Havasupai means people of the blue-green waters. It is these spectacular natural pools and waterfalls within Havasu Canyon that give the Havasupai tribe its name. A small isolated community of 200 people lives in Supai Village, halfway between the south rim of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River that carved it. The only access to Supai Village is by walking or flying. No roads have ever been built here.
Naturally, this beautiful and remote landscape attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.
Are you planning a trip to Havasupai?
Here are a few things you must know prior to going there:
You must have a permit before visiting. Here is some good information about obtaining a permit. Reservations are required for anyone who enters the Havasupai Indian Reservation.
Prepare to hike at least 10 miles to your destination. There are no roads to Havasupai. An eight-mile hiking trail leads to Supai Village. From there, it’s another two miles to the campground and the first set of waterfalls that make this place so famous. There’s much more after that! For an additional fee, pack mules can carry your gear while you hike. On certain days, you may catch a helicopter ride into or out of the canyon.
Prepare to spend at least one night in Havasupai. According to tribal rules and your permit to Havasupai, you must spend at least one night in the canyon before hiking back out. There's a lodge at Supai Village or a campground between Havasu and Mooney Falls. Most visitors spend two nights at the campground in Havasupai.
There are no medical facilities or emergency personnel in the canyon. Be careful, be smart, and hike with a first aid kit. In the event of an injury, it may take many hours to get help. Your health insurance company may or may not cover your helicopter ride out of the canyon. Your safety is your responsibility.
Trails into Havasupai may close without any prior warning. Be flexible. Most trail closures happen in July-August, during monsoon season. This is also the hottest time of the year. The canyon closes to tourism when the temperature exceeds 115F or when there's a flash flood hazard.
Need backpacking gear? We put together a rental package perfect for Havasupai trips. If you don’t need the full package, you can rent individual items from us. Reserve your gear today.
What should you pack for Havasupai?
Here’s a checklist to go over before heading into Havasupai. You’ll need your personal items, backpacking gear, and food for at least three days. Check out RightOnTrek's meal planner. You can purchase their backcountry meals through us with your rental order.
If you need to rent a backpack, we have a wide array of volumes and sizes to fit your needs. We even have child carriers for rent, for those taking their little ones along for the journey.
Going to Havasupai as a family? Check out the Rad Family blog about their trip.
Do you have any questions about Havasupai? Get in touch with us and we’ll answer as best we can. Happy trails!