How To Get To Havasu Falls How To Get To Havasu Falls

The Havasu Falls- A Comprehensive Guide

The allure of How To Get To Havasu Falls is difficult to pin down. This place is famous for its turquoise pools and the remote location! However, it is undeniable that people come from all over to see their beauty. Nevertheless, getting there is not as simple as purchasing a plane ticket.

To visit Havasu Falls “the right way,” you must plan ahead of time and be physically prepared. Here’s how to make your trip to the falls unforgettable. Let’s learn more about this place in this comprehensive article. We will discuss a complete guide to Havasu Falls!

1. Visit The Havasu Falls

Havasupai reservation
Screenshot from Havasupai reservation

Havasu Falls is a waterfall on the Havasupai reservation, located within the Grand Canyon’s rim in Arizona.

They are part of a series of falls on Havasu Creek, which flows into the Colorado River. The falls and creek are well-known for their stunning blue colour and idyllic, remote setting.

The Havasu Falls and other waterfalls on the creek can be visited as part of a trip to the Havasupai reservation, which is home to the Havasupai tribe.

The Havasupai tribe, also known as the Havasu Baaja or “People of the Blue Green Waters,” have lived in this area for centuries, irrigating their fields with the waters of Havasu Creek in this otherwise harsh desert landscape.

Allow us to elaborate more on the importance of this particular tribe; the Havasupai people are an American Indian tribe who have lived in the Grand Canyon for at least 800 years. Havasu means “blue-green water,” and pai “people.” Located primarily in an area known as Havasu Canyon, this Yuman-speaking population once laid claim to an area the size of Delaware.

According to the reports, After a lengthy legal battle in 1975, some 188,077 acres of ancestral land were restored to the Havasupai. These lands were located along the south rim of the Grand Canyon (Hillstrom 1998: 113). “The Havasupai in the 1960s possessed a cash economy based mainly on the tourist trade, welfare, and wage employment.

Supai Village, Japan Many Havasupai people live 8 miles from the trailhead and deep within the canyon.

Havasu Falls and other falls nearby have become popular destinations for hikers, photographers, wilderness lovers, and people who want to see these incredible falls for themselves.

2. The Blueish Havasu Fall

People of the Blue Green Water
Screenshot from The Havasupai Tribe

The unreal blue colour of the water in photos of How To Get To Havasu Falls and the other falls on Havasu Creek will most likely astound you.

You may also believe, as we did, that this results from some generous photo editing rather than anything that could exist in real life.

As we discovered, the falls and water are an incredible iridescent blue. The high levels of calcium carbonate in the soil cause this colour, H2O. The red canyon walls around the water accentuate this, making the blue-green colour even more striking.

3. Uniqucity Of Havasu Falls 

Havasu Falls and the Havasupai Reservation are unique places and wilderness areas worth preserving for their breathtaking beauty and natural habitats for local wildlife. Please follow the Leave No Trace principles as much as possible so that future visitors can continue to enjoy the more spectacular scenery.

4. Right Time To Go Havasu Falls!

EXPLOREARIZONA'S MOTORIZED TRAILS
Screenshot from Visit Arizona

The certified season runs from February – November. The earlier months mean stonier waters but perhaps fewer crowds. During the summer, from June to August, the track is subject to closing due to flooding and extreme heat (above 115°F / 46°C).

5. Essentials Of Havasu Falls

what to bring?
Screenshot from Help Arizona.com
  • A license for fishing
  • A prior booking to either the campground or the Cottage
  • Good climbing shoes and a pair of water shoes or gum sandals
  • See “What to bring” below for more exact items
  • For international visitors, bring all the necessary documents!

6. Havasu Falls Permits

Bright Angel Trail water is on at Havasupai Gardens
Screenshot from National Park Service

You must obtain a permit from the Havasupai Tribe to visit Havasu Falls because it is located on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is not part of Grand Canyon National Park. That is, if you are one of the fortunate few who can secure a reservation when the season’s dates go live in February. This is the right time to go!

If you’re going with a group, have one person purchase all your permits (up to four per account). This will help ensure that you all receive the exact dates.

7. Day Trip To Havasu Falls

All visits require a one-night stay at the campground or Havasupai Lodge, also known as “the Lodge” in Supai Village. Your stay, permit, and any additional taxes and fees are all included in your price. But this shoulder season also suggests some of the most beautiful water in the canyon. March/April, besides September/October, offer perfect weather but are much busier. During the summer, the trail is subject to life-threatening heat from June to August, which can rise to 115°F. They have fixed pricing and time. Please note that before visiting!

8. Staying Properties 

Govt. registered hotels
Screenshot from housing.az.gov

8.1. The Compound 

The campground is a mile long on both sides of Havasu Creek, between Havasu Falls and nearby Mooney Falls. No assigned campsites exist, so you can camp wherever you want within the designated area once you arrive.

To reserve a campsite, visit Havasupai Reservations before February and create an account. (Permits and reservations for the campground cannot be obtained over the phone.) You’ll thank us later when the site is live, and you don’t have to deal with logins, mainly since reservations can sell out in minutes. If you have an account, you can check the cancellation/transfer page for dates that reopen later in the year.

If you plan camping, remember that campground reservations are for three nights and four days, no more or less. As of 2019, the campground’s value per person/night would be profitable for you, So book this for your comfort!

8.2. Havasupai Lodge

Not a fan of camping? Starting June 1, you can reserve at the Lodge, two miles from the falls. (Please keep in mind that lodges accept only phone reservations.)

This Lodge accepts online reservations but only phone reservations. To reserve a room between Febr Lodge in November, call (928) 448-2111. If no one answers, try again (and again) until you reach someone, and don’t be afraid to let the phone ring (and ring).

The Lodge charges affordable rates for a four-person room, plus they add some extras for entrance and an environmental fee per person. The lodges also include permits and taxes.

All payments must be made when booking; only one credit card is accepted per group. Payments are nonrefundable, and reservations for permits are non-transferable.

9. What To Take In The Gavasu Falls

Congratulations! You obtained a reservation and a permit and planned your trip to Havasu Falls.

Because Havasu Falls is remote, plan on a hike with some shade. Bring a hat, sunscreen, a first-aid kit, snacks, and plenty of water. No water is on the trail, so everyone should bring at least a gallon. Trekking poles are not required, but many hikers find them useful for the steep switchbacks.

Bring a bathing suit, water shoes, a towel, and a camera for your stay at the canyon’s bottom. If you’re going camping, bring a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, inflatable pillow, and a portable backpacking stove. Even if you are staying at the Lodge, bring food.

10. The Hiking In The Havasu Fall

The ramble to Havasu Falls is—to state it—complicated. Depending on your fitness level, the hike can be very strenuous. It begins (and ends) with switchbacks that modify elevation by 1,800 feet in the first two lots. The heat compounds the difficulty in the summer.

You’ll begin at the Hualapai Hilltop and march down the Havasu Falls Trail to the Grand Canyon’s bottom. The remaining six miles to Supai are relatively flat. From there, it’s another two miles to the campground.

You’ll pass three waterfalls on your way to the campground: Fifty Foot, Lower Navajo, and Havasu Falls. Plan hiking to the campground for at least four hours, drinking plenty of water, and resting in the shade whenever possible.

11. The Must-See Things

After you reach down hooked on the canyon, you must complete your reservation at the Traveler Check-In Office. After you reach Supai Villageerson, whose name is on the booking, must be present and have a photo ID nearby.

Prepare to show your campground reservation. It will have been emailed to you, so print a copy and bring it with you, along with the license vehicle’s license plate number, at the trailhead.

If you’re staying at the Havasupai Lodge in Supai Village, drop your bags in your room and relax—you made it! You must hike another two miles to reach Havasu Falls and the campground.

12. Staying Precautions In Havasu Falls

Havasu Falls is an iconic natural wonder seen on calendars
Screenshot from Go Lake Havasu

In addition to soaking up the wonder of Havasu Falls, you should take time to explore the area’s other cascades. You’ll see three on your trek from Supai Village to the campground. Two additional waterfalls sit just north of the encampment on the Havasu Falls Trail.

Once established at camp, most people day-hike to the additional falls. Just a half-mile from the campground, the Havasu Falls Trail necessitates scrambling down mist-covered canyon walls while fielding onto a chain to get to the pools of Mooney Falls and last to Beaver Falls. Adventurous walkers can go all the way to the Colorado River.

At The End  

When entering the Havasupai Reservation, all luggage and vehicles are subject to a search for prohibited items. Alcohol, drugs, drones, and weapons are among these items. Violators face fines and even imprisonment.

The campground has no Wi-Fi or cell phone service, and Supai Village has only limited service.

There is no emergency assistance in the canyon. If you are injured, getting treatment or transportation out of the canyon may take hours, and you will be responsible for any rescue costs.

Last Updated on May 14, 2024 by Rajeshwari_Das