Final Havasu Falls Tenting, Mountaineering and Allow Information (2024) – Bearfoot Idea

The Havasupai Reservation and Havasu Falls is among the most particular locations I’ve ever visited. I’ve been twice now, and each instances I used to be MIND. BLOWN. Earlier than my first go to, I’d solely seen pictures of Havasu Falls and the milky turquoise blue waters of Havasu Creek. I knew it was going to be particular, however I didn’t understand how extremely magical this place actually is. It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.

Havasu Falls is reached by a 10-mile hike departing from Hualapai Hilltop in Arizona down via a dry sandy wash. It’s an extended hike carrying your backpacking gear (particularly on the best way again up), however when you arrive and take off your pack, you’ll be rewarded with swimming holes, 5 large waterfalls, and enjoyable creekside tenting.

If Havasu Falls is in your bucket listing, there are some necessary issues to know earlier than you go. First, you MUST have a Havasupai allow PRIOR to your go to. Permits aren’t given out on-site and there’s no day climbing allowed. Permits are additionally very aggressive and so they sometimes promote out for the entire 12 months the day registration opens in early February.

That can assist you get the most effective likelihood of securing your Havasupai Falls Allow, this weblog put up covers all the things it’s essential know together with dates, charges, and extra. I additionally spotlight some necessary Havasu Falls tenting data and a 4-day itinerary so you may get probably the most out of your time there.

All of this data has been up to date with the 2024 reservation course of and costs.

Necessary Reminder: Because it goes in the entire locations we share, please apply good path etiquette and keep in mind to Go away No Hint. This implies packing out your entire rubbish (together with bathroom paper), being respectful to others, and following the established guidelines.

Learn how to Get a Havasupai Allow

As I discussed above, with the intention to go to Havasupai and Havasu Falls, you MUST get hold of a allow earlier than your journey. The allow course of helps to protect the pure fantastic thing about Havasupai and offers the Havasu Tribe with an revenue.

The largest impediment to planning a backpacking journey to Havasu Falls, although, is definitely getting a Havasupai allow. In most years, permits promote out for all the 12 months on the day that the reservation system opens. Reservations for the season open on February 1st at 8:00 AM Arizona Time.

The Havasupai Tribe closed entry to the falls in March 2020 as a result of pandemic and has not allowed entry since. 2023 was the primary 12 months since its closure that visitors have been allowed to go to the falls. This implies the allow course of in 2024 will proceed to be very aggressive.

Learn how to get a Havasu Falls allow in 2024

Permits for Havasupai can be found on a first-come-first-serve foundation, which is totally different than a lottery-based system the place everybody has a good likelihood of successful a spot.

Your finest likelihood of getting a Havasu Falls reservation, then, is to be on-line and prepared the minute registration is open, which is 8 AM Arizona Time on February 1st.

Remember to make a web-based account at HavasupaiReservations.com anytime earlier than February 1st. Then, on February 1st, log into your account earlier than 8 am Arizona time and be able to refresh your display screen the minute the traces open.

Havasupai permits will probably promote out inside a number of hours.

Havasupai Allow FAQs

Ideas for acquiring a allow

Getting a Havasu tenting allow could be very aggressive, so to extend your possibilities, observe the following pointers:

• Create your on-line account earlier than February 1st. You don’t need to waste valuable time creating your account the day reservations open.
• Have versatile dates. Mid-summer is when everyone seems to be on summer season trip, so it’s additionally going to be probably the most aggressive time. For those who can go mid-week in March or late November, you then’ll have a greater likelihood of getting a allow.
• Do not forget that Arizona doesn’t do daylight financial savings time. Double-check what meaning on your time zone. It could be a bummer to log in an hour late!
• Create your Potential Alternate Journey Chief (PATL) listing prematurely. A PATL is the ONLY individual your allow will go to in case you can’t make your journey. For those who don’t designate a PATL, you threat forfeiting the journey for everybody in your group. You possibly can select as much as 10 Potential Alternate Journey Leaders.

Pack mule reservations

If you need your gear carried in by a pack mule, you’ll be able to add your title to a waitlist after you’ve secured your campground reservation. You’ll be notified if the Tourism Board has authorized your Pack Mule request. All mule requests have to be made BEFORE your journey.

Right here’s a rundown of pack mule reservations:

• Pack mules value $400 and might carry as much as 4 baggage with a most weight of 32 kilos per bag and a most measurement of 36 inches lengthy, 19 inches broad, and 19 inches tall.
• Ice chests/coolers are NOT permitted
• All baggage have to be soft-sided with nothing hanging off the surface
• When you’ve got a mule reservation, you have to drop your baggage off by 10am on the trailhead and by 7am on the campground
• For those who don’t have a backpacking pack, we noticed a number of individuals utilizing blue IKEA baggage to haul their stuff
• Attempt to pack mild – you continue to should carry your gear from the dropoff level to the campground and again, which features a bridge and a steep hill by Havasu Falls. There are wheelbarrows you’ll be able to borrow, however we noticed many individuals scuffling with an excessive amount of gear.
• Don’t count on to get your stuff in a well timed method. We noticed individuals nonetheless ready for his or her baggage at 6pm and having to arrange camp at the hours of darkness. Equally, we noticed individuals ready on the trailhead for 3-4 hours on the finish of their Havasu Faslls hike ready on baggage.

Personally, I like to recommend packing light-weight backpacking gear and backpacking meals such as you would for some other backpacking journey and carrying your personal gear. Don’t convey coolers, float toys, or different extreme gear that’s going to be uncomfortable so that you can carry your self. That manner you’ll get monetary savings and gained’t be ready in your baggage. And whereas I didn’t observe this personally, individuals have emailed me saying the mules they noticed on the path seemed undernourished.

Getting a tenting allow via a cancellation

For those who don’t rating a 2024 allow earlier than they promote out for the 12 months, you should still be in luck. The web Havasupai Reservation System has a Cancellation/Transfers Web page the place you should purchase canceled journeys. This listing is up to date each day at 8am Arizona Time, so be on-line each morning on your finest likelihood at getting a allow.

If there are dates that be just right for you, however the allow consists of extra spots than you want, you’ll be able to promote these additional spots on the official switch system after you buy the canceled journey for a ten% price. When BFT contributor Courtney purchased permits off the switch listing for April 2023, she had an additional spot which she launched again into the system. It was snatched up the following day and the cash was refunded to her account inside per week.

Earlier than your Havasu Falls Tenting Journey

For those who’re fortunate sufficient to nab a allow, you’ll have to do some planning for the reason that Havasupai Indian Reservation and Havasu Falls are fairly distant and it’s essential carry out and in your entire provides.

Listed below are a number of ideas that can assist you plan your Havasu Falls tenting journey:

1. Have everybody in your group make a web-based account

Whereas just one title is on the tenting reservation, all members of the group should make an account at havasupaireservations.com to verify that they’ve learn and understood the Havasupai Guidelines and Legal guidelines.

A abstract of those Havasu Falls Tenting Guidelines and Legal guidelines consists of:

• NO cliff leaping
• NO mountain climbing
• NO littering
• NO amplified music
• NO feeding animals
• NO fishing
• NO kayaks, standup paddleboards, pool floats, or different watercraft
• NO alcohol/medication/smoking (together with marijuana)
• NO fires (other than fuel cooking canisters)
• NO drones
• NO nudity or inappropriate clothes
• NO pictures allowed within the village or of Havasupai tribes members

You possibly can learn the whole listing of guidelines right here (below “Permits”). There are fines starting from $200 to $5000 in case you get caught doing any of these items and even jail time. Please be a sort, respectful customer and don’t break these guidelines, ruining it for everybody.

2. Decide up your Havasu Falls Tenting Allow and Wristbands

You’ll need to select up your official allow and wristbands on your total group at a lodge that’s 90 miles from the trailhead BEFORE you head to the trailhead or begin your hike down.

Verify-in for all allow reservations takes place at Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, situated at mile marker 115 close to Seligman. The journey chief should test in for all members no later than midday on the primary day of your reservation.

Verify-in hours differ by the season however I extremely suggest checking within the day earlier than your reservation begins so you may get an early begin in your first day.

When Courtney visited in April 2023, check-in hours have been from 8-5pm however beginning mid-Could they have been prolonged to 6am-7pm. All the time double-check the hours!

There isn’t a tenting or sleeping in your automotive allowed on the trailhead parking space. There’s a guard on the highway to the trailhead who will test your permits, so don’t attempt to sleep within the lot. Water can also be not obtainable within the parking space, however there are bogs. Remember to replenish your water BEFORE heading to the trailhead.

Choices for lodging the night time earlier than you begin your Havasu Falls hike embrace:

• Closest Cities with Resorts
  • Peach Springs (68 miles/1 hour 20 minutes from trailhead).
  • Seligman (90 miles/1 hour 40 minutes from trailhead) *Notice: Grand Canyon Caverns Inn is the place you’ll test in on your Havasupai journey and decide up your allow. They’ve lodge rooms obtainable. BFT group member Courtney stayed at Supai Motel in Seligman.
  • Kingman (118 miles/2 hours from trailhead)
• Closest Campgrounds
  • Grand Canyon Caverns RV Park & Inn *Notice: that is the place you’ll test in and decide up your allow
  • KOA in Seligman
  • Kingman has a variety of tenting choices

3. Arrange your Havasu Falls tenting gear

In your 4-day 3 night time journey to Havasupai, it’s essential pack in AND OUT your entire gear and provides. This consists of meals, provides, trash, and tenting gear. Water is offered on the campground.

There’s a small retailer within the village of Supai the place you may get primary snacks and drinks, however don’t depend on provides right here.

For an entire listing of what climbing and tenting gear you want for Havasu Falls, try our full Havasu Falls Packing Record. You’ll need the fundamentals (tent, sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, water filter, and many others) plus gear for climbing and swimming on the falls, and a bear canister to guard your meals.

Tenting at Havasu Falls

Right here is what to anticipate if you arrive the campground at Havasu Falls.

Havsu Falls Campsites

The tenting space at Havasupai is a few mile lengthy and sits between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls. Don’t count on solitude on the campground – Havasu is CROWDED and you’ll have neighbors. Campsites are first-come-first-serve and are scattered all through. In case you are involved about getting a major campsite, get an early begin from the trailhead. We additionally noticed many individuals transfer campsites on morning #2 after early risers left the campground to hike again out.

A majority of the websites are proper on the river that runs via the campground, and many of the websites have picnic tables. It’s additionally necessary to notice that there are campsites on each side of the river, though entry could be a little difficult with restricted footbridges to cross.

Each instances I visited Havasu Falls, the crowds appeared thinner the additional down the campsite space we walked. The one drawback of being nearer to Mooney Falls towards the tip of the campground is that the water spigot the place you replenish your water bottles is situated close to the beginning of the campground.

The campground can also be hammock heaven with tons of bushes to swing from. IDuring my first journey, I slept in my ENO DoubleNest Hammock for the primary time, and it was good. If there’s an opportunity of rain, don’t overlook to convey a tarp in case you plan on sleeping in a hammock. On my second journey, I introduced a lightweight backpacking tent for the reason that climate was wanting extra iffy.

Bathrooms

There are 4 composting bathroom services evenly spaced all through the campground and so they have been surprisingly clear with loads of bathroom paper. There are NO showers. Please use the bathrooms supplied to make sure the world stays pristine for others’ use.

Campfires

Campfires aren’t allowed within the Havasu Falls tenting space or anyplace in Havasupai.

Water

There may be potable water obtainable within the Havasupai campground. You’ll need to convey vessels to move your water again to your campsite. For those who don’t need to continually stroll backwards and forwards to the spigot, we suggest bringing a water storage bag.

Wildlife

Be careful for marmots. They’re sneaky and can get into your meals if it’s unnoticed the place they’ll get to it. Whenever you go away your camp to go for a swim or a hike, make certain to hold it or retailer it safely. Bringing a bear canister is less complicated than hanging your meals in a tree and is beneficial by the Havasupai Tribe.

Havasupai Tenting Guidelines

If you end up tenting in Havasupai it’s necessary that you simply:

• Apply Go away No Hint with the intention to preserve the campground and the falls clear for everybody to take pleasure in.
• Be respectful of different campers and watch your noise at night time. It travels quick within the canyon and is a simple method to get in your neighbor’s dangerous facet. Quiet hours are from 8pm to 5am.
• Use the restrooms slightly than going outdoors your tent.
• Pack out your entire trash and don’t go away your trash within the bogs for the campground workers to select up. All trash left behind have to be despatched out by way of helicopter, so it’s a lot simpler if everybody does their half to hold all the things out that they introduced with them.

Havasupai Lodge: For those who’re not a camper, there’s a lodge within the village of Supai. You continue to want a Havasu allow to remain on the lodge. To make a Havasupai Lodge Reservation, use the net HavasupaiReservation.com system.

Havasu Falls Path Information and Itinerary

Day 1: Mountaineering to Havasupai Campground

• Distance: 10 miles a technique (8 miles to Supai Village)
• Issue: Average-Exhausting
• Elevation Change: -2,400 toes
• Time Wanted: 4-6 hours

On the day of your reservation, make your method to the Hilltop Trailhead parking space with a full tank of fuel. The closest fuel station is 70 miles away. There’s a ranger who will test your allow and wristbands about 5 miles from the parking space. After parking within the customer’s space, show your Campground Reservation Affirmation Code visibly in your dashboard.

On the trailhead, you’ll be able to manage your gear and prepare on your Havasu Falls hike. The full distance to the Havasu Falls campground is roughly 10 miles a technique and the path begins on the Hualapai Hilltop parking zone at an elevation of 5,200 toes.

Instantly, the path begins a 1,000-foot descent over the primary mile, dropping you into Havasu Canyon. When you attain the wash, the path follows a dry river mattress for the following 6.5 miles, regularly dropping one other 1,000 or so toes till you attain the village of Supai at mile 8.

Notice: there isn’t a water obtainable on the trailhead or on the path, so be sure you pack sufficient to make it to the campground.

The hike on the best way in is lengthy however not too troublesome and the preliminary descent is on a well-maintained sequence of switchbacks. As soon as you might be within the dry river mattress, the climbing could be a bit sluggish as a result of sandy gravel, however the path could be very straightforward to observe.

If at any level you suppose you’ve misplaced the path, simply preserve following the river mattress till you meet again up with the trail.

At mile 8, you’ll enter Supai village. No pictures or movies are allowed on this space and in 2023 there have been indicators asking you to put on a face masks all through the village. Please be respectful and obey the present needs of the locals. When you go via the Supai village, it’s one other 2 miles and a few hundred toes right down to the Havasupai campground.

On the best way you’ll go Navajo Falls and Fifty Foot Falls, each are value exploring on days 2 or 3.

Day 2: Day Hike to Mooney and Beaver Falls

• Distance: 7 miles spherical journey
• Issue: Average-Strenuous
• Elevation Change: +/-1,200 toes
• Time Wanted: 5-6 hours (not together with time on the waterfalls)

Havasupai has 5 waterfalls you’ll be able to go to. The 2 decrease falls embrace Havasu Falls (probably the most well-known one), Mooney, and Beaver. The higher falls embrace Fiftyfoot and Little Navajo Falls.

I like to recommend climbing right down to Mooney Falls at a minimal throughout your go to to Havasupai, however when you have the vitality for a full-day hike to Beaver Falls, it’s nicely value your time. For Beaver Falls, you’ll need to pack loads of water, your swim go well with, an ultralight towel, and climbing snacks so you’ll be able to chill out and luxuriate in it when you get there.

Additionally, don’t hike in flip flops. For the hike right down to Mooney and Beaver Falls, you’ll going to need sturdy water sneakers or climbing sandals (like Tevas) that you simply don’t thoughts getting moist.

The hike right down to Mooney Falls, which begins proper on the finish of the campground, is difficult, very steep, and requires using chains for assist and ladders. You’ll even should crouch down as you slither your manner via some slim sections with a cave-like really feel.

Take your time, and don’t really feel rushed by different individuals. You’ll be happy with your self if you get to the underside, and in my view, happening is scarier than going again up.

When you’re down there, the path continues to Beaver Falls. It’s beautiful with manner fewer individuals than you’ll discover round Havasu Falls. Take note of the path because it crosses the river a variety of instances. With a leisurely tempo, the hike to Beaver Falls takes about 5 hours spherical journey.

The hike to Beaver Falls has a number of steep sections, however is pretty flat for almost all of the hike. You possibly can’t miss Beaver Falls if you arrive. There’s a signal and typically a ranger is current. There’s a path right down to the water so you’ll be able to swim in addition to place to sit down and eat lunch.

Beaver Falls is a tremendous place to take a dip, so in order for you some solar on your swimming tour, get there earlier within the day earlier than the solar goes behind the canyon wall.

Some individuals hike all the best way to the confluence of the Colorado River, the place you’ll be able to see the turquoise water of Havasu combined with the muddy brown water of the Colorado. This can be a LONG day – 16.5 miles roundtrip from the campground – so solely try the confluence hike in case you are match and ready.

Day 3: Hold at Fifty Foot and Navajo Falls

• Distance: 2 miles spherical journey
• Issue: Simple
• Elevation Change: +/-250 toes
• Time Wanted: 1 hour (not together with time on the falls)

Day 3 is all about enjoyable and swimming on the falls close to the campground. It’s good to have a mellow day to relaxation your legs because you’ll have an extended hike out on day 4. In fact it is best to swim at Havasu Falls, however for a quieter expertise head again in the direction of the village to discover Fifty Foot and Navajo Falls.

Like day 2, pack your towel, swimsuit, solar safety, water sneakers, snacks, and perhaps even a light-weight camp chair and a great e-book. Keep in mind, climbing and leaping from the falls shouldn’t be allowed.

Navajo Falls has tons of various shallow swimming pools damaged up by limestone, good for hanging out in. Because it was so near our campsite, we introduced our inflatable sleeping pads as much as the falls and used them to drift round on.

Day 4: Mountaineering Again to Hualapai Hilltop parking zone

• Distance: 10 miles one-way
• Issue: Strenuous
• Elevation Change: +2,400 toes
• Time Wanted: 5-7 hours

The hike again out to your automotive is a little more difficult than the hike into the campground. By the point you attain the climb on the finish, it’s probably that you simply’ll be a bit drained. Ensure you have loads of water and snacks for the return. You’ll go by Fifty Foot and Navajo Falls as soon as extra in case you resolve to chill off earlier than you start the hike out.

Additionally, as you seen on the best way down, there may be little or no shade on the path, so relying on the time of 12 months, the hike out from Havasu Falls will be deathly scorching. That excessive dry warmth can suck the life proper out of you, and even in March when the temps have been within the mid-80s, it was fairly scorching climbing out.

In case you are doing this hike in summer season, plan to begin the trek out within the very early morning, like 4am early, or keep and swim and hike out within the early night. The path formally closes at sundown, so simply plan to be off the path by the point it’s darkish.

Choice to take a helicopter out

For those who’d slightly not hike out from Havasu, there’s a first-come, first-serve helicopter that leaves from Supai village. From March 15 to October 15 it flies on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays, and the remainder of the 12 months it solely flies Sundays and Fridays. It prices $100/individual (tack on a $10 price if paying by bank card), and it’s not assured it is possible for you to to make use of it. Locals get first precedence and the helicopter doesn’t fly in dangerous climate. You might be allowed to convey one bag on the helicopter as much as 40lbs.

When BFT group member Courtney visited in April 2023, she selected to take the helicopter out to save lots of time and vitality for the drive house. She began the hike to the village at 5:30am and was #9 in line for a journey out.

Flights start round 10am so be ready to reach early and wait round. The helicopter takes 6 passengers on the time, and primarily based on the variety of locals, she ended up on the third journey out of the day, arriving again to her automotive by 11am.

I think about in case you’re making an attempt to fly out in peak summer season warmth, it’s essential arrive even earlier and be ready to attend for hours. They’ll proceed flying till everyone seems to be accommodated or till it will get darkish.

Taking the helicopter was a novel expertise (what different backpacking journey can you are taking a helicopter out of?!) with beautiful views of the canyon, however all the time be ready to hike out in case you’ll be able to’t make it on the helicopter.

The Finest Time to go to Havasu Falls

The perfect time to go to Havasu Falls will depend on what you need to do there. Do you need to swim? Or do you need to keep away from the crowds? Right here are the professionals and cons of visiting Havasu Falls for the totally different seasons:

Spring or Late Fall

• Professionals: Fewer bugs and fewer individuals
• Cons: Variable climate might imply lower than splendid swimming temps. One 12 months I went in March and had swimming climate (80 levels) throughout the day and really chilly nights (40 levels). On my most up-to-date journey in Could, it rained and was not appropriate for swimming till the final day. The plus facet of that is that the hike out (which will be unbearably scorching) was very tolerable.

Summer time or Early Fall

• Professionals: Sizzling climate means you’ll be able to sit and hand around in the water all day
• Cons: Sizzling temps imply climbing might be depressing and doubtlessly even harmful. Within the warmth of summer season, when Havasu Falls is the busiest, individuals rise up at 4am to start the hike out. Summer time can also be monsoon season with flash floods being more than likely from mid-June to late September.

A observe about monsoon season: Monsoon season in Arizona sometimes runs from mid-June via September. Havasu Canyon has traditionally seen flooding, together with harmful flash floods. Be ready by checking the climate forecast, complying with guidelines and rules, and checking in on the vacationer workplace earlier than you head to the campground.

I hope this information helps you intend an unforgettable backpacking journey to Havasupai! It’s one among my favourite locations I’ve ever visited for its magnificence and magnificence. lt’s really a particular place.

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What questions do you could have about planning a backpacking journey to Havasupai in 2024? Did you get a Havasu Falls allow this 12 months? Go away a remark beneath!

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