Reservation9/10
Havasupai Lodge
Rooms in Supai Village, two miles above the falls. Sleeps up to four with privat...
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ReservationOvernightVery High Demand
Havasupai Campground Permit
Three nights beside the most famous waterfalls in America. The 10-mile hike to the campground passes Supai Village and ends between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls, with turquoise water everywhere you look.
“Ten miles down a side canyon of the Grand Canyon to a campground strung between two waterfalls, on land that belongs to the Havasupai Tribe and is booked through nobody but them.”
Watch the dates you'd take— one alert covers all of them
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Enchantments Core Zone were gone within 10 minutes.
Havasupai Falls Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelExtremely High10/10
SeasonFebruary 1, 8:00 a.m. Arizona time - 2026 on-sale - November 30
Cost$455 per person for 3 nights
Max Group Size12 people
Havasupai Falls Permit Facts
- As of August 2026, Havasupai Falls in Havasupai Indian Reservation, National Parks requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Havasupai Falls is one of the most competitive permits in the United States, rating 10/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The permit season for Havasupai Falls runs February 1, 8:00 a.m. Arizona time - 2026 on-sale through November 30.
- The Havasupai Falls route covers 10 miles with 2,400 feet of elevation gain, rated strenuous.
- Cancelled Havasupai Falls permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Key Dates
SeasonFebruary 1, 8:00 a.m. Arizona time - 2026 on-sale - November 30
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level10/10
LocationHavasupai Reservation, Grand Canyon
Pro Tips
- •Set up your havasupaireservations.com account and save payment details before the on-sale date. You add one permit at a time and re-check the dates on every add, so fumbling the process costs you the whole trip.
- •Name your one or two alternate trip leaders when you book. They cannot be added or changed later, and without one of you at check-in the booking is void.
- •Cancellations are the whole game after opening day. The 90-day refund line is when most of them happen, so that is when dates come back.
- •Fill the tank before Indian Road 18. The nearest gas is 70-90 miles from the trailhead and the Tribe's own advice is fuel for 200 miles.
- •Pack food in rodent-proof containers even though there are no bears. The Tribe warns that critters will chew through packs and tents.
- •Start both hiking days before sunrise in summer. Eight shadeless miles in afternoon heat is how people end up needing a helicopter they have to pay for.
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
10 miles
Elevation Gain
2,400 ft
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
4 days / 3 nights (fixed)
Difficulty
StrenuousHighlights
- •Fixed 4 days / 3 nights - there is no other length of stay
- •8 miles from Hualapai Hilltop to Supai Village, then 2 more to the campground
- •5,200 feet at the trailhead down to 3,205 feet at the village
- •No shade and no water for the first 8 miles
- •Open camping along Havasu Creek - the Tribe's own instruction is to pitch anywhere in the designated area
- •Creek water sits around 70°F year-round
- •No public medical facilities in Supai Village and no organised rescue teams
- •No reliable WiFi or cell reception anywhere, including the campground
Best Time to Visit
The Tribe's own line is that the canyon is worth seeing at any time of year, and that cooler months are better for hiking while warmer months are better for being in the water - as long as you hike in and out early in the day. Peak season is May to September, when Supai can pass 100°F and also drop into the 50s at night. Shoulder months are cold and can snow. July through September is monsoon season, with a real flash-flood risk.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Heat. Peak season temperatures well over 100°F on a trail with no shade and no water for 8 miles
- !Flash flooding during the July-September monsoon. The Tribe's instruction is to get to high ground immediately, and never to hike past the top of Mooney Falls or into narrow canyon in rain
- !No public medical facilities in Supai Village and no trained emergency rescue teams; evacuation can take hours or days and is at your own cost
- !The Mooney Falls descent is chains, ladders and wet travertine
- !Rodents in the campground that will destroy gear to reach food
- !No cell service to call for help from most of the reservation
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
⚠️
Backcountry Tips
- Today: Extreme heat (105°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- UV index 8. High altitude sun is intense—sunscreen and hat essential.
- Tomorrow: Extreme heat (107°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
☀️
105°
73°
Wed
☁️
107°
82°
Thu
🌧️
107°
79°
22%
Fri
🌧️
100°
76°
53%
Sat
☁️
100°
78°
Sun
🌧️
103°
75°
42%
Mon
🌧️
102°
79°
28%
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
1
Create a HavasupaiReservations.com account
Sign up at HavasupaiReservations.com if you don't have an account. Have your payment info ready.
2
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
4
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Learn More
When to Go
Peak: May-SeptemberShoulder: March-April and October-November
Conditions
Warming but still manageable on the trail. Cold nights are still possible in the canyon.
Crowd Level
HighAdvantages
- +Hiking temperatures are still reasonable at midday
- +Creek is full
- +Best balance of water temperature and trail comfort
Challenges
- !Dates closest to the February on-sale go first
- !Nights can still be cold
- !Nothing to shelter under if weather turns on the trail
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand4/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill2/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk3/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment4/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Hikers who can carry a three-night pack 10 miles in desert heat and get themselves back out. The trail is obvious; the difficulty is heat, distance and the fact that nobody is coming to help quickly.
Recommended Experience
One previous 10-mile day with a full pack, in heat. Add a plan for what happens if someone in your group cannot walk out.
Not Recommended For
Young children - the Tribe explicitly does not recommend bringing them. Anyone who needs accessible terrain, anyone relying on service animals, and anyone who cannot manage a chain-and-ladder descent should skip Mooney at minimum.
About This Permit
Havasupai is a tribal permit, not a federal one. Every booking is sold by the Havasupai Tribe at havasupaireservations.com, every booking is a fixed 4 days / 3 nights, and campground permits are priced per person - $455 for 2026, including all permits, fees and taxes. A single campground booking can hold up to 12 people.
The hike is 8 miles from Hualapai Hilltop at 5,200 feet down to Supai Village at 3,205 feet, then another 2 miles to the campground. There is no shade and no water for the first 8 miles. The 2026 season went on sale February 1 at 8:00 a.m. Arizona time.
There is no lottery and no transfer board. Reselling or transferring a booking is prohibited outright, and the Tribe enforces it with cancellation and a permanent ban. Cancellations go back through the Tribe: at least 90 days out you get 50% back, and inside 90 days nothing is refundable, which is what puts dates back into circulation through the season. Watching the Tribe's public booking calendar for those returning dates is the only route in after opening day.
The Experience
Why It Matters
This is not a national park permit and it does not behave like one. The Havasupai Tribe is a federally recognised sovereign nation and it sells every permit itself, through its own booking system, under its own rules. There is no lottery, no Recreation.gov, no transfer board, and reselling a booking is prohibited outright. Every visit is a fixed four-day, three-night block, and the Tribe's booking terms are the only rules that apply.
The Route
The trail starts at Hualapai Hilltop at 5,200 feet, at the end of Indian Road 18. It drops through switchbacks into the wash and follows it 8 miles to Supai Village at 3,205 feet, where the lodge, the tourist office and the only supplies are. The campground is another 2 miles down the main trail, past Havasu Falls.
The campground itself is an open stretch along Havasu Creek with no assigned sites - the Tribe's description is to pitch anywhere in the designated area. Mooney Falls is at the far end, reached by a chain-and-ladder descent through a travertine tunnel. Beaver Falls is further down; Fiftyfoot and Little Navajo are upstream toward the village.
Walking out is the same 10 miles in reverse with roughly 2,000 feet of climbing back to Hilltop, which is why almost everyone starts before dawn.
The Feeling
The first eight miles are dry, exposed switchbacks and gravel wash with no shade and no water, and then you walk into Supai Village and the creek is suddenly there - the same improbable turquoise in every photo you have seen, running through red rock. Two more miles and you are at the campground, pitched somewhere between Havasu Falls and the top of Mooney. The water sits at about 70 degrees all year, which is the reason people come back.
Trailhead Information
Hualapai Hilltop
5,200 ft elevationThe only trailhead. 5,200 feet, at the end of Indian Road 18, roughly 60 miles from the Route 66 turnoff.
Restrooms
No water
No Service
Parking
Tourist parking is separate from the tribal member lot and is limited; overflow parks along Indian Road 18. Register every vehicle's plate at check-in to get a parking pass. RV parking is tight and turning around on the way out can be difficult.
Getting There
Indian Road 18 is paved but open range - plan at least 1.5 hours for that section. Check in first at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn.
Nearest Services
Nearest gas is 70-90 miles away, in Peach Springs or Seligman. The Tribe advises carrying fuel for at least 200 miles before you start down Indian Road 18.
Notes
There is no public transport to the trailhead and no reliable cell reception on the road or in the canyon.
Rules & Regulations
- •Permits are required for all visitors, and every visit must be booked before arrival
- •A booking is only valid if the original purchaser or one of the two named Potential Alternate Trip Leaders is present at check-in with photo ID
- •Alternate trip leaders cannot be named or changed after booking
- •Reselling or transferring a booking, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited - penalties include cancellation without refund and a permanent ban
- •Children 6 and under are free with a valid permit holder; 7 and older need a paid permit
- •Pets, service animals and privately owned horses are not allowed anywhere on the reservation
- •Everything you carry in must come back out, including partly used fuel canisters and gear
- •Cancellations 90+ days before your start date get a 50% refund; inside 90 days nothing is refundable
- •The Havasupai Tribal Court has sole jurisdiction over anything arising from a booking or permit
Gear Checklist
Required
- Enough water for 8 waterless miles each way, plus a filter - there is drinking water in Supai Village and a spring at the campground, and the Tribe says to treat everything else
- Sun protection for a fully exposed desert trail: long sleeves, long pants, sun hat
- Tent or hammock and a sleeping pad
- A bear canister or odour-proof containers - there are no bears, but the Tribe warns that rodents will chew through a pack or tent to reach food
- Headlamp, ideally with a red beam, for pre-dawn starts and camp at night
- Government-issued photo ID and the licence plate number of the vehicle you are parking at Hilltop
Recommended
- Trekking poles for the switchbacks
- A duffel to protect your pack if you use the $400 round-trip pack mule service
- Battery pack or solar charger - there is no electricity at the campground
- Water shoes for the creek crossings below Mooney
- Freeze-dried meals you can rehydrate cold, so you can leave the stove behind
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Havasupai Falls
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Key Landmarks
↑
2,400ft
Gain↓
2,400ft
Loss⛰️
5,200ft
High📏
10.0mi
Distance📐
—%
Avg GradeClick on a marker to view details•6 landmarks
Landmarks (6)
Havasupai Falls FAQ
How do I get a Havasupai permit?
Only from the Havasupai Tribe, at havasupaireservations.com. The 2026 season went on sale February 1 at 8:00 a.m. Arizona time. Every booking is a fixed 4 days / 3 nights, campground permits are $455 per person including all fees and taxes, and one booking can hold up to 12 people.
Is there a Havasupai permit lottery?
No. Permits are sold directly by the Tribe on the opening date. There is no lottery and no transfer board, and reselling or transferring a booking in whole or in part is strictly prohibited - the penalty includes cancellation with no refund and a permanent ban from Havasupai.
Can I still get a Havasupai permit after opening day?
Through cancellations. The Tribe refunds 50% for cancellations made at least 90 days before your start date and nothing inside 90 days, so people give dates up throughout the season. Those dates go back through the Tribe's own booking system, which is why watching the calendar is the only way in once opening day is over.
How much does a Havasupai permit cost in 2026?
$455 per person for 3 nights at the campground, or $2,277 per lodge room for 3 nights covering up to four people. Pack mules are $400 round trip per mule. Children 6 and under are free with a valid permit holder; 7 and older need a paid permit.
How long is the hike to Havasu Falls?
8 miles from Hualapai Hilltop to Supai Village, then 2 more miles to the campground - 10 miles each way. Hilltop is at 5,200 feet and the village is at 3,205 feet. There is no shade and no water until you reach the village.
What is the Havasupai cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be requested at least 90 days before your start date to get a 50% refund of the permit fee, excluding any early access fee, and each permit has to be cancelled individually. Inside 90 days nothing is refundable, with no exceptions for weather, illness or travel problems.
Can I bring a dog or a service animal to Havasupai?
No. The Tribe does not allow pets, service animals or privately owned horses anywhere on the Havasupai Reservation, including the trail, the campground, the lodge and the village.
Is there cell service or medical help at Havasupai?
No to both, effectively. Most of the reservation has no reliable WiFi or cell reception, including the campground and lodge. There are no public medical facilities in Supai Village and no trained emergency rescue teams; evacuation can take hours or days, costs a lot, and only the injured person goes.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Havasu Falls holds direct light for only a short window mid-morning; the canyon walls take it away early. Mooney is better in flat light because the spray blows constantly.
Best Light
Overcast is your friend here. The turquoise reads truer without hard sun and blown highlights on the travertine.
Beat the Crowds
Day 2 and day 3 are the busy days at Havasu Falls. Shoot it on your arrival afternoon or your departure morning, and do Mooney and Beaver in the middle of your stay.
Classic Shots
- 📍Havasu Falls from the overlook on the trail just above the campground
- 📍The chain-and-ladder descent at Mooney Falls, shot from the travertine tunnel
- 📍Beaver Falls terraces on a day hike downstream
- 📍Havasu Creek running through the campground at first light
- 📍The switchbacks below Hualapai Hilltop, looking back up at dawn
Can't Get a Havasupai Falls Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Havasupai Lodge
Similar ExperienceRooms in Supai Village on the same booking system - two miles above the campground, with beds, a private bathroom and no tent to carry.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
$2,277 per room for 3 nights sleeping four is about $569 each against $455 for a campground permit - and no tent, pad, stove or food to carry. You are 2 miles above the falls instead of camped between them.
Bright Angel Campground
Similar ExperienceThe other famous water-at-the-bottom-of-the-canyon trip: camp beside Bright Angel Creek at the Colorado River, on a national park permit.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
A monthly lottery instead of a same-day sellout, and $15 a night instead of $455 for the trip. Different canyon, no waterfalls, and a 4,380-foot climb out.
Grand Canyon rim-to-rim
Same AreaThe corridor crossing on the national park side of the Grand Canyon, 23.5 miles rim to rim.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Far more permit inventory and a monthly lottery you can enter repeatedly. No turquoise water, and you cannot reach the Havasupai Reservation from a park permit - the Tribe requires its own.
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