Howdy! I’m Nicole. In this mini guide, I’ll be sharing my adventures at Havasu Falls as well as providing 10 tips for your visit. A little bit about me: I’m an adventurous person who moved to Colorado three years ago, first to Aspen where I worked a ski season and now I live in the outskirts of Denver. I was born and raised in Florida but am the furthest thing from a Floridian.
Growing up, my family owned an RV and prioritized travel. This allowed me to experience the world a bit. I attest a lot of my personality to the lifestyle my family gave me. As I got older, I craved more of the outdoors and Florida wasn’t cutting it. I wanted to be able to easily escape to the mountains. I took a trip to the Rocky Mountains and from the moment I laid my eyes on the mountain tops, I knew I was going to call Colorado home!
How I Scored Permits for Havasu Falls
Back in February, my friend texted me saying: “Have you heard of Havasu Falls”? As I read her text, I knew what she was about to say. She had just pulled 10 permits, and asked if my boyfriend and I wanted to join! When you get permits to Havasu Falls presented to you on a silver platter, you go!
Permits release every February and sell out within hours for the year. It’s infamous for being one of the hardest permits to get. If you don’t snag one, keep your eye on the cancellation list which releases at 8 am every morning. The entire trip is included in the permit (camping, hiking, etc).
My Magical Experience at Havasu Falls
This was my first backpacking trip, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But the trip blew my mind and exceeded every expectation! It was magical. After hiking for miles along the red canyon walls and hot desert sand, you come across the bluest, most crystal-clear waterfalls. It’s quite the phenomenon to witness. I kept saying the whole time: “Magic happens in this canyon”!
Difficulty Level of the Havasu Falls Hike
The hike is a 20-mile round trip but can easily become 30-45 miles depending on how much you hike once at the campground. It’s a 10 mile hike each way from the trailhead to the campground. It took us 4/5 hours to hike in. I would classify this hike as moderate. The hike starts with switchbacks down into the canyon with 2,400 ft of elevation change. Once you get to the bottom, the rest of the hike is flat along a dried-out riverbed.
10 Tips for Visiting Havasu Falls
- Make Some Proper Plans: Plan ahead for heat, dust and a long day!
- Keep Your Backpacking Weight Down: Try to keep your backpacking weight to less than 20% of your body weight. You’ll thank me later!
- Bring 2/3 Liters of Water: This should be enough for the hike in and out, but you might want to bring more. Once at the campground, there’s a spring you can get water from. It’s not necessary to filter it.
- Don’t Expect to Get the Best Camping Spot if You Don’t Arrive Early: The campground is first come first serve and the best campsites are past Bathroom 2. If you don’t like the site you got, wake up early the next morning and snag a new one as people are packing out!
- Bring Toilet Paper: The tribe provides some but it runs out.
- Start Hiking Early to Beat the Heat: We started at 5:30 am and were shaded for the majority of the time, which helped to keep us cool.
- Bring Cash for the Fry Bread Stands: They are a welcome snack!
- Wear a Water Shoe While Hiking Around the Campground: Most of my group wore Tevas or Chacos, either of which are good options.
- Secure All of Your Food Once at Camp: There are squirrels lurking.
- Bring a Backpacking Chair: Most campsites have a picnic table but it was so nice to have your own chair to sit right on the river with.
Be Sure to Respect the Havasupai Land
The word Havasupai comes from Havasu (“blue-green water”) and pai (“people”). Havasu Falls sits on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is not actually part of Grand Canyon National Park, so you will need to buy a permit directly from the Havasupai Tribe to access the area.
When hiking in, you walk directly through the Havasupai Village. There are no photos or videos allowed to ensure their privacy. It’s also important to follow Leave No Trace principles! We are lucky to experience this place and should never harm it by leaving trash or disrespecting the tribe.
Where to Stay Before Taking the Hike
There is only one campground at Havasu Falls that stretches a mile long. This is where you camp. The night before we started hiking, we stayed at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn which is where you check in for the hike and grab your permits. It was about an hour from the trailhead. Other than that the closest towns are Kingman, Peach Springs or Seligman.
Looking Back on a Special Experience
Arriving at Havasu Falls after 10 miles of hiking was an incredible feeling! You get your first glimpse of the aqua water and powerful stream of water. I was grinning ear to ear. It honestly didn’t feel real. All the research, miles, sweat and planning was worth it in that exact second. I knew at that moment that I was about to have the most surreal three days of my life!
