Havasu Falls: How To Get a Permit (2025)
Hikers and adventure seekers worldwide hope to get a permit to Havasu Falls, but only some will be so lucky. Every year permits sell out within an hour for the entire year! We successfully got a permit to Havasu Falls in 2019 after being unsuccessful in 2018. With one failed attempt and a successful one, we’re here to share how you can increase your chances of getting a permit to hike Havasu Falls. Follow our step-by-step instructions if you want to hike to Havasupai in 2025.
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First, I want to instill in you that you are a visitor here. You are on land that is sacred to the Havasupai Tribe. (Havasupai means “People of the Blue Green Water”) Getting the opportunity to camp and hike on this Reservation is a privilege, not a right. Please respect the rules, the home, and the culture of the Havasupai Tribe. These are enforced to keep this place beautiful and special for both the Tribe and visitors. Before you visit, please revisit Leave No Trace Principles.
A stunning contrast of orange-hued canyon walls streaked with lush green vegetation flows the turquoise blue waters of Havasu Creek. This landscape is nestled in the Grand Canyon and is one of the most beautiful trails we have ever been on. Although we love spontaneous travel, planning a trip to Havasupai requires a little more planning.
Permits go on sale to hike to Havasu Falls for one day a year. On February 1, permits sell out within a few hours for the entire year. To make it to this desert oasis known for its turquoise blue waters, follow our golden rules: be adventurous and be flexible. Before we go over how to get a permit, let’s cover some basics about Havasu Falls. We’ll cover the pros and cons of every season, the cost, and the difficulty of the hike in and out of Havasupai. Then, you can decide if this adventure is for you!
When to visit Havasu Falls
Peak season is May through September and with good reason! The weather is dry, and you beat the heat. The average water temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Of course, peak season means you will have more competition trying to snag a permit. Things to consider for every season:
Winter in Havasupai
The campground is closed in December and January. Despite the desert climate, it is very cold here in the winter. Temperatures can reach below freezing at night, so you need to pack much heavier layers and winter camping gear. It will be too cold to swim, but winter also brings the dry months.
Summer in Havasupai
July-August is monsoon season. Heavy rains can cause hazardous flash flooding. There have been evacuations and fatal tragedies in recent years. Summer brings extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. However, summer is a great season to cool off in Havasu Creek and all five waterfalls.
Spring in Havasupai
Early spring can still be chilly and risk flooding from snow melt, but late spring is great weather and swimming temperatures.
Fall in Havasupai
Early September is the end of monsoon season, by late October, it can get pretty cold. But fall is shoulder season, which is our favorite time to travel! We were here in late September, and the weather was perfect. It was warmer at night than I expected, but not uncomfortable.
Shoulder Season Months: September, October, November, March, and April These months provide comfortable hiking and camping temperatures, ideal if you are not acclimated to extreme heat or have experienced winter camping. Havasu Creek could be cooler but still warm enough to swim.
Travel Tip: If you visit in the summer or winter, consider staying in the lodge.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Havasu Falls?
Prices have increased significantly since we’ve been to Havasupai but think about how much money the tribe lost during COVID and for closures due to flooding. They rely on tourism, and they don’t have to share this beautiful, sacred place with the public. So I can justify the cost of the experience.
All permits are for 3 nights and 4 days. If that sounds like too much, you can hike in after your check-in date, but you must hike out on your check-out date. Whether you stay for the full reservation or cut it short, the price does not change. The prices do not vary based on the season.
- Cost to Camp: $455 per campground permit per person for 3 nights
- Cost to stay at Lodge: $2,277 per lodge room (up to 4 people, 3 nights, 24 rooms total)
- Pack Mule Reservation (optional): $200-$400
How Difficult Is The Hike to Havasu Falls?
- Distance to the village of Supai: 8 miles one-way
- Distance to campground: 10 miles one-way
- Total Distance: 20 miles round-trip *Permits do not admit day hikes
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. However, light to moderate hikes from the lodge and the campground are required daily to get the most out of your time here.
- Elevation from the trailhead: 5,200 feet
- Elevation descend/ascend: 2,800 feet
The hike is equivalent to climbing up the Empire State Building on your way out. Only instead of steps, it’s on a rocky and sandy terrain made of up switchbacks the last mile.
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How To Get a Havasu Falls Permit
No day hiking is allowed in Havasu Falls, and nobody is permitted without a reservation made in advance. If you want to check off this bucket list hike, continue reading my step-by-step instructions to get yourself a permit.
First and foremost, you must create an online account on HavasupaiReservations.com. This is the only way you can make a reservation now. (Years ago, you could call too; that’s how we tried the first time and failed.)
As of 2025, there are 3 ways to get a permit to Havasu Falls:
- Presale Reservation Lottery System
- General Public Sale on February 1st
- Permit by Cancellations/Transfers List
Your first step is the same for all three reservation systems. Create an online account at HavasupaiReservations.com. Continue reading for details and instructions on all three ways to obtain a permit.
- Enter the presale lottery: The presale system is new and exciting! This reservation process is similar to a lottery. You may enter a permit lottery before permits go on sale to the public on February 1st. Filling out this lottery form doesn’t guarantee you will receive a permit. Enter your desired dates, and winners are randomly selected.
Things to know:
- Presale Dates for a permit in 2025: December 16, 2024, beginning at 8:00 am through January 3, 2025, ending at 5:00 pm Arizona time.
- Presale Cost: The application fee is $20 per person on the reservation.
- Reservation Dates: You can select 3 start dates and the month you would like. This does not guarantee a reservation for your desired dates.
- Presale Limit: The daily number of requests determines the number of pre-sale reservations. There is no set amount.
- Notification: You will be notified via email on January 6, 2025,only if you are awarded a date.
- Reservation Payment: If you win, you will have to pay the full reservation fee by January 24 at 5 pm. The $20 does not go towards your reservation fee.
- How it works: Winners are chosen at random. This is a similar lottery system to The Wave. The downside is that you still pay an application fee whether you win or lose.
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2. Practice patience & resilience February 1st: Today is the day! On February 1st, at 8:00 am Arizona time, reservations open to the general public. This is the day when hikers anxiously hit the refresh button on their web browsers to score a permit, which is exactly how we got our permit for Havasu Falls. Set your alarm, log into your account, and at 8:00 am Arizona time, it’s game time.
Things to know:
- Be prepared: You must have an account before you attempt to get a permit. I strongly recommend that you set up your account ahead of time. This reservation system is extremely competitive, and high web traffic slows down the website.
- Use a strong WiFi connection: Reliable internet can make or break your chances of getting a permit. I also suggest using a laptop or computer to avoid disruptions from your cell phone. Imagine an incoming phone call just as you’re about to move to the next step…buzzkill.
- Log in before 8:00 am Arizona Time: Because you listened to me from the beginning, you will already have your account set up. Seriously, the website traffic is so busy that you’ll thank me later. Keep in mind that Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
- Be flexible with your dates: Summer is peak season, and weekends are optimal for local visitors. If you are traveling out of state, consider extending your trip to Arizona. Shoot for a mid-week reservation in the shoulder season to increase your chances of scoring a permit to Havasu Falls. I kept trying for May, and when that filled up, I shot for September. It worked out because we made it an anniversary trip!
- Be quick: I thought I had a reservation for one date, but before I could enter my credit card information, it had already been taken. I had to start the process all over again!
- Have your card ready: You will need to enter your credit card information to complete the check-out process for your permit. Have your card ready to speed up the process, and voila! The permit is yours!
3. Check for cancellations: If you were unsuccessful in the lottery or didn’t score a permit for Havasu Falls on February 1st, there is one more option. Check the Havasupai online system periodically for permits for sale. You can purchase canceled trips, which gives you hope throughout the year! This is also a good option if you cannot plan a trip too far in advance.
Things to know:
- Log into your account on HavasupaiReservations.com.
- Go to your Dashboard; there is a button for a Cancellations/Transfers List. Click that.
- The list gets updated daily — I’ve looked just out of curiosity and have seen a long list of cancellations for every season.
- Be flexible. You may not see any cancellations for your desired date, but if you can be flexible, you will have more options for each season.
- The tricky part is finding permits for the number of people in your group. You have to buy the full canceled reservation and then re-sell what you don’t need.
- There is an initial 10% fee to re-sell a permit, but when somebody else purchases that reservation, you will be refunded.
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Additional Information On Havasu Falls Reservations
You can have up to 12 people on your campground reservation for Havasu Falls. However, for all reservations, one person is the reservation holder/trip leader. For a large group, you can designate a Potential Alternate Trip Leader when you make your reservation. This is a backup in case the initial reservation holder/trip leader cannot make the hike at the last minute. Everyone in the group must make an account before the hike. Permits are non-refundable and can only be transferred to your PATL or sold on the official cancellations/transfers system on HavasupaiReservations.com.
Pack Mule Reservations
Hikers now have the option to reserve a pack mule to carry in and carry out their camping gear. After you secure your permit reservation, you may join a waitlist for a pack mule reservation. You should do this far enough in advance to increase your chances; reservations cannot be made last minute. There can be some controversy over this, so go with what feels right for you.
- Cost to Campground: $400 round trip
- Cost to Lodge: $200 round trip
- Maximum capacity: maximum of 4 bags per mule
- Maximum weight: 32 pounds per bag
- Maximum bag size: 36 inches long, 19 inches wide, 19 inches tall.
- Restrictions: soft packs only. No additional gear or camping equipment.
- Drop-off & Pick-up Times: From the Hilltop Trailhead to the campground, the cutoff time to retrieve your pack mule tags is 9:00 am. You must drop your bags off at the Hilltop Trailhead no later than 10:00 am. They can arrive anywhere between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm. On your departure date, the drop-off time from the campground to Hilltop Trailhead is 6:00 am. They will arrive at the trailhead between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.
- If you miss your reserved drop-off time, you will be charged an additional $300 late fee.
Travel Tip: Pack light! Even if you secure a pack mule reservation, you will need to carry your gear from the dropoff point into the campground, which requires a bridge crossing. There are wheelbarrows provided, but too much weight can make them unstable. Check out my Complete Packing Guide for Camping at Havasu Falls.
Things To Know Before Your Hike To Havasu Falls
There are two checkpoints for permit holders, so don’t even think about trying to sneak in. One on the very long, very vacant road to the Hualapai Hilltop trailhead and one in Supai Village on your hike.
Educate yourself on the Laws and Rules of the Havasupai Campground Reservations before your visit. These are for your safety, to enhance the experience of fellow campers, to preserve the land, and to respect the Havasupai Tribe. There are fines ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars or even jail time.
Havasupai means “people of the blue-green water.”
Hiking in the Havasupai Indian Reservation to Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beaver Falls is the adventure of a lifetime. There’s nothing like the flowing turquoise-blue waters against the rusty orange hues of the sandstone cliffs. If you’re lucky enough to score a permit, this is an experience you will look back on forever. We still dream of this place and plan to return one day!
To enhance your experience, read additional posts on Tips for Hiking Havasu Falls:
- Havasu Falls Permit: Your Complete Checklist Before The Hike
- Havasupai Packing List: Your Complete Checklist (and free PDF)
- Hike to Havasu Falls: Your Ultimate Planning Guide and Camping Tips
Good luck! Let us know in the comments if you were successful in getting a permit and what method you used!
Pin this post as your guide to getting a permit for Havasu Falls!
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