I'm still letting it sink in that I just got back from visiting Havasu Falls - it's easily one of the most beautiful and majestic places I've ever been. I've wanted to make a trip out there for the past 5 years and seeing its popularity grow finally got me to plan a trip. I've gotten a lot of questions from friends about my visit so I thought I'd put together a quick guide to visiting Havasu Falls! (I'm working on a few more detailed posts with planning tips, hiking tips and lessons learned, so be on the lookout for those.)
Follow me to Havasu Falls!
Getting Permits For Havasu Canyon
Before you get too excited about discovering this blue-green oasis, you'll need to secure an entry permit in order to go. You can get permits for visiting Havasu Falls by reserving a campground site or a room at the lodge. Campground reservations for the year open February 1st - be ready for a calling spree. My group of four plus me were calling the different phone numbers endlessly for the first week of February before one of us managed to get through. At that point they only had availabilities starting in August, so make sure you have a few backup dates ready when someone answers the phone.
Campground Phone Numbers:
- 928-448-2141
- 928-448-2121
- 928-448-2174
- 928-448-2180
Lodge Phone Numbers:
- 928-448-2111
- 928-448-2201
Mooney Falls was more challenging to get to but worth it because no one was there.
Setting a Budget For Your Trip
Things quickly add up! Decide if you want a rugged or more comfortable trip when visiting Havasu Falls and book everything accordingly. My group started with six and then turned into two so things became much pricier since we opted for the more luxurious options. This is what the three day trip cost us:
- RT Southwest flight for 2 - $175.92
- 4-day Car Rental - ~$220 (we stayed an extra night in Vegas before flying back)
- 2-night stay at Havasupai Lodge (includes entrance fee x2, environmental fee and tax) - $401.50
- Helicopter out for 2 - $170
We brought snacks for the hikes but ate a few meals at the cafe there. Food cost is definitely inflated but if you're looking for a hot burger at the end of your hike, it may be worth the $10. There's also a small grocery shop if you don't want to carry all your food throughout the trip.
Got to Havasu Falls early and had the whole place to ourselves.
Planning Your Itinerary For Havasu Falls
We did this trip in 3 days but I would have loved an extra few days to explore more and make it to the Colorado River. June to August is considered their monsoon season where thunderstorms and flash floods can happen unexpectedly - we definitely encountered the tail end of this season and experienced some thunder, lightning and rain on our second day. The weather was a pretty solid 90-100 degrees but make sure you account for rain if you plan on visiting during these months.
Day 1:
- Fly into Las Vegas and pick up rental car (4 hour drive to Hualapai Hilltop)
- Hike into Supai Village (8 mile hike; took close to 4 hours)
Day 2:
- Hike to Navajo Falls, Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls
- Thunder and lightning had us turning around at 3:00 PM
Day 3:
- Helicopter out (expect 5 hours of waiting)
- Drive back to Vegas
Fara, our adopted puppy who hiked the whole way in with us!! <3
Be Flexible!
It's important to have a general schedule when visiting Havasu Falls but leave room for change. You may get lost while driving to Hualapai Hilltop or it may start to rain while you're at the waterfalls. Do your research and be prepared! (Shout out to @johnonelio for answering my endless questions!) Look for my next post that will go into more detail with planning tips.
xo, el