Hike to Havasu Falls: Your Ultimate Planning Guide and Camping Tips

The hike to Havasu Falls is the adventure of a lifetime. In this post, I’ll share the best way to prepare for your hike and camping tips based on our own experience. Havasu Falls’ remote location and competitive permit system make it a popular bucket-list destination for hikers all over the world. Consider yourself lucky to visit this special place.

Congratulations! You did it! You’re going to Havasupai! Havasu Creek is recognized for its turquoise blue water, as much as the Grand Canyon is known for its stunning orange cliffs. Put them together, and you have the most mind-blowingly beautiful place in the U.S. Technically, Havasupai is in the Grand Canyon. However, it is not within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park.

Now that you have your permit to hike to Havasu Falls, continue reading what we describe as must-knows for planning your trip. After our backpacking and hiking experience in Havasupai, we’ll cover everything that made our trip go seamlessly.

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Preparation Tips Before Your Hike to Havasu Falls

1. Train for your hike. If you are not an experienced hiker, the hike to Havasu Falls can be strenuous. Once you reach the campground, the days ahead are still packed with optional hikes. The hike out on your departure date is equivalent to climbing up the Empire State Building. Instead of taking steps, it’s on rocky, sandy terrain with switchbacks for the last mile. Two months before our trip, I sprained my ankle so badly that the first thing I thought about was my hike to Havasu Falls. To prevent myself from getting out of shape, I started with low-impact workouts like an exercise bike. Eventually, I began regularly training using a stair climber to get back into shape. Try taking long 6-8 mile hikes often and long walks with a weighted vest or loaded backpack. 

2. Book your flight. From Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, it is 225 miles to the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot. Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, to the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot is 260 miles. *We flew into Vegas from New York. 

3. Book your rental vehicle. You will need a rental car to reach the parking lot for the trailhead. Or even better, try renting a campervan! There are rental companies in Las Vegas and Phoenix close to the airport. We have used Escape Campervans and Indie Campers, with locations in both cities. 

4. Book a hotel or campsite. Spend the night at a campground or hotel along Route 66 the night before your permit entry date. A good night’s sleep before your early rise is needed before your long hike to Havasu Falls! Las Vegas to the trailhead is a 3.5-4 hour drive. From Phoenix, the drive is 4.5 hours. Car camping at the trailhead is now prohibited. (We got lucky with that back in 2019!) 

5. Stock up on food and water. A 2-3 hour drive from the airport will bring you to Kingman, Arizona. If you forgot anything before your hike to Havasu Falls, there is a Walmart here. Shop for any last-minute needs before your camping trip.

Getting to the Hualapai HilltopTrailhead

The Parking lot for the trailhead to begin your hike to Havasu Falls is at the end of Indian Road 18. Seven miles east of Peach Springs, Arizona, there is a turnoff from Route 66 to Indian Road 18. The drive on Indian Road 18 to the Hualapai Hilltop Parking Lot is 60 miles. The road is paved but has many animal crossings and cattle grids, so drive cautiously. There is no scenery on the long road to the parking lot, just flat and open space in every direction. It’s almost hard to believe you’re driving toward this turquoise-blue water-filled oasis. It is about a 1.5-2 hour drive on this road to reach the trailhead. So take a bathroom break in Peach Springs and gas up your vehicle before you hike to Havasu Falls!

Distance to trailhead from:

• Las Vegas: 220 miles about 3.5 hours
• Phoenix: 260 miles about 4.5 hour
• Flagstaff: 165 miles about 2.5 hours
• Sedona: 190 miles about 3.5 hours
• Peach Springs: 70 miles just over one hour
• Seligman: 90 miles about 1.5 hours
• South Rim of the Grand Canyon: 190 miles about 3.5 hours

Where to Stay Before Your Hike to Havasu Falls

You will need to pick up your permit at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, so this is a great option. But 200 other campers might have the same idea, so it’s good to have options. *(Note that there is no fuel here.)

Hotels/Campgrounds

• Peach Springs, AZ:  Hualapai Lodge, Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, Diamond Creek Campground (permit required)
• Seligman, AZ:  The Postcard Motel, KOA
• You can also find a few places to camp nearby using Hipcamp!

We slept in our campervan at the trailhead the night before our hike to Havasu Falls, but that is no longer permitted. Get more information on Traveling by Campervan Rentals on this post.

A Checklist Before Your Drive to Hualapai HilltopTrailhead

• Completed paperwork/entrance form
• Campground reservation confirmation
• Permit
• Photo ID
• Photo of License Plate Number
• Wristbands
• Bag tags
• Health insurance card
• All hiking/backpacking gear
• A full tank of gas
• Food for 3 nights/4 days
• One gallon of water per person
• Dispose of any alcohol and marijuana (double-check if you are traveling in a camper)

Read my post Havasu Falls Permit: Your Complete Checklist Before The Hike for more details.

Important Things To Know Before and During Your Hike to Havasu Falls

• Mules and horses always have the right of way.
• You cannot begin your hike to Havasu Falls before 5 am or after sunset. (However, I recommend starting at 5:01 am in the summer months.)
• The tribe does not offer or sell any camping gear or equipment. 
• The store in town stocks a limited amount of food and beverages. We hiked 5 miles roundtrip for a Gatorade, and it was the most refreshing drink I’ve ever had. 
• You can begin your hike to Havasu Falls any day on your reservation, but you must hike out on the last day of your reservation.
• The trip leader must present a photo ID once they reach Supai Village at the Tourist Check-In Office. You will need your campground reservation confirmation, photo ID, and license plate number of the vehicle you parked at the trailhead.
• Everyone will need to wear wristbands throughout their stay.

There are 3 checkpoints before and during your hike to Havasu Falls.

1. 5 miles from the Hilltop Trailhead, the completed entrance form and all additional paperwork must be shown to the Havasupai Reservation boundary checkpoint staff.
2. Your second checkpoint is the Tourist Office employee stationed at Hilltop. (If no staff is checking on Indian Road 18, this is your first checkpoint)
3. Your final checkpoint will be when you reach the village of Supai at the Tourist Check-In Office.

We had our paperwork reviewed by the boundary checkpoint security staff on Indian Road 18. They may ask to search your vehicle, as no drugs or alcohol are permitted on the Havasupai Reservation. (It’s not like they rummaged through our van; they were super friendly!) Keep that in mind if you’re renting a campervan and plan on having a nice cold beer waiting for you when you complete your 10-mile hike out on day 4. You’ll have to wait a little longer for that reward.

Wildlife in Havasupai

• Small critters: squirrels/mice/raccoons
• Mountain lions
• Big-horned sheep
• Coyotes
• Fox
• Birds
• Bobcats
• Scorpians
• Snakes

We only saw 3 on this list. I’ll leave you to wonder which 3. 🙂

Mule Reservations

If you made a pack mule reservation for your hike to Havasu Falls, you must obtain your pack mule tags no later than 9:00 am the morning of your reservation arrival date. Your packs will arrive in the late afternoon or early evening, so be patient and pack your day essentials for camp in your day pack. You will be charged an additional $300 late fee if you miss your reserved drop-off time. When utilizing the pack mule reservations, prepare your day pack for your hike to Havasu Falls campground.

• Drop-off time: between 4 am and 10 am 
• Arrival time: between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm.
• Maximum capacity: 4 bags per mule 
• Maximum weight: 32 pounds per bag
• Maximum size: 36 inches long, 19 inches wide, 19 inches tall. 
• Restrictions: soft packs only. No additional gear or camping equipment. 
• Day of departureDrop-off at campground: no later than 6 am
• Drop-off at lodge: no later than 7 am 
• Arrival time: by late morning/early afternoon.

Hiking to Havasu Falls

• Distance: 8-mile hike to Supai Village/Lodge 
• Supai Village to Havasupai Falls Campground: 2 miles 
• Hilltop Trailhead to Havasu Falls Campground: 10 miles 
• Time: Plan for 4-6 hours in & 5-7 hours out

*Note that check-in time for the Lodge is from 2 pm to 5 pm. 

We began our hike to Havasu Falls at 7 am and arrived by noon. To beat the heat on our departure date, we packed up camp in the dark and began our hike at 4 am. This was such a fun experience. We arrived at the parking lot by 9 am. This is another reason why we LOVED renting a campervan for this trip. We could immediately change, clean up, and decompress.

The hike begins with a series of switchbacks descending into the canyon. Keep in mind that this is how you will end your hike on day 4. You will continue through a dry wash for most of the hike. It is not a marked trail, but it is well-defined from heavy foot traffic. Eventually, you will reach Havasu Creek, where you will already be in awe of the flowing milky blue water. You will pass through the village of Supai, where you will check in before making the last 2-mile haul to the campground.

Havasu Falls Campground

After your hike to Havasu Falls, you will continue past the falls to the campground. What makes this campground so special is that Havasu Creek runs right through it. Entering the campground, hikers are greeted by the famous Havasu Falls, and the end of the campground begins the trek down to Mooney Falls. The camping area runs about a mile long, with campsites on both sides of the creek. 

Campsites are on a first-come-first-serve basis, with enough to accommodate around 300 campers per night.

There aren’t too many private campsites, but the farther away from the creek you get, closer to the canyon walls, the more privacy you will have. Cross a wooden footbridge to access the right side of the campground, away from the main trail. The downside is that you will have to cross the bridge every time you need to fill your water, use the toilets, and access the trail, but you will have much more privacy. Additionally, we saw campers sleeping in their hammocks set up directly over Havasu Creek. We didn’t get too picky when looking for a campsite, but we lucked out with location and privacy. Start your hike early for more options if you are concerned about campsite selection. But really, all we needed the campsite for was to eat and sleep. After your hike to Havasu Falls, you’re here to adventure!

Drinking Water

For your hike to and from the Hilltop Trailhead, we recommend carrying a minimum of one gallon per person each way. No water is available along the trail. Even in cooler months, the sun will warm you up quickly. With no shade to escape the sun and the 10-mile hike, hydrating is so important! Temperatures reach well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. For your hike to Havasu Falls, fill up your reusable water bottle and pack a hydration bladder. 

In the village of Supai, drinking water is available for purchase at the Cafe, store, and lodge.

Fern Spring in the Campground is a freshwater spring that provides drinking water. This is the primary source for cooking and drinking water while camping at Havasupai. The spring is located on the western side of the canyon; look for water flowing out of a pipe in the canyon wall. Although regularly tested and safe for drinking.

Havasu Creek water must be filtered before drinking or used for cooking. Bring a strong filtration system, like water purification tablets, or a life straw. 

Travel Tip: Pack a 5-gallon collapsible water jug to fill at your campsite. 

Bathrooms

There are toilet facilities in the campground. Four composting toilets are spaced out within the campground. Please do all of your business in the toilets and not on the ground. The morning you pack up, a fellow camper will set up camp, and the smell of urine can linger. Especially in the heat. Also, please use the composting toilets only for going to the bathroom. They are not meant for throwing away trash, and there are no trash bins in the bathroom facilities. The campground follows Leave No Trace Principles. 

Travel Tip: Pack wipes and extra toilet paper! They can run out and are not always restocked right away. 

20 Things to Know About Havasu Campground

1. NOT permitted: Drugs, alcohol, drones, littering/vandalism, diving/jumping
2. Anyone in violation of the rules will be fined and can serve jail time
3. The campground is the entire length of the Havasu Creek,  just under one mile long
4. There are no designated campsites
5. Campsites are on a first-come, first-served basis
6. You can camp on either side of Havasu Creek
7. Be mindful of other campers when selecting a campsite and be respectful of the land
8. Quiet hours are 8 pm – 5 am
9. No loud music
10. Bathroom facilities have composting toilets
11. No running water
12. Drinking water from Fern Spring
13. Freshwater spring for drinking water
14. No open flames/campfires
15. Gas canister backpacking stoves are ok
16. Store all food outside of your tent in odor-proof bags inside bear canisters.
17. Hang food out of reach from critters like squirrels and raccoons
18. Be aware of scorpions. Shake out your shoes before putting them on
19. There are no public health facilities near the campground or in the village
20. Pack out what you pack in, that means all garbage goes with you (and NOT in the composting toilets)

The Village of Supai

• The village of Supai is 2 miles from the campground. That means if you need anything, it is a 4-mile walk round-trip, with some uphill sections.  
• The cafe serves breakfast lunch and dinner and has WiFi & electricity
• The store sells the basics, however since everything is imported, prices are higher
• Fry-bread stands are available near the falls or village 
• Please respect the privacy of Tribal members. Photos are NOT permitted of people and their property, stay on the trail and out of the residential areas. 

And there you have it! You’re ready for the backpacking trip of a lifetime!

Our hike to Havasu Falls and our entire experience there exceeded our expectations. You know when you go someplace you’ve only seen in pictures and think, “This looks nothing like the pictures?” Well, Havasupai does not fall into that category. It is even more beautiful in person, so soak in every moment! Ok, I’m getting nostalgic now and will probably go peek at the cancellations list. 

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Save this guide for a seamless hiking and camping experience at Havasu Falls, Arizona! Don’t forget to read and download our recommended packing list for your Hike to Havasu Falls.

Let us know about your experience in the comments!