Havasu Falls and Havasupai Reopens for the 2023 Season
Ha “waters”
Vasu “blue-green”
Pai “people”
Welcome back! Havasupai and Havasu Falls is set to reopen starting February 1st, 2023 for all current permit holders. All suspended tourism from 2020-2022 will now be able to use their passes after February 1st. There will not be any new permits available for 2023. The only way to score permits for this season is to check the cancel/transfer list, every day at 8 AM Arizona time. You should always check for updates on the Havasupai Reservation Official website.
Havasupai, meaning “the people of the blue-green water” make up a village of 600 people, located in the middle of a canyon. Havasupai Canyon. You can find this piece of paradise bordering the southern end of the Grand Canyon. This canyon boasts 5 waterfalls of the most blue-green water I’ve ever seen with my own eyes. A true desert oasis!
This hidden gem is not much of a secret anymore, in fact social media is to thank for its difficult lottery-style way of obtaining a permit to experience this incredible place. Yes, read that again, you MUST have a permit to go.
Now that you have your reservation lets talk about the intensity of this hike and how important it is to be prepared for it. A packing list will be included at the end of the article. There are two ways of reaching the Havasupai Indian Reservation; by foot or by helicopter. My adventure was 100% earned because I had the pleasure (a little bit of sarcasm) of reaching the campgrounds by foot, including carrying a 40 lb backpack. This is the least expensive option. Remember that everything you bring for the following 3 nights, you will be carrying on your back for 10 miles, one-way. If you aren’t up for carrying your own pack or simply want to make it easier on yourself, then hiring mules to carry your packs are also an option. All Pack Mule reservations are now required in advance and made online.
The last and less strenuous option is taking a helicopter in and out of the village. This too requires reservations ahead of time. This will bypass the 8 mile hike and land you right in the middle of the village. From the village you will only have to hike 2 miles to reach the campgrounds. **If you are not camping, there is an option of staying in the Lodge, which too requires reservations ahead of time.** Click here to make a reservation. However camping is apart of the experience, so I highly recommend it.
The village is located about 8 miles from the trailhead, taking nearly 4-5 hours to reach depending on your pace. Of course you have as much time as you need to stop and take breaks, eat lunch, etc,. Once you see the village in sight, it will take about 15 minutes of walking through the town until you reach the center. This is also where you will see the helicopter coming and going right in front of the office that you will be checking in at. The person who created the reservation will go inside and retrieve wristbands for the group. From there you will finish out another 2 mile hike, roughly 45 minutes, until you reach the campground area. After you pass the ranger station, you are free to camp anywhere.
*Pro Tip* You will want to camp near the *only* water spout.
It’s the only place in the campgrounds to fill up your water bottles and packs. You don't realize how valuable that is until you're filling up your bottles 5x a day. It's also located close to the bathrooms, and that makes everything easier. Yes, there are bathrooms; and to our surprise they are pretty well kept. Be sure to bring your own toilet paper, at times they may run out for the rest of the day/night.
Let’s talk about the beautiful waterfalls! Havasupai Canyon has 5 waterfalls throughout the hike:
Fifty Foot Falls
Fifty Foot Falls is the first waterfall you will see on your hike in. It’s definitely worth the stop, you will be physically exhausted at this point and could use a dip in the cold pool. Take the obvious trail down the hill that leads to the river. This was one of my favorite waterfalls to swim in.
Little Navajo Falls
Little Navajo will catch your eye because it’s the first real sighting of any kind of waterfall during your trek so far. You’ll want to stop, admire, and catch your breath. Some stay and enjoy it for a bit, because at this point you're physically exhausted and might need a good reason to take a break. However, I didn't want to stay too long because I knew that I was only 25 minutes away from seeing the real magic!
Havasu Falls
Down the hill from Little Navajo Falls, the waterfall will come up quick on the right side and will leave you in complete AWE. You always wonder if a place will live up to its expectation, and you're in luck because its beauty exceeded anything I had pictured. The view and colors of the waterfall are jaw dropping. There are plenty of spots for photo opportunities on the way down so be sure to stop, snap a few shots and take it all in.
To reach the waterfall you will head down towards the right of a picnic table. It’s a brisk 3 minute hike down to the bottom. I recommend continuing on to set-up camp and return with out all the gear on your back.
**In between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls you are free to set up your camp just about anywhere. Remember what I mentioned earlier about finding a home base closest to the water spout.**
Mooney Falls
The tall and forceful waterfall, chances are it’s the picture you’ve seen floating around social media. Your campsite will be set up prior to reaching this waterfall, so once you set up camp you are free to explore everywhere within the canyon. As you are approaching Mooney Falls, you will see the immediate drop and powerful waterfall on your right. Definitely an amazing photo op here. To get down to the bottom of the waterfall, you must be prepared for the difficulty. The trail to the bottom is sketchy and a bit nerve-wracking to most people’s standards. The hike down is extremely steep. There are ladders and chains that you will have to lower yourself down with, requiring the use of both hands. It’s also wet coming down, making the rocks a bit slippery. I'm not saying this to scare you, but it truly isn’t what one would deem “safe.” I recommend carrying a smaller day pack for your camera, water, etc. The hike down should only take about 10-15 minutes depending on the flow of the traffic going down and coming up. If you plan to stay only at Mooney Falls, it would be okay to leave your hiking poles back at the campsite. This waterfall is swimmable, but prepare yourself for the extreme turbulence. The waterfall is beyond powerful!
Beaver Falls
For the last and final waterfall, Beaver Falls. A series of waterfalls that lead into each other, making up the entire “Beaver Falls.” After each drop, there are pools making it a good hangout spot for the day to hang and swim in. This is an excursion for after a good night's rest. The hike is one of the best hikes because of its stunning scenery along the way and the variety of terrains throughout the entire hike. It's roughly 8 miles roundtrip. You will need to cross water at least four times, and go up and down a few ladders to reach Beaver Falls. I highly recommend wearing water shoes for the entire hike. You will be waist deep in water at times, so dress accordingly.
Beaver Falls
Packing List
Backpack
Tent
Sleeping Pad
Jet Pack cooking set/ cooking utensils
Toilet Paper
Wipes
Water Shoes
Hiking/trekking Poles
Hiking Socks
All Terrain Shoes
Long Johns (colder months)
Jacket
Beanie
Bathing Suit
MRE food
Snacks
Electrolytes
Camelbak
Light Weight Towel
And any personal hygiene needs.
Headlamp
“Ratsack”
Sunscreen
Lotion
