Havasupai Falls is a hidden gem tucked away the valleys of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, 1.5 miles away from Supai Village, part of the Havasupai Indian Reservation. The name “Havasupai” means “people of blue-green waters.” Limestones in the water helped create the blue-green color you will find at Havasupai waterfalls. Havasu Falls is the most famous of all the waterfalls along the Havasu Creek, but there are many other waterfalls in the Havasupai area. It is hard to believe such beauty exists, especially in the arid region of the Grand Canyon. It was totally worth it! The waterfalls really do look like the pictures you see online – no filters needed!
Getting to Havasupai Falls
Havasupai Falls is a popular destination for hikers and tourists, so getting a reservation to the lodge or the campground is difficult. There is no online system, so you will have to call in to make a reservation for your group.
Tips for getting a reservation
- Plan months in advance. This is a popular destination, so don’t expect to go next week.
- Be persistent. There is only one person answering the phone, so it will be difficult to get through. Three of us called for days, and finally one of got through and made a reservation for our group 6 months later.
- Be flexible. The weekend dates are the first to go, so it’s better if you are open to week days too.
Hike, Horse, or Helicopter?
There are several ways of getting to Havasupai and back.
Hiking
The most traditional way (and I would say the “real” way) of experiencing Havasupai is to hike on foot. It is a 10-mile hike to the campgrounds (8 miles if you are going to stay at a lodge in Supai Village). Even in the summer, there is plenty of shade but there are places where the grounds are super exposed and hot. However this is the best way to really see the beauty of the Grand Canyon, and most of the way you would be hiking on flat ground, so the hike itself isn’t too bad. On the way to Havasupai from the top you would descend on switchbacks at the beginning of the hike and then descend gradually at the end of the hike when you get to Supai. It is only on the way back you would have to go uphill.
This was the first time I went backpacking, so I was really nervous about carrying 30lbs+ weight on my back. However, the hike turned out to be not too bad, so I didn’t really have much trouble with the hike, despite my lack of training and experience with backpacking.
Helicopter
You can also take a 5-10 minute helicopter ride to the village and then hike 2 miles to the campgrounds. While the ride is short, you may have to wait for hours before you can get on the helicopter. The local tribe relies on the helicopters for transportation of people and their household goods (appliances, food, personal belongings, etc.) so they would have priority over tourists. My friends took the helicopter to Supai, and they had to wait 5 hours before they got a ride. By that time, the hiking crew already made it to camp!
The helicopter is in higher demand from Supai back to the Hualapai Hilltop. If you want to take the helicopter back up, you will need to get up early to line up.
Helicopter flights are available Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Tickets are issued on a first-come, first-served basis from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. There is also the option of only sending your bags with the helicopter so you would only need to carry your day pack.
Horses
You can also ride horses and mules to/from Havasupai. This is a good option if you are not a good hiker but would still want to see the Grand Canyon up close. Prices range from $75 (one way) to $150 (round trip) plus 10% tax. You can also choose to send your bags with the horses and mules so you would only need to carry your day pack.
Lodging
Havasupai Lodge
The Supai Village is a modern day village where the Havasupai Tribe lives, so you can choose to stay at the Havasupai Lodge if you prefer. This lodge has 24 rooms with double beds, and the rates are $145 for up to four people plus 10% tax. This will be the best option if you don’t want to carry camp gear on your trip.
The Supai Village is ~2 miles away from Havasu Falls, so you will need to hike in/out to get to the waterfalls.
Campgrounds
We chose to stay at the campground 2 miles below Supai. The campground serves up to 250 people and is right next to Havasu Falls. Cost is $17 per person per night plus 10% tax. Drinking water is available there although we chose to filter our water just in case. There are also compost bathrooms available at the campsite.
For both lodging options you will also need to pay an entry fee to access the area. The entry fee is $35 per person.