road to get there. You can beat the heat of the day with a super early start.
Kingman or Seligman Arizona: These town gets regular traffic and has a large selection of hotels and restaurants to choose from. If you’re coming fro the west, look at Kingman. If you’re coming from the east look at Seligman.
Pros: More selection and better prices. Shorter drive the day before the hike.
Cons: An additional hour or so drive added to an 0-dark 30 start.
Tip 4: Enjoy the hike down
With any luck, your boots will be pounding the ground when the first rays of light shine on Haulapai Hilltop. The trail down starts with a series set of switchbacks. You zig and zag down and impressive, red rock cliff. As far as your eyes can see, the landscape is broken by canyons that were carved by water running into the Grand Canyon and Colorado River for centuries. The switch backs stop, but the hill continues, like a toboggan run dropping you into a dry creek bed about 2000’ below the trailhead.
A multitude of rouge trails cut across the sandy creek as it meanders lazily down the canyon with almost no perceivable elevation change. You do notice the ever-present sand and pretty soon start picking the patches that look like they have solid ground. Solid ground is hard to come by, so you soon make peace with the sand.
Soon, the walls of Haulapia canyon have risen around you and you realize that this would have made a fine hike in its own right. Every now and then, you notice green cottonwood trees extracting water from deep beneath the dry creek. You can tell the water is getting closer to the surface, because the trees are getting bigger and closer together. By then end of the canyon, there is a small trickle of water seeping over the rocks. Hardly a stream and much less a water fall. Just when you begin to doubt the possibility of Havasu Falls existing, you come out into Havasu Creek.
Havasu Creek is flowing with beautiful, clear, cold water and lined with lush, thick cottonwood trees. You have found the source of Havasu Falls. It’s hard to say what’s more beautiful, the rushing creek or the shade of the trees. Up ahead, you see giant towers of limestone towering over irrigated fields. Those spires are called Wii’igliva, or the watchmen, because they stand guard over the village of Supai.
Entering Supai is like a dream. This village has been around longer than Washington DC, farming in the fertile Shangri-La. What makes it even more dreamy? The first house you come to has a sign on the door selling ice cream. Ice cream, ice cold Gatorade, frozen Gatorade and all kinds of stuff that are cold, wet, and sweet. A little bit farther in town is the grocery store, helipad, lodge, and all-important permit office. There is even a restaurant, with decent burritos.
Eight miles down, two more to go. Leaving the village is anticlimactic. You leave the creek bed and all ice cream stops behind you and plod along the red dirt road that always just a little too dusty. The let down doesn’t last long. As soon as you rejoin the creek, you can visit your first waterfall of the day, Upper Falls. After the falls, the trail is gorgeous. You wind along the creek, crossing it twice on wooden bridges. Just when you think it can’t get better, you hear that distinctive sounds of roaring water.
You start climbing down a staircase, but you aren’t noticing your pack anymore or the sand in your feet. All you can see is Havasu Falls cascading off the cliff beside you. It looks just like the pictures, but better. This place is actually real and you can feel the cool mist rising up to you. Just past the falls is Havasu Falls Campground, where you will be spending the next couple days.
Pros: You get to do the hike
Cons: You have to do the hike
Tip 5: Take a helicopter back to the top from Havasu Falls
The helicopter costs $85 per person and includes your packs. They accept cash or credit, but charge an additional 10% fee for using credit. It is a magical 10 mile, 5 minute trip back to the top. I highly recommend it. Keep in mind that most campers are planning to take the helicopter back out. In fact, even though the helicopter starts running around 9:00 am, most people start lining up in the Supai Village around 7:00 am. The list is first come, first serve. The Supai tribe members always get to ride first, then it goes to the list. It is possible that wind conditions or mechanical problems could cause the helicopter to not run, though this rarely occurs. If it does, you can still arrange to have a mule take your packs up. As a general rule, the helicopter will run all day until everyone that pays is taken to the top. It’s a quick trip to the top, but budget a full day to get a ride. This is one slow moving list so be prepared for the worst. Note, the helipad is in Supai, which is still two miles away from the campground. Call ahead to confirm the helicopter is running – (623) 516-2790.
Pros: Fun ride, amazing view
Cons: $$, working with the logistics waiting for your turn to ride.
Tip 6: Let a mule take your pack
If you want to travel as light as possible you can send your heavy gear down ahead of you all the way to Havasu Falls Campground. You just need a water pack and some light snacks for the hike. (Good shoes and hiking socks are a must as you will be walking on gravel for extended periods of time.) The tribe offers mules to take the heavy packs down and conveniently drops them off at the base of the campgrounds. The mules cost approx. $120 and can take 4 packs down, each weighing no more than 40 lbs. You can only reserve the mules within 1 week of your arrival date. You do not have to worry about renting a mule, they don’t run out. Call (928)488-2121 for reservations.
Tip 7: Take side trips
Let’s face it. Even if you used a mule, you worked you ass off to get to Havasu Falls. It would be a shame to leave to quickly. Here are some side trips that are well worth taking in approximate order from up-canyon to down canyon.
- Exploring Navajo Falls: The falls cascade over multiple drops just past Supai Village. Wet trails and hidden routes take you through a maze of waterfalls.
- Swimming beneath Havasu Falls: There is a large pool at the base of Havasu Falls that feels incredible after a hot day hiking
- Descending Mooney Falls: Mooney falls are about 2 miles past Havasu Falls at the other end of the campground. You get to crawl through the rock and descend down some pretty sketch chains and ladders, but it’s totally worth it to see the biggest falls in the canyon and reach the destinations below.
- Playing on Rope Swings: The exact locations of these swings change every season but rest assured somebody has found some way of swinging into the water. One is near the bottom of Mooney Falls. There is also a small cave you can duck into under the waterfall.
- Jumping Beaver Falls: Beaver Falls cascade over several drops creating beautiful calcite formations.
- Climbing Ancient Palm Trees: Arizona is home to distinct native palms. One of these beauties is right on the trail as you continue past Beaver Falls.
- Reaching the Colorado River: If you continue past Beaver Falls, you will eventually connect with the Colorado River, but it adds another 5+ miles of hiking to an already long hiking day.
Pro-Tip: Know what to pack for a day hike and bring a small pack to carry it in.
Tip 8: The perfect Havasu Falls Itinerary
Day 1 – Drive to Havasu Fall. Stay close to Havasu Falls Trailhead (Haulapai Hilltop).
Day 2 (AM) – Hike to Havasu Falls
Day 2 (PM)– Play above Havasu Falls and Navajo Falls
Day 3 – Day hike to Mooney Falls (and continue to Beaver Falls and beyond)
Day 4 – Return to the real world
I would recommend coming in on a Thursday or Friday and returning on a Sunday. Why Sunday? Because the Air West helicopter runs on Sunday year-round from the Supai Village. By the end of the trip, you have probably will have hiked over 30 miles and are likely pretty tired. Taking a helicopter from the Supai Village to the top of the Hualapai Hilltop (10 miles) will sound very appealing by then. Jenn Coleman doesn’t agree on this point. She hiked in and out carrying her pack both ways with one new titanium knee and the other needing to be replaced. Something about old school adventure, finishing what you start, and you kids stay off my lawn.
Weekends are the premium days to be at Havasu Falls so make sure get your permits pronto!
Tip 9: When to go to Havasu Falls
Every season offers something special at Havasu Falls. The winter months offers easier permits, cooler hiking weather (be careful camping on the hilltop), and less crowds. You need to be careful of the summer heat. Make sure you get an early start, carry enough water, and travel fast enough not to get caught in the heat of the day. However, the long days leave a lot of time to play in this wonderland and the heat makes the blue-green water that so beautiful. Spring and fall offer the best hiking weather and most days are warm enough for a little water play.
Below is a map to get you to Havasu Falls and the areas of interst we shared in the post. If you do not see it be sure to refresh the browser 🙂
Is it worth it to go to Havasu Falls?
After reading about how difficult it is to obtain permits and plan this trip, you might ask yourself, why go through all this trouble? Is it really worth it? The short answer is “YES”.
The water from Havasupai arise from an underground spring which has been stored underground for over 30,000 years in limestone caverns. While underground, the water obtains calcium, limestone and magnesium. This causes the water to reflect sunlight and make the water appear amazingly blue.
Hiking the trail to Beaver Falls is like hiking back through time. The canyon is virtually untouched for thousands of years by man. Nature, when given enough time, can produce some of the most beautiful places you will ever see. I’m not sure if this is my favorite all-time hike, but I am certain this place will stay with me long after I leave its hallowed grounds. The pictures are certainly beautiful, but there is no comparison to experiencing it in person.
I personally appreciate the amount of effort needed to see such an amazing place. It makes the entire experience feel more real. You will be tired and sore by the end of the trip. Almost certainly you will be left breathless, not from the hiking, but from the dreamlike scenery that will stay with you for a lifetime.
”Nothing of value comes without being earned.” Michael Jordan
Spencer Smith
Spencer works as a senior software engineer by day. He is a self proclaimed adrenaline junkie. Serving as the president of a local caving group, he enjoys exploring caves, rappelling down waterfalls, cliff jumping and generally anything that involves adventure and danger. He loves to travel but appreciates the beauty of Southern California (and his wife) above all else.
Christina Smith
Spencer’s better half (most of the time) serves as a Guest Ambassador at the Safari Park in San Diego. She also enjoys caving, canyoneering, hiking, and adventure. She is an avid Horror movie fan and frequents horror movie festivals. She is an animal lover and is active in protecting all endangered species (especially the Lemurs in Madagascar).
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A great detailed post with useful tips for hiking the region. We love the landscape of this area of the US, it is so different to what we are used to in Europe. “People of the blue-green water” is a perfect description of the area and the tribe who live there. Great pics but as you mention there is ‘no comparison to experiencing it in person.’
I have always met quite a few Europeans hiking out west just because it’s so different. Boston, New York, Philadelphia are fine cities but you can see that in Europe. Few things world wide compare to the Grand Canyon.
Oh this is SO beautiful! We’ve never heard of Havasu Falls, and since we both love hiking and exploring National Parks, we’ll definitely put this on our bucket list! Thanks for all the useful tips, we like the idea of taking a helicopter back to the top. Otherwise, we’ll have to keep fit and do more gym now before going there! haha..
There are some really cool places in the US that aren’t National Parks. Havasu Falls is Indian land, you don’t enter the National Park until you pass Beaver Falls.
What a beautiful area of Arizona. I have not spent much time here and want to spend more in this state. Great tips on the permits, as I need to plan for those when I schedule a visit. I’m all about a hike that seems untouched and it looks like you found one.
I don’t know if I would say untouched. The campground is almost always full, but the tribe does a great job of keeping it clean and preserved. You will be seeing people all the way down until you get past Beaver Falls. The trick with Havasu Falls is to use the infrastructure (mules, helicopters, ice cream stands, fresh water in the campgrounds, great composting toilets, etc) to your advantage.
You should check into reserving the lodge in the village and taking the helicopter both ways. You can make day hikes out of the village (it’s only 2 miles from Havasu Falls), eat at restaurants for breakfast and dinner (pack a lunch so for the trail), and make it back to sleep in a bed at night. You’ll pay just under $200 for the helicopter both ways, but since you can drive in from San Diego, it’s like paying for airfare (a lot like it). You will see the most exotic landscape you could imagine on a five day trip. The trick is getting those reservations for the lodge. A shorter version of this is to stay at the Grand Canyon Caverns and they offer a fly in / fly out same day hike. Combine this with a Route 66 escape / Phoenix / Sedona / Vegas and you could have something.
A lot of people think that way so make sure you book early for those rooms. They go quickly,
A lot of people go mules down and copter up so they can really focus on the hiking.
Just get the permits and you’ll be surprised how motivated you are for training. Worse comes to worse, you use mules and/or the helicopter to make the trip work for you.
It’s hard to see Havasu Falls pictures and not put it on the bucket list.
The phone system used to be a pain, and you always felt a little uneasy hiking down, like they might have left you off the list. The guy at the counter seemed… gruff. It was a real relief to get the permit in hand and attach it to your pack. The on-line system makes it easier for everybody.
You guys are such hearty adventurers! That terrain doesn’t look very easy to navigate either, especially if distracted with the surrounding beauty. But I love the helicopter return option. Very affordable.
The trail condition is pretty good actually. Haulapai Wash is a little sandy. It’s alright as long as you aren’t stuck out in the heat of the day.
Hiking the Havasu Falls is definitely on my bucket list. I will be looking back over this article to make sure I follow it to the T. Thanks for such a full load of info.
Cool, let us know if you get a chance to check it off. We would love to see your pictures.
Such a great guide for this beautiful place! The details and tips are really helpful, from trying to reserve permits in the first place to camping in the cold (the desert can get downright frigid). What a great place to experience some of the most historic and cultural parts of the US!
What makes the camping really difficult is that camping at the parking lot windy and much higher than the campground in the sheltered stream. Bring extra gear that you plan on leaving in the car if you’re camping out.
I actually wanted my kids to do a science fair project on the calcium saturation in the creek as it made its way down to the Colorado. After Beaver Falls, the water isn’t a blue, which I always thought indicated that there wasn’t as much dissolved calcium.
Good luck. Let us know how it goes. We would love to hear your stories.
There are a lot of logistics to consider. The most important piece is getting the reservations. You’ll find you are a lot more motivated to get in hiking shape once you drop the dough. With a little motivation, you might find that you surprise yourself.
I haven’t done a whole lot of hiking, but I would be keen to get into it more so I can conquer Havasu Falls! Your photos are amazing! I had no idea how difficult it is to get a permit, so the tips you provided are really helpful. The passes are not cheap, but I suppose those views are worth it. Thanks for listing the pros and cons of the accommodation options too – I would have automatically picked the lodge, but the other options have some good points! And that helicopter ride is worth every cent! I would love to do the 4-day itinerary and will save this for future travels!
Thank you. This is certainly not budget camping, but it is an experience you will not soon forget.
Well… Hello, Havasu Falls! As portuguese, it’s the first time I’m reading this and, at first, I wasn’t sure where it was because of the name. It is gorgeous! Wow… This is why I’m looking forward to visit all the states from the US. There’s so many beautiful things that you don’t know about… Great post!
Thank you. It was about three passes through editing I added the map, just in case people haven’t heard of Havasu Falls. Thank you for validating my decision. There are some fantastic parks out west that a lot of Europeans come over and hike. You could put a trip together that would justify the long flight for sure. The closest airport one would fly into would be Las Vegas or Phoenix.
We’ve done a houseboat on Lake Havasu but have never hiked the falls. I’m not much of a camper so I’d probably opt to stay at the lodge. Such a bummer that they aren’t open until the summer when it’s brutally hot. After that long hike, I definitely would do the helicopter ride back to the top.
They are open year round at the lodge but fill up quickly. The reservations open in the summer. The fill up quick enough I would plan registering opening morning to make sure I get a spot.
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Houseboat on Lake Havasu sounds like a lot of fun. That is high on our to-do list. The funny thing is that Lake Havsu is below Kingman, which is about three hours from the trailhead. The names are the same but they aren’t that close to each other.
Thanks. It’s even more amazing in person. You really should check it out. It’s an amazing adventure.
Great tips. I’ve always wanted to hike into the canyon. What an amazing experience this must be. All I have to do now is to talk my boys into a challenging hike. 🙂
This is one of the best support hikes into the canyon. You can see something amazing without having to hike all the way down to the Colorado River.
Wow, your pictures of the waterfalls are quite spectacular! Being a lover of mountains and flowing waters, I’d love to hike those falls. Securing permits sounds a bit daunting but spending a week there should be well worth all the trouble.
It’s worth it for sure, especially with the new on-line reservations. You just need to make sure your mates are a little flexible so you can find a time that works and plan well ahead.
Hello Brooke. Thanks for the report on the mules. We have heard some hubbub about that but good to have people reporting first hand they are alright. I love how you can fall asleep to the sounds of the creek from almost every campsite at Havasu Falls. Great beta on the fry bread too. Our authors sent their packs down on the mule and hiked with just day packs that made it a lot easier. I always went with a full pack both directions, which isn’t easy. The last uphill heading out of Supai Village, before Navajo Falls is a gut check. Cool story with the hiking stick. The best souvenirs have a way of finding you. One time, I was went to Lucha Libre in Tijuana and couldn’t bring myself to buy a mask. Nothing felt right. Then, during the match, one of the luchadores through me a mask. It’s hung with pride in our living room today.
Did you go to Ohio State? I got my undergraduate degree there and spent kindergarten through college in Upper Arlington. The rim of the Grand Canyon is awesome. Looking over the hilltop at Havasu trail head is close, but it doesn’t quite compare. You really go for the waterfalls. It’s amazing how far down the canyon you have to hike to get anywhere. Indian Gardens is probably the closest “point” but it the view doesn’t change until you get past there and to Lookout Point.
Before you go, hit us up. We can help you setup a great two week trip to the Southwest.
Technically, you could grab a helicopter both ways 😉
We should take you out into the wild sometime. We can take you canoe camping in the Okefenokee Swamp. Here is the clip from the website…. “A paddling trip through the Okefenokee is an experience that will be remembered for a lifetime. Alligators glide through tea-colored water…” Camping in an Alligator filled swamp should be really cool for your first multi-day trip. (actually, a friend of mine said this was the best trip ever)
Beautiful imagery. I love the way you painted a picture with your words.
We will have to exchange Arizona stories some time. I lived in Tucson for 18 years and Jenn lived there five years. Hopefully, we have been to some of the same places.
Thanks for the great tips! Does the hellicopter only run on Sundays?
I believe it flies on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. You’re not guaranteed a ride out on the helicopter, regardless of when you show up, but your chances are a lot better if you show up early. Call ahead to confirm the copter is running- (623) 516-2790.
Shoes first. It depends on if you’re sending your pack down or carrying a 50+ lb pack. If you are carrying a pack, consider getting a hiking boot with ankle support. If you’re not, I really like low top hikers, but make sure your get a good Vibram sole. You will want the extra grip if you are heading below Mooney Falls. Brands are specific to your foot. How much arch support you like or if you pronate or the sort. If you’re really new, consider going to a brick and mortar store to try several pairs and see which one fits you the best. Make sure you have plenty of room in your toe box so you don’t jam your toes up.
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For socks, I always recommend a good tech fabric wicking sock. It could by synthetic or bamboo, but avoid cotton as it collects moisture and leads to blisters. There is a fair amount of sand on the trail so you will want a mid calf sock at least to keep your feet cleaner. I like to hike with two pairs of socks accessible and switch back and forth during the trip. This gives you a chance to get all the sand clear and let the pair of socks you just took off dry. You can find a way to hang them on your pack to get lots of air and a little sun.
I would also recommend taking a pair of sandals down with you. You will wind up hiking around the campground a bit, going to the spring house, out house, playing in the creek, or visiting Havasu Falls. Getting your feet free of foot jail will feel like heaven and it’s a lot more convenient than lacing up your boots again. Also, in case of blisters, you have another pair of shoes with a completely different rub point.
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Final footwear advice, get moleskin and use it at the first sign of a hot spot. It’s a lot easier to prevent a blister than treat one.
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Feel free to ask anything else.
I saw that the tickets just went out for this year, I can’t believe the work that goes into getting a permit! I love nature, but I don’t know that I’d be able to hike the 20 miles to get there lol it seems so intense!
I bet you could hang. Just make sure you get good gear before you go and get some help with planning. Getting an early start is key.
all of your tips are great and safe for hiking .. all of your clicks and words sketching the beauty of mountains and waterfall in my mind its really lovely to imagine but I hope its very interesting to do al of this a am so excited to experienced it..
I’ve been looking at making this trip for a couple years now. We have 2 boys ages 8&11 now. I know they suggest no young children, but I haven’t found what they consider young children yet. I also have been hesitant because of the possibility of drop offs on the hike. We are all terrified of heights and want to be sure there are none of those places that we would encounter that situation. The switchbacks are where I assume we would run into that issue.
This is a complex issue because not all children handle themselves outdoors the same. First off, you have about an 11-mile hike with 2000′ of elevation change to reach the falls through very hot and dry country. There’s a good window to get down every day but you need to get the group up and going on time and maintain your pace on the hike or the heat becomes an issue. Hopefully, you’re solid hikers and are good at keeping schedules, pace, and bringing enough water.
I have gone backpacking with my kids a lot, and you wind up having the adult packs extra heavy. In Havasu, you can send packs down by mule or helicopter to lighten the load. The mules go all the way to the campground, which is about 2-miles past the village and the helicopter only goes to the village. so you’ll be picking up the bags there. One thing I have done in the past is to have my youngest and another adult fly down with two heavy packs, which lightened the load and we met back up in the village. However, if you’re terrified of heights, taking a helicopter ride through a canyon might not be your thing. It’s visually stimulating to say the least, which could be good or bad, depending on your disposition. Another thing to note if you are sending gear down is that they don’t start operations until about 8 or 9 am, which is a fairly late start for hiking. You might consider splitting the group with an adult and kids leaving early and a rear guard getting the gear sent down and braving the heat.
Finally, the question about drop offs… The first 1500′ vertical drop or so working down from the hilltop really isn’t bad by any objective standard. Since you’re going to be spending the night on the hilltop, you can scout in the daytime and see what you think. The first 1/4 mile or so is the most intense part of the trail so you’ll be able to judge it right away. If it tickles your pucker factor, you can always hike it before first light with headlights (which isn’t a bad idea anyway) so you don’t have the visuals. Once you traverse the first 1/2 miles off the hilltop, you’re on a straight forward set of switchbacks down to Cataract Canyon. From there, you’re in canyons the entire way until you reach Havasu Falls, which is the entrance to the camping area. (Note, be sure to stop for ice cream in the village with kids :)) The switchbacks next to Havasu Falls may trigger acrophobia, but it didn’t feel objectively bad or exposed to me. Plus, by that time, I was so excited to get to the camp there was nothing but good feelings seeing the falls.
Now, the falls on the other side of the campground, Mooney Falls, are terrifying. If you have any fear of heights, you will not be heading down these. There are exposed climbs with sketchy chains in a couple of sections and other things that will surely set you off. The other big thing about Mooney Falls is that you can easily walk to the top of the cliff there. You need to know that your kids will not get too close to the edge. There’s no reason to walk to the cliff, but certainly there’s a possibility. The entire campground is above Mooney Falls, so you don’t have to cross this area, but I would imagine that you would have difficulty if you wanted to take optional day hikes to explore Mooney Falls or below (Beaver Falls, Green Room, Colorado River, etc.).
Hope this helps, it’s a long way to say it depends on how good of hikers (and listeners) your kids are and how terrifying your fears are.