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

The Havasupai Reservation and Havasu Falls is without doubt one of the most particular locations I’ve ever visited. I’ve been twice now, and each occasions I used to be MIND. BLOWN. Earlier than my first go to, I’d solely seen photographs of Havasu Falls and the milky turquoise blue waters of Havasu Creek. I knew it was going to be particular, however I didn’t notice how extremely magical this place actually is. It’s actually a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.

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

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

That can assist you get the perfect probability of securing your Havasupai Falls Allow, this weblog put up covers the whole lot it is advisable to know together with dates, charges, and extra. I additionally spotlight some necessary Havasu Falls tenting info and a 4-day itinerary so you may get essentially the most out of your time there.

All of this info 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 follow good trail etiquette and bear in mind to Leave No Trace. This implies packing out your whole rubbish (together with rest room paper), being respectful to others, and following the established guidelines.

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How you can Get a Havasupai Allow

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

The most important impediment to planning a backpacking journey to Havasu Falls, although, is definitely getting a Havasupai allow. In most years, permits promote out for the whole yr 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 because of the pandemic and has not allowed entry since. 2023 was the primary yr since its closure that company have been allowed to go to the falls. This implies the allow course of in 2024 will proceed to be very aggressive.

How you can get a Havasu Falls allow in 2024

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

Your finest probability 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.

Make sure 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 strains open.

Havasupai permits will possible promote out inside a couple of hours.

Havasupai Allow FAQs

Ideas for acquiring a allow

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

• Create your on-line account earlier than February 1st. You don’t wish to waste treasured 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 essentially the most aggressive time. In case you can go mid-week in March or late November, you then’ll have a greater probability of getting a allow.
• Do not forget that Arizona doesn’t do daylight financial savings time. Double-check what meaning to your time zone. It could be a bummer to log in an hour late!
• Create your Potential Alternate Journey Chief (PATL) record prematurely. A PATL is the ONLY particular person your allow will go to when you can’t make your journey. In case you don’t designate a PATL, you threat forfeiting the journey for everybody in your group. You may 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 price $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 vast, and 19 inches tall.
• Ice chests/coolers are NOT permitted
• All baggage have to be soft-sided with nothing hanging off the skin
• If in case you have a mule reservation, you will need to drop your baggage off by 10am on the trailhead and by 7am on the campground
• In case you don’t have a backpacking pack, we noticed a number of individuals utilizing blue IKEA baggage to haul their stuff
• Attempt to pack gentle – 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 fighting 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 nighttime. 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 lightweight backpacking gear and backpacking food such as you would for every other backpacking journey and carrying your individual gear. Don’t deliver coolers, float toys, or different extreme gear that’s going to be uncomfortable so that you can carry your self. That approach you’ll get monetary savings and received’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 by means of a cancellation

In case you don’t rating a 2024 allow earlier than they promote out for the yr, you should still be in luck. The net Havasupai Reservation System has a Cancellation/Transfers Web page the place you should purchase canceled journeys. This record is up to date every day at 8am Arizona Time, so be on-line each morning to your finest probability 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 further spots on the official switch system after you buy the canceled journey for a ten% charge. When BFT contributor Courtney purchased permits off the switch record 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.

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Earlier than your Havasu Falls Tenting Journey

In case you’re fortunate sufficient to nab a allow, you’ll must do some planning for the reason that Havasupai Indian Reservation and Havasu Falls are fairly distant and it is advisable to carry out and in your whole provides.

Listed here are a couple of suggestions 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 substantiate 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/medicine/smoking (together with marijuana)
• NO fires (except for gasoline cooking canisters)
• NO drones
• NO nudity or inappropriate clothes
• NO photographs allowed within the village or of Havasupai tribes members

You may read the complete list of rules here (below “Permits”). There are fines starting from $200 to $5000 when 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 choose up your official allow and wristbands to your total group at a resort 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 verify 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 advocate 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 had been from 8-5pm however beginning mid-Could they had been prolonged to 6am-7pm. All the time double-check the hours!

There isn’t any tenting or sleeping in your automotive allowed on the trailhead parking space. There’s a guard on the highway to the trailhead who will verify your permits, so don’t attempt to sleep within the lot. Water can be not obtainable within the parking space, however there are loos. Make sure 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 Inns
  • 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 verify in to your Havasupai journey and choose up your allow. They’ve resort rooms obtainable. BFT workforce 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 verify in and choose up your allow
  • KOA in Seligman
  • Kingman has numerous tenting choices

3. Arrange your Havasu Falls tenting gear

To your 4-day 3 night time journey to Havasupai, it is advisable to pack in AND OUT your whole gear and provides. This consists of meals, provides, trash, and tenting gear. Water is accessible 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 a whole record of what climbing and tenting gear you want for Havasu Falls, try our full Havasu Falls Packing List. You’ll need the fundamentals (tent, sleeping bag, tent, sleeping pad, water filter, and so forth) plus gear for climbing and swimming on the falls, and a bear canister to guard your meals.

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Tenting at Havasu Falls

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

Havsu Falls Campsites

The tenting space at Havasupai is a couple of 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 main 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 by means of the campground, and a lot of the websites have picnic tables. It’s additionally necessary to notice that there are campsites on either side of the river, though entry generally is a little tough with restricted footbridges to cross.

Each occasions 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 top 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 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 excellent. If there’s an opportunity of rain, don’t neglect to deliver a tarp when 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 rest room amenities evenly spaced all through the campground they usually had been surprisingly clear with loads of rest room paper. There are NO showers. Please use the bathrooms supplied to make sure the realm stays pristine for others’ use.

Campfires

Campfires are usually not allowed within the Havasu Falls tenting space or anyplace in Havasupai.

Water

There’s potable water obtainable within the Havasupai campground. You’ll need to deliver vessels to move your water again to your campsite. In case you don’t wish to continually stroll forwards and backwards to the spigot, we advocate bringing a water storage bag.

Wildlife

Be careful for marmots. They’re sneaky and can get into your meals if it’s omitted the place they will get to it. While you go away your camp to go for a swim or a hike, make sure that to hold it or retailer it safely. Bringing a bear canister is simpler than hanging your meals in a tree and is beneficial by the Havasupai Tribe.

Havasupai Tenting Guidelines

If you find yourself tenting in Havasupai it’s necessary that you simply:

• Follow Leave No Trace with the intention to hold the campground and the falls clear for everybody to get pleasure from.
• Be respectful of different campers and watch your noise at night time. It travels quick within the canyon and is a simple solution to get in your neighbor’s dangerous facet. Quiet hours are from 8pm to 5am.
• Use the restrooms slightly than going exterior your tent.
• Pack out your whole trash and don’t go away your trash within the loos for the campground workers to choose 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 the whole lot out that they introduced with them.

Havasupai Lodge: In case you’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 web HavasupaiReservation.com system.

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Havasu Falls Path Information and Itinerary

On the day of your reservation, make your solution to the Hilltop Trailhead parking space with a full tank of gasoline. The closest gasoline station is 70 miles away. There’s a ranger who will verify 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 to your Havasu Falls hike. The entire distance to the Havasu Falls campground is roughly 10 miles a technique and the path begins on the Hualapai Hilltop car parking zone at an elevation of 5,200 ft.

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, step by step dropping one other 1,000 or so ft till you attain the village of Supai at mile 8.

Notice: there isn’t any 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 way in which in is lengthy however not too tough and the preliminary descent is on a well-maintained collection of switchbacks. As soon as you’re within the dry river mattress, the climbing generally is a bit gradual because of the sandy gravel, however the path could be very straightforward to observe.

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

At mile 8, you’ll enter Supai village. No photographs 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 move by means of the Supai village, it’s one other 2 miles and a few hundred ft all the way down to the Havasupai campground.

On the way in which you’ll move Navajo Falls and Fifty Foot Falls, each are price exploring on days 2 or 3.

Havasupai has five waterfalls you can visit. The 2 decrease falls embrace Havasu Falls (essentially the most well-known one), Mooney, and Beaver. The higher falls embrace Fiftyfoot and Little Navajo Falls.

I like to recommend climbing all the way down to Mooney Falls at a minimal throughout your go to to Havasupai, however when you’ve got the power for a full-day hike to Beaver Falls, it’s effectively price your time. For Beaver Falls, you’ll wish to pack loads of water, your swim swimsuit, an ultralight towel, and hiking snacks so you’ll be able to chill out and revel in it when you get there.

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

The hike all the way down to Mooney Falls, which begins proper on the finish of the campground, is difficult, very steep, and requires the usage of chains for assist and ladders. You’ll even must crouch down as you slither your approach by means of 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 whenever 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 gorgeous with approach fewer individuals than you’ll discover round Havasu Falls. Take note of the path because it crosses the river numerous occasions. With a leisurely tempo, the hike to Beaver Falls takes about 5 hours spherical journey.

The hike to Beaver Falls has a couple of steep sections, however is pretty flat for almost all of the hike. You may’t miss Beaver Falls whenever you arrive. There’s a signal and typically a ranger is current. There’s a path all the way 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 if you would like some solar to your swimming tour, get there earlier within the day earlier than the solar goes behind the canyon wall.

Some individuals hike all the way in which to the confluence of the Colorado River, the place you’ll be able to see the turquoise water of Havasu blended 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 if you’re match and ready.

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 a protracted hike out on day 4. In fact you must 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, sun protection, water sneakers, snacks, and perhaps even a lightweight camp chair and a very good e book. Keep in mind, climbing and leaping from the falls isn’t allowed.

Navajo Falls has tons of various shallow swimming pools damaged up by limestone, excellent 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.

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 possible that you simply’ll be a bit drained. Ensure you have loads of water and snacks for the return. You’ll move by Fifty Foot and Navajo Falls as soon as extra when you resolve to chill off earlier than you start the hike out.

Additionally, as you observed on the way in which down, there may be little or no shade on the path, so relying on the time of yr, the hike out from Havasu Falls might be deathly sizzling. That excessive dry warmth can suck the life proper out of you, and even in March when the temps had been within the mid-80s, it was fairly sizzling climbing out.

In case you are doing this hike in summer season, plan to start out 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

In case you’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 yr it solely flies Sundays and Fridays. It prices $100/particular person (tack on a $10 charge 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’re allowed to deliver one bag on the helicopter as much as 40lbs.

When BFT workforce member Courtney visited in April 2023, she selected to take the helicopter out to avoid wasting time and power for the drive dwelling. She began the hike to the village at 5:30am and was #9 in line for a experience 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 experience out of the day, arriving again to her automotive by 11am.

I think about when you’re attempting to fly out in peak summer season warmth, it is advisable to arrive even earlier and be ready to attend for hours. They may 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’re taking a helicopter out of?!) with gorgeous 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.

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The Greatest Time to go to Havasu Falls

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

Spring or Late Fall

• Execs: Fewer bugs and fewer individuals
• Cons: Variable climate may imply lower than superb swimming temps. One yr 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 might be unbearably sizzling) was very tolerable.

Summer time or Early Fall

• Execs: Scorching climate means you’ll be able to sit and hand around in the water all day
• Cons: Scorching temps imply climbing may very well be depressing and probably 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 be monsoon season with flash floods being most definitely from mid-June to late September.

A be aware about monsoon season: Monsoon season in Arizona sometimes runs from mid-June by means of 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 propose an unforgettable backpacking journey to Havasupai! It’s one among my favourite locations I’ve ever visited for its magnificence and magnificence. lt’s actually a particular place.

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

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