Havasupai Packing List: Your Complete Checklist (and free PDF)

Our Havasupai packing list covers all the gear, clothing, toiletries, and extras to make this your best adventure yet!

Congratulations! You got a permit, and now you’re getting closer to your trip to Havasupai! It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of your upcoming camping trip, so get ready with my Havasupai packing list and free PDF guide.

Turquoise blue waterfalls, natural swimming pools, warm weather, and the serenity of nature make up the elements of a dream vacation. That’s exactly what you’re about to experience when you embark on your backpacking trip to Havasu Falls. If you are new to hiking or backpacking, use my Havasupai packing list as a checklist as you prepare for your trip. This was our first backpacking trip, and we nailed it. 

While you may want to bring some extras, remember that you will be carrying everything in and out of the campground. I recommend packing as light as you can, so my Havasupai packing list will focus on essential items that enhanced our first backpacking trip. 

Before we get to camping gear, be sure to bring:

1. A printed copy of the email confirmation of your Campground/Lodge reservation.
2. Write down (or take a photo of) the license plate number of your vehicle that is parked at the trailhead – you will need it when you check-in.
3. Your government-issued Photo ID.
4. Your health insurance information.
5. Your reservation permit and wristbands.
6. Your sense of wonder and adventure!

If you do not own backpacking or camping gear, or traveling by airplane and do not want to pack bulky items, consider renting gear. We have traveled from New York to Las Vegas by airplane twice for outdoor adventures. We like to travel light, and the last thing we need on a trip like this is for our luggage to get lost. Renting gear from Basecamp Outdoor Gear in Las Vegas has been our go-to for Southwest travel. They have different packages to choose from and provide everything you need!

The Only Havasupai Packing List You’ll Need

Food & Water/Cooking Essentials

• Freeze-dried meals (enough for 3 nights/4 days)
• Oatmeal
• Cliff bars
• RX bars
• Dried fruit
• Nuts
• Water 
• Electrolyte drinks
• Liquid I.V.
• Instant coffee or tea
• Jet Boil (to boil water for meals, tea, coffee, or an extra way to filter water)
• Cooking utensils (a spork for each person)
• Bowls and/or plates
• Cups
• Bear Canister
• Odor-proof bags
• Trash bags (to pack out all garbage, and an extra for wet clothes)

This list of food for camping at Havasupai may seem light to some people, but we survived just fine. It’s not as much about having a lot of food; it’s about having the right foods to fuel your body. Carbs and protein will meet your nutritional needs for a few days. Electrolytes are SUPER important as well. Note that Havasu Falls campground has a freshwater spring to fill up water. Proper food & trash storage is incredibly important. Small critters WILL get into your bags if you’re unprepared. We used a clothesline to hang our food between two trees in a hanging mesh bag. And I’m glad we did because we woke up to an acrobatic raccoon in the middle of the night, itching for a midnight snack. 

Important note: fires are not permitted in Havasupai. That is why we strongly suggest packing a Jet Boil. 

Sleeping

• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Sleeping Pad
• Backpacking pillow or neck pillow

These are some of the more bulky items on your Havasupai packing list, so try to get lightweight sleeping gear. A lightweight sleeping bag or even a two-person sleeping bag if you’re into that. If you are purchasing new gear, consider REI’s Backpacking Bundle. Comfort will give you a better night’s sleep with more energy to adventure the following day. That’s why we never camp without a good sleeping pad or a comfortable camping pillow. 

Hiking and Camping Gear

Keep in mind that you will be doing TWO 10-mile hikes with all of your gear. (Unless you reserved a pack mule) Additionally, you will have to pack out all of your trash. 

• Backpack
• Day Pack
• Dry Bag (to keep belongings and camera gear safe from water damage)
• Hydration Bladder 
• Reusable Water Bottle
• Collapsible water jug (for easy packing and to refill at Fern Spring at the campground)
• Microfiber Towel (quick-drying to re-use for the entire trip)
• Cooling Towel (I hiked and slept with this to keep me cool. And I run cold.)
• Rope/nylon cord (to hang between two trees to keep food and trash safe from critters. and to hang wet clothes to dry)
• Headlamp (to get around at night, and if you plan on hiking out early in the morning as we did. *Use the red light to help with the night vision of fellow campers/hikers)
• Trekking Poles
• Portable Power Bank
• Water Filtration tabs or system
• Multi-tool with a knife or something sharp
• A good book to read at night or a journal to log your memories!

A comfortable backpack can make or break your hiking experience. Elements like a hip belt, shoulder straps, and weight distribution matter big time. You will want a 50-80 liter backpack for this trip. I also want to talk about trekking poles. I never used them before my backpacking trip to Havasupai, but I am SO glad that I listened to fellow bloggers and took their advice with this. Trekking poles help tremendously on your knees going downhill and give you momentum on an incline. They can take you from a beginner hiker to feeling like an experienced hiker!

Travel Tip: Get fitted for a backpack at REI for free! 

Clothing

• Hiking boots (broken in)
• Synthetic or wool hiking socks (Smartwool and Darn Tough are our go-to’s) (2 pairs)
• Water Shoes (these will be useful at the campground and hiking to the waterfalls. For the best comfort, support, and durability, go with a pair of Keen or Chaco water shoes.)
• Bathing Suit 
• Sunglasses 
• Wide-brim hat
• Quick-dry/moisture-wicking shirts (3)
• Quick-dry hiking shorts (1 pair)
• Sports bra
• Comfortable underwear
• Fleece or softshell jacket (for chilly sleeping temperatures and easy packing)
• Cotton shirt/pants (for sleeping)

Toiletries

• Body wipes (if you don’t think a swim in the creek is sufficient, we use body wipes on every camping trip)
• Hand sanitizer
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Sunscreen
• Chapstick
• First Aid Kit (I used one every single day for Blister treatment)
• Moleskin (I did everything right to prevent blisters, yet somehow I still got them.)

Optional items

• Hammock
• Toilet paper (even though there are bathrooms, they can run out of toilet paper before they restock)
• Gloves with a rubber grip (these are helpful for hiking the chains section to the base of Mooney Falls)
• Aloe Vera in case you get sunburn
• Cash if you want to try frybread or any additional snacks or drinks in the village

Just as important are things NOT to bring:

• Alcohol
• Drugs (including legal drugs)
• Drones
• Pool floats/rafts/water toys
• Speakers
• Weapons
• Pets
• Fireworks
• Firewood
• Soap 

Havasupai Packing Tips

• Pack Light — don’t pack too many extras. We only added essential backpacking items to our Havasupai packing list for a reason. 
• Break in new gear — This means hiking boots, water shoes, and backpacks. If you are buying new gear, go to REI and get fitted properly.
• Test new gear— Set up and break down your tent before your camping trip. You may be doing that in the dark during your trip (like we did), so it’s smart to get comfortable with the process.

🎒Shop our Havasupai Packing List on our Rock Porch!

Your Havasupai packing list may vary a bit based on the season you are backpacking to Havasu Falls. We completed our hike in mid-September and we didn’t miss a thing!

Download our free Havasupai Packing List PDF so you don’t forget anything!

You are all set to have the most magical adventure of your life! I hope this list helps you prepare with the right backpacking gear. If you need any recommendations on specific items, let us know in the comments!

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