Havasu Falls dropping from a red cliff into a turquoise pool in Havasu Canyon, lit by early morning sun

Havasupai Trail to Havasu Falls: Permits and Hike Guide

Ten miles down to the campground, one booking system, and a place that is someone's home.

10.7 mi · 2 days · Hard
By

Photo: Traveling Man, CC BY-SA 3.0

The Havasupai trail drops from the rim at Hualapai Hilltop into Havasu Canyon, on land that belongs to the Havasupai Tribe, the People of the Blue Green Water. It is not a national park route. The Tribe sets the permits, the prices, the rules and the closures, and a visit means agreeing to its laws. The only places to trust for them are the Tribe's own pages, and this page is built from those.

The hike is 8 miles (12.9 km) from Hilltop to Supai village, the village that has been home to the Tribe for over a thousand years, and 2 miles (3.2 km) more to the campground, where you pitch your tent beside the creek. The way in is almost all downhill, about 2,000 feet (610 m) lower by the village according to the Tribe's figures, and the price is the climb out. The Tribe's own itinerary spends the two days between arrival and departure on the lower falls (Havasu, Mooney, Beaver) and the upper falls (Fiftyfoot, Little Navajo, Havasu). This page draws the trip as two legs: the long day in, and the walk to Mooney Falls from the campground. The way out is the same trail in reverse, and the last leg's notes cover it.

The decision that matters is the booking, because there is only one kind. Every permit is for 3 nights, there are no day hikes, and the dates you pick on the Tribe's site are the only ones you can use: cancelling inside 90 days gets no refund. Status, 1 November 2026: the Tribe's booking site carries an update dated 31 August 2026 saying Havasupai is open, the trails are passable and the falls are blue-green, with a note to watch the weather. No newer notice or closure appears on the Tribe's pages, but the Tribe can close the reservation at any time and for any reason. Read the booking site the day before you leave.

The Route on the Map

Each day in its own color, with the start and every night's stop numbered along the way.

Loading map...

Elevation Profile

Highest 5,180 ft (1,580 m) · lowest 2,700 ft (822 m)

5,180 ft2,700 ft1
0 mi10.7 mi (17.2 km)

Route line: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), simplified. Elevations: USGS 3D Elevation Program (public domain).

Day by Day

2 legs and 1 night on the way, each in a different place.

  1. A wide, dry gravel wash runs between tall red canyon walls with green shrubs on both sides, a hiker on the right and a few pack animals far up the path
    Day 1

    Day 1: Hualapai Hilltop to the Havasupai campground

    Hualapai HilltoptoHavasu Campground

    Distance
    10.0 mi 16.1 km
    Up
    0 ft 0 m
    Down
    2,430 ft 742 m

    Climb computed from USGS 3D Elevation Program (public domain), not an official figure.

    The Tribe puts Hualapai Hilltop at 5,200 feet (1,585 m) and Supai village at 3,205 feet (977 m). You walk 8 miles (12.9 km) to the village, where the lodge, the store and the cafe are, and 2 miles (3.2 km) more on the main trail to the campground. The Tribe says it is an 8-mile (12.9 km) hike with a very significant elevation change, so pack light. Start early: the trail is open around the clock, but the Tribe does not recommend hiking at night, and much of it has no consistent shade.

    Stay on the main trail through the village and do not take residential trails. Horses and mules have the right of way at all times, so step aside and keep still when a string comes through. Do not photograph or film tribal members, homes, buildings or burial grounds, do not fly a drone, and do not feed or touch the animals. The reservation is dry, so no alcohol or drugs of any kind, and no weapons, campfires or amplified music.

    Campsites are first come, first served, anywhere in the designated area along the creek. Lodge guests stop in the village instead.

    Sleep
    Havasupai campground (first come, first served) · Campground · How to book
    Water
    None on the 8 miles (12.9 km) of trail. Drinking water in Supai village and a freshwater spring at the campground.Reported Nov 2026, verify before you go
    Signal
    No reliable cell or wifi on the trail, in the village or at the campground.Reported Nov 2026, verify before you go

    Photo: Outdoor Craziness, CC BY-SA 3.0

  2. Mooney Falls pours over a red rock cliff into a turquoise pool, with green trees at the foot of the cliff
    Day 2

    Day 2: The campground to Mooney Falls

    Havasu CampgroundtoMooney Falls

    Distance
    0.7 mi 1.1 km
    Up
    0 ft 0 m
    Down
    30 ft 10 m

    Climb computed from USGS 3D Elevation Program (public domain), not an official figure.

    You have three nights on the permit and two full days between the walks. The Tribe's own suggestion is the lower falls (Havasu, Mooney, Beaver) on one day and the upper falls (Fiftyfoot, Little Navajo, Havasu) on the other. This leg ends at the top of Mooney Falls, where the drawn line stops; the Tribe gives no distance for it, so the 0.7 miles (1.1 km) is measured along the mapped trail (OpenStreetMap), not an official figure. The descent below Mooney Falls is one the Tribe calls extremely treacherous, and everything beyond it is open in daylight only. Do not go past the top of Mooney Falls in rain, and do not enter narrow canyon sections when it rains or floods.

    The creek runs at about 70 F (21 C) all year, the Tribe says. Do not dive, jump from or climb the walls and falls. Keep to the prescribed trails and do not explore side canyons, which the Tribe calls extremely hazardous.

    The walk out is the same 10 miles (16.1 km) in reverse and it is the hard part of the trip: about 2,000 feet (610 m) up from the village to the rim, with much of the trail unshaded. The Tribe requires you to be out of the campground or lodge by 11:00 a.m. on the last day, and pack mule bags headed out must be dropped off by 6 a.m. from March to September and by 7 a.m. from October to February. Start early in warm months. Take out everything you brought, including partly used fuel canisters; the Tribe fines visitors who leave trash or gear and notes that removing it by helicopter is costly.

    Water
    Havasu Creek and the campground spring. Filter or treat anything that is not from the spring or the village.Reported Nov 2026, verify before you go
    Signal
    None.Reported Nov 2026, verify before you go

    Photo: Mark Reed, CC BY 2.5

Permits

A permit is required

Everyone who enters the reservation needs a permit bought in advance through the Tribe's own booking system, havasupaireservations.com. The Tribe says third-party, resold or transferred permits are not valid and that entering without one is trespass. Every booking is 4 days and 3 nights with a fixed arrival and departure date, so there is no day-hike permit. You may walk out before the last day, but the Tribe's terms promise a refund only for a cancellation made 90 days ahead, so an early exit gets nothing back.

For 2026 a campground permit cost 455 USD per person for the 3 nights, with up to 12 people per booking, and a lodge room in Supai village cost 2,277 USD for the 3 nights, for up to four people. Children 6 and under are admitted free with a paid permit holder; children 7 and older need a permit, and the Tribe says it does not recommend bringing young children. The trip leader, or one of two alternate trip leaders named at booking, must check in with photo ID, so name them when you book: they cannot be added later. Check-in is at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn on Route 66 (mile marker 115), the day before your start date or on it. The Tribe's own ideal trip has you sleep near there the night before and check in then, and its published check-in hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to February and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March to October. It is where you get your wristbands, pack and tent tags and parking pass. Failing to check in on the required dates can cancel the permits without a refund.

Cancel at least 90 days before the start date and the Tribe refunds 50% of the permit fee; inside 90 days nothing is refunded, and the Tribe says no exceptions are made, including for weather, flooding or a closure. Reselling or transferring a booking is banned, and the penalties include a permanent ban.

The lottery

The Tribe sells permits from a set on-sale date, and its pages describe no lottery. For 2026 the regular on-sale date was February 1 at 8:00 a.m. Arizona time, with the same prices as the year before; the Tribe's cancellation terms also mention an early access fee that is not refunded. As of 1 November 2026 the Tribe had not published a 2027 on-sale date on the pages checked, so treat the 2026 date as an example only and look at the booking site. Bookings go through a tourist account on that site, one permit at a time with Add Booking, and the site returns you to the calendar each time, so check the dates on every one. Name the alternate trip leaders in the same step.

The official permit page

Getting There and Back

How to reach the start of the Havasupai Trail to Havasu Falls, and how to get home from the end.

The start

The trail starts at Hualapai Hilltop, at the end of Indian Road 18. From Route 66 you turn north onto Indian Road 18 (about 5 miles (8 km) west of Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn) and drive about 60 miles (97 km) to the trailhead; the Tribe says to plan at least 1.5 hours. The road is paved but open range, so animals cross it, and cell reception is unreliable. The Tribe does not recommend electric vehicles for the roughly 200-mile (320 km) round trip; its nearest charging station is in Kingman. There is no gas, food or water at Hilltop and no camping there, including no sleeping in your vehicle.

The end

The trail does not make a loop. You walk the same 10 miles (16.1 km) back up to Hualapai Hilltop and your car. The Tribe says the permit period ends at 11:00 a.m. on the last day, which is when you must be out of the campground or lodge, and a stay beyond that is trespass.

Shuttle

There is no public transport to the trailhead. If you do not want to carry your pack, the Tribe runs pack mules for 400 USD round trip per mule (up to 4 bags, 32 pounds (14.5 kg) each, soft-sided, no coolers), requested online at least 72 hours ahead. Inbound bags go in at Hilltop between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. and typically reach camp between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Helicopter flights are run by a private company, not the Tribe. The Tribe's FAQ lists them at 300 USD one way, paid on the day at the landing zones, first come first served with others having priority, and no pre-booking; the schedule it gave was Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday, can change without notice, and the Tribe says not to rely on it. The rules also mention saddle horses, arranged and paid for with the Tribe at booking; the booking site shows what is offered. If someone cannot walk out, the Tribe says emergency transport is costly and the patient pays, and only the patient is evacuated.

Parking

Parking is limited at Hilltop and the lot is separate from the tribal members' lot, which you must not use. Each vehicle is registered at check-in, and the parking pass goes on the dashboard. Overflow parking is along the road leading to the lot, off the road and not blocking it, and RVs may have to park some distance away. The Tribe is not responsible for vehicles or what is in them. The nearest gas is 70 to 90 miles (113 to 145 km) from the trailhead, at Peach Springs and Seligman, and the Tribe says to start down Indian Road 18 with fuel for at least 200 miles (320 km).

Safety

  • Heat on the way in and out. Much of the trail has no consistent shade, and there is no water on the 8 miles (12.9 km) to the village. The Tribe tells hikers to walk in the coolest part of the day, to carry enough water for the whole stretch, and says hiking at night is not recommended. The way out is the hard half: you climb about 2,000 feet (610 m) to the rim, so leave early and plan for the heat.

  • Flash floods. The monsoon runs from June or July to September, and the Tribe warns that floods can come without warning and without any sign of rain, and can happen in any month. If floodwater approaches or a storm catches you, move to high ground at once, move your tent if you must, and wait until it clears. Do not enter narrow parts of the canyon when it is raining or flooding, and do not go past the top of Mooney Falls in rain.

  • Mooney Falls. The Tribe calls the descent below it extremely treacherous and not recommended for children or people with physical limitations. The trails and areas beyond Mooney Falls are open in daylight only.

  • Jumping and climbing. Diving, jumping or climbing from the walls and falls is not allowed. Anyone who jumps off Havasu Falls or Mooney Falls faces a fine of 5,000 USD, a 10-year ban, removal from the reservation and the cost of any rescue, the Tribe's rules say.

  • No medical help nearby. There are no public medical facilities in Supai, no trained rescue team and no reliable urgent transport. Getting treatment can take hours or days, a helicopter or UTV ride out is paid by the patient, and only the injured person is evacuated. The Tribe's rules say to bring minor first aid supplies.

  • Water. The Tribe says drinking water is available in the village and from a freshwater spring at the campground, and that creek or spring water elsewhere should be filtered or treated. None is available along the trail itself.

  • Accessibility. The Tribe says the trail is steep, rocky and remote with no wheelchair-accessible paths, and that the lodge, campground and other buildings have no accessibility features. Access may be extremely limited or unavailable with some physical limitations.

  • Phone signal. Most of the reservation, including the trails, campground and lodge, has no reliable cell or wifi service and there are no public phones. Tell someone your permit dates and return day, and do not plan on calling for help.

Havasupai Trail to Havasu Falls: FAQ

Can you hike to Havasu Falls in a day?

No, and there is no shorter trip either. The Tribe sells only 4-day, 3-night bookings, and everyone who enters the reservation needs one bought in advance. Entering without a permit and wristband is trespass.

How do you get a Havasupai permit?

Only through the Tribe's own booking site, havasupaireservations.com. In 2026 the regular on-sale date was February 1 at 8:00 a.m. Arizona time. The Tribe says permits that are resold, transferred or bought from third parties are not valid, so there is no other legitimate way in.

How much does Havasupai cost?

For 2026 a campground permit cost 455 USD per person for 3 nights and a lodge room 2,277 USD for 3 nights for up to four people. A pack mule was 400 USD round trip. Prices are set by the Tribe each year, so check the booking site.

How long is the hike to Havasu Falls?

From Hualapai Hilltop it is 8 miles (12.9 km) to Supai village and 2 miles (3.2 km) more to the campground, where the falls begin. The Tribe describes the elevation change between the trailhead and the village as very significant.

Can you cancel or change a Havasupai booking?

You can cancel at least 90 days before the start date for a 50% refund. Inside 90 days there is no refund, for any reason, including weather or a closure. The Tribe's terms say the trip leader or a named alternate must check in with photo ID, and bookings cannot be resold or transferred.

Are dogs, drones and alcohol allowed at Havasupai?

No. The Tribe does not allow pets, service animals or privately owned horses anywhere on the reservation, bans drones, and says the reservation is dry, with no alcohol or drugs of any kind. Weapons and campfires are also banned.

Is there cell service or water at Havasupai?

Do not expect cell service or wifi, even at the campground and lodge. Drinking water is in Supai village and at a spring in the campground; there is none on the trail, and other water should be filtered or treated.

Is Havasupai open right now?

On 1 November 2026 the Tribe's booking site carried an update from 31 August 2026 saying Havasupai is open. The Tribe may close the reservation at any time for any reason, so check havasupaireservations.com before you drive down Indian Road 18.

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