Backpack Trail Guide

Trails / Arizona / Northern Arizona Canyons

Havasu Falls (Havasupai Indian Reservation)

Havasupai Indian Reservation, administered by the Havasupai Tribe (Hualapai Hilltop, northwest Arizona)

Havasu Falls in the early morning, Havasupai Indian Reservation (2014)
“Havasu Falls in the early morning, Havasupai Indian Reservation (2014)” by Traveling Man , CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source · Resized for the web

Havasu Falls pours turquoise water into travertine pools deep in a side canyon of the Grand Canyon, on the land of the Havasupai Tribe. The hike in is about 10 miles from Hualapai Hilltop down through Havasu Canyon to the Tribe’s campground, below Havasu Falls and above Mooney Falls. The Tribe controls access completely, and a reservation is required before you set foot on the trail.

Getting a reservation is the hard part.

The hike

The NPS explains that the Havasupai Tribe administers this land, which lies outside the boundary and jurisdiction of Grand Canyon National Park, and that reservations are required before entering the reservation. The Tribe’s rules apply, not the Park Service’s. Papillon notes the falls are reachable only by the roughly 10-mile hike, or by mule or helicopter shuttle, and only with an advance reservation from the Tribe.

The trail starts at Hualapai Hilltop. The Tribe says camping isn’t permitted at Hilltop, including sleeping in your vehicle, and that trailhead parking is limited, with more parking along the road leading to it. Before your trip, the Tribe requires the permit holder or group leader to check in at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn with photo ID, on the day of or the day before the permit start date. Missing check-in cancels the booking.

From the rim, the route descends into Havasu Canyon and passes through Supai, the Tribe’s village. The NPS’s map of the route labels the sequence: the Havasu Canyon Trail to Supai village, then on to the campground, with Havasu Falls above the campground and Mooney Falls below it. Jared’s Detours puts the campground 11 miles from the trailhead parking lot and describes it stretching along Havasu Creek. Lonely Planet names Havasu, Mooney, and Beaver Falls as the main waterfalls.

Flooding has reshaped the canyon repeatedly. The NPS says flood damage in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2024 has left some areas of Havasu Canyon off limits because of ongoing repair work or unstable ground. It adds that the impact of visitors, the 2018 flood damage, and the cost of maintaining trails and visitor services have been overwhelming for the Tribe. In late August 2026, after the deadly flood in Bright Angel Canyon, the Tribe posted that Havasupai was open, that the flooding was in Grand Canyon National Park rather than Havasupai, and that the trails were passable and the falls blue-green. It also warned that weather is unpredictable at that time of year.

The permit system changed for 2026. Matador Network reports that the Tribe did away with its lottery and introduced an early booking window that opened January 21, 2026, before the usual February 1 sale date. The Canyon says the old lottery and transfer board have been permanently discontinued, and the Tribe strictly prohibits reselling or transferring permits. The Tribe strongly encourages naming a Potential Alternative Trip Leader when you book, since that person can check in if the reservation holder can’t. Reservations are based on three-night stays, according to the Tribe.

Demand has always been intense. Jared’s Detours estimates about 100 permits a day and around 30,000 visitors a year. The reservation site has been known to sell out quickly when sales open.

For another northern Arizona canyon trip with far easier permits, see West Clear Creek.

Tips

Camping

Camping is allowed only at the Havasupai Campground, with a reservation from the Tribe, and reservations are based on three-night stays. The Tribe also offers lodge reservations in Supai. The resale or transfer of permits is strictly prohibited. Contact the Tribe through its official reservation site for current rules.

Inside Intel: We didn’t find camper accounts recommending particular sites in the campground. The NPS route map shows the campground between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls, and Jared’s Detours describes it stretching along Havasu Creek, so any site puts both falls within reach during a three-night stay.

Trail facts

The Lowdown

Three nights beside Havasu Creek:

A three-night stay at the Havasupai Campground makes a comfortable pad worth its weight. See which pads testers recommend.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.