Supai, Arizona
Havasupai Falls
Turquoise waterfalls deep inside the Grand Canyon.
Closures & alerts
Checking official closures and alerts…
Straight from the managing agency, but postings lag. Always call or check the park page the week you go.
Hard
Difficulty
20 mi
Distance
2,400 ft
Elevation
4.5 h
Drive time
Mar – May, Sep – Oct
Best season
Trail map
Trail to take
Havasupai Falls — 20 mi · Hard
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Overview
Ten miles of red rock and cottonwood shade drop you into a side canyon where mineral-rich water runs an impossible blue. You camp between Havasu and Mooney Falls and spend your days barefoot in travertine pools.
Permits: Reservation required — Havasupai Tribe lottery, February each year.
Where to get your permit
- Havasupai Reservations (tribe)
Lottery opens each February — the only official seller.
Fees, lottery dates and quotas change every season — confirm on the agency page before you plan around them.
Where to camp or stay
- Havasupai campground (with reservation)
Campground or lodge is bundled with your permit.
Popular sites open on a booking window months ahead and sell out fast.
Highlights
Havasu Falls at first light before anyone else is awake
The chain-and-ladder descent to Mooney Falls
Beaver Falls swim traverse
Cottonwood-shaded campground along the creek
Suggested itinerary
Day 1
Hilltop to camp
Start at dawn, 10 miles down through Hualapai Canyon, set up camp by early afternoon, sunset at Havasu Falls.
Day 2
Mooney and Beaver
Full day downstream — descend Mooney, wade the creek crossings to Beaver Falls, return by late afternoon.
Day 3
Slow morning, hike out
Coffee at the creek, break camp, climb the switchbacks in the cool of early morning.
Packing list
Checked against your gear closet — 8 items to sort out.
- Backpacking pack 55L+
- Water filter
- Trail runners + water shoes
- Sun hoodie
- Sleeping bag 30F
- Lightweight tent
- Headlamp
- Electrolytes
Add gear for this trip
Suggestions shift with the trip length, activities and the forecast above.
3 L
Per person, per day
2 L
Heaviest carry
4.4 lb
Water weight (2.2 lb/L)
4.4 lb
Gear 0.0 lb + water
- Sources unconfirmed — this assumes one mid-day refill. Check conditions before you go.
Food plan
- Breakfast: instant oats + coffee
- Lunch: tortillas, hard salami, cheese
- Dinner: two freeze-dried meals + ramen
- Snacks: 300 cal/hour of hiking
Weather & conditions
Next few days
National Weather Service
Alerts & notices
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Tribal · Havasupai Tribe — Havasupai Tourism
- • Flash flood protocol in monsoon season — camp above the creek benches.
- • Reservations are checked at Hilltop; no walk-ins.
Land-manager notices are curated; the Forest Service and Park Service don't publish an open alerts feed, so confirm on the official page before you drive.
Nearby camping
Gear recommendations
Know before you go. Routes, distances, elevation and conditions shown here are estimates and may be inaccurate or out of date. Trail conditions change, and closures happen. Check with the managing land agency, carry a topographic map and compass or GPS, tell someone your plans, and know your limits — you're responsible for your own safety in the outdoors.