Havasu Falls Trip Review

Our trip to Havasu Falls was fantastic. We left Phoenix, meandered through Sedona, cut through Flagstaff, until we reached Seligman, which is approximately 100 miles from Hualapai Hilltop, the jumping off point (literally!) into Havasu Canyon.

We put on our hiking gear in the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot, took in the open canyon, and began our descent down a switchback trail, which flattened out when we reached Havasu Wash. The hiking trail down is a little more than a mile. The flat walk to Havasu Creek is about 6 miles. The trek to Supai Village, a permanent town of 600 plus Havasu Indians, is one mile.

Havasu Falls Pictures
Havasu Falls Videos

The trail along Havasu Creek is nice. It’s your first exposure to the blue green waters that make up Supai Falls, Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls, and Beaver Falls.

I found the village of Supai interesting. It’s definitely not been upgraded for tourists. Lots of ramshackle homes and mini paddocks. The natives are friendly, but initially stand offish. The center of Supai Village consists of the Supai Café, the post office, a health clinic, the public school, a church, and a general store, among other things.

We stayed at Havasupai Lodge. The price for accommodation was rather high, but it’s the only show in town. The hotel rooms were comfortable and the heat and water worked. Packhorses were hitched in the front.

The next day we hiked along a road to find Havasu Falls. There’s plenty to see along the way, including homes and life on the fringes, the town cemetery, erosion, Supai Falls, and Navajo Falls.

You now begin to hear the crash of the falls. You approach a rock outcropping, walk forward, take in a breathtaking view of the canyon, see the rushing Havasu Creek, and there it is…Havasu Falls spilling nearly 80+ feet to the bottom.

You hike down from the top of the falls to a beach at the foot of Havasu Falls. The mist is refreshing. The foliage is thick and alive. The waters, the color of turquoise, beckon. It’s like this all the way down to Beaver Falls.

Havasu Falls Pictures
Havasu Falls Videos

Continuing hiking down the trail from Havasu Falls you meet up with Havasu Campground, which is deceptively small. Enter it and you’ll find that it goes on for what appeared to be a half-mile. We were told that campers, backpackers, tour companies, and locals fill it up during early summer and fall.

We returned to Havasupai Lodge later that day and slept like rocks. That morning we had breakfast at the Café, then loaded up our hiking gear and hiked out of the village. The weather at Havasu that day was perfect.

We made good time hiking back through Havasu Wash, pulling aside as trains of packhorses hauling mail and dry goods made there way to and fro.

We rested at the base of the canyon wall. Then put on our packs, got out our hiking poles, and made our way up a mile of switchbacks. The trek up was arduous, but not overly so. Regardless, you get a sense of accomplishment once you arrive at Hualapai Hilltop. There, changed into clean clothing, chucked our packs into the trunk, and made a leisurely drive back to Seligman.

Havasu Falls

Havasu Falls

Havasu Falls is an absolutely amazingly beautiful waterfall located in a remote Havasu Canyon in Arizona. It takes a lot of effort to get there, but it's worth it.

The hike to Havasu Falls begins at Hualapai Hilltop, about 100 miles from Seligman, the nearest town. Many people stay at Flagstaff or Seligman the night before hiking into Havasu, then get up early and drive to the hilltop. The first 1.5 miles of the hike is a steep descent down switchbacks to the bottom of Hualapai Canyon. The rest of the hike is a mostly flat (6.5 miles to the village, or 8.5 miles to the campground) meander down Havasu Wash, which eventually ends at Havasu Creek. From there it is about a 1.5 mile hike to Supai Village, as you now hike through Havasu Canyon. The waters in Havasu Creek are blue-green travertine. The name "Havasupai" means "people of the blue-green waters."

Havasu Falls is a 2 mile hike past the Supai Village, located just before the Havasu Campground. It is a beautiful double waterfall along Havasu Creek, falling into a crystal clear pool, perfect for swimming. There’s a large beach area in front of the waterfall. You can also get to the top of the waterfall and look down.

Havasu Falls and the other waterfalls near Supai are all located on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. The small village of Supai is home to about 600 Havasupai, whose main industry is now tourism. You will need permission from the Havasupai to hike into the village. The entrance fee cost is $20 per person. A room at the lodge is $75 (single) or $80 (double). The campground is $10 per person. If hiking into the village is too physically demanding, you can ride a horse (or have your heavy packs brought in by horse), or you take a helicopter (operated by Las Vegas-based Papillion Helicopters) into the Supai Village.

The waterfalls along Havasu Creek are good year-round. That is because Havasu Creek flows from a spring, and has constant flow throughout the year. However, if you come in the winter months, you could get a lot of rain and cold weather. And in the summer, it will be very hot (+100F in the valley), and July-August is monsoon season (and this is an area for flash floods). March-April is often recommended as the best time of year to go as you beat the heat and crowds of summer.

You can pitch tent at Havasu Campground or you can check in at Supai Lodge. The lodge is nice and well kept. Food can be had at the village cafe, or at the many "convenience shops" operated by Indians out of their homes. Suffice it to say, dining options are minimal.

Havasu Falls

Havasu Falls Links

Havasu Falls is a great adventure experience. The best way to get max enjoyment during your hiking or camping trip into this mystic canyon is to plan.

Consider the weather, then make choices concerning hiking gear (boots, packs, hats, hiking poles, etc.). How physically fit are you? I grade the hike a "B," but that's relative to my fitness.

My point is that you might consider taking a helicopter into Supai Village or go by horseback. It's your call.

Here's are links to more great sources of information on Havasu Falls:

Grand Canyon Havasu Falls

Oasis Guides

Havasupai Falls

Havasu Falls Hiking

Havasu Falls Grand Canyon

Havasu Falls Arizona

That should get you started nicely on traveling to Havasu Falls...