Havasupai Indian Reservation, surrounded Grand Canyon National Park, is known for its cascading waterfalls with crystal clear bright blue water.
Photo by 52 Hike Challenge community member @_amilliondreamss
Is Hiking Havasupai On Your Bucket List?
You’re not alone.
From Havasu Falls to Mooney Falls, people from all over the world travel to Arizona to bare witness to these breathtaking natural wonders.
As a result, it’s more difficult to get a permit now than ever before. Which is why we put together this helpful article.
In this blog, you will find...
- The official website for Havasupai reservations
- Tips from the Havasupai Tribe on how you can maximize your chances of getting a permit
- Tips from our community about how to strategically secure your permit before they’re all gone
and more!
Havasupai permits sold out almost instantly in previous years. If you want to up your odds of scoring a permit this year, keep reading.
Photo by 52 Hike Challenge team member @michahastattoos
When Do Havasupai Permits Go Live?
Havasupai reservations usually open on February 1st. Reservations open at exactly 8:00am Arizona time.
Because we know math is hard...
- That’s 7:00am for all you Californians and West Coasters.
- If you live in AZ, it’s easy: 8:00am is your time to shine.
- For those of you in the Midwest, plan on 9:00am.
- Be ready at 10:00am sharp if you live on the East Coast.
Now that you know when to look alive, let’s talk about the new reservation system.
Photo by 52 Hike Challenge community member @michellespektor
The Official Havasupai Campground Reservation System
When you search for how to obtain Havasupai permits, a lot of sites come up.
But there’s only one website you need to know about:
So, what comes next?
Keep reading to hear what the Havasupai Tribe recommends when it comes to increasing your odds of getting a permit.
Photo by 52 Hike Challenge team member @michahastattoos
Permit Tips From The Havasupai Tribe
According to HavasupaiReservations.com, there are a few things you can do to prepare for the big moment when reservations become available. YOU MUST HAVE A PERMIT/RESERVATION TO VISIT. Only overnights are allowed, you cannot day hike it. Reservations open in February and they book up quick! Read the information above and visit their site to reserve your backpacking permit.
Here’s what you can do before reservation day:
#1. Create Your Account Now
You might have to wait until February 1st at 8:00am Arizona time to get your permit, but you can create your account beforehand.
An account is required to book a Havasupai reservation.
Creating your account in advance will undoubtedly give you an upper hand when you’re scrambling to grab a Havasupai campsite.
Photo from HavasupaiReservations.com
Once you create your account, you will receive an email to confirm your email address.
From there, you can create your profile with all your information along with your emergency contact information.
#2. Add Your Payment Method
After creating your account, you have the option of adding your payment method right then and there.
If you’re serious about hiking Havasupai, we recommend taking this extra step.
It’s just one less thing you need to do when you’re under pressure to book your reservation ASAP.
#3. Add A Potential Alternate Trip Leader (PATL)
Again, this is optional. A PATL is a person who can use your permit in the event that you cannot attend on your selected reservation dates.
Note that your selected PATL cannot use your reservation unless you officially transfer it to that person.
#4. Review Important Havasupai Reservation Information
After you select your PATL (optional), you will be redirected to a page with lots of information to help you get ready for reserving your trip to Havasupai.
Here are a few key takeaways:
- Reservations are 100% required for visiting Havasupai
- All Havasupai reservations are for 4 days / 3 nights
- The hike to and from the Havasupai campground is 20 miles round trip
Now that you know the ins and outs of the new Havasupai reservation system, let’s hear from our community about how to get your Havasupai permit.
Photo by 52 Hike Challenge team member @michahastattoos
Havasupai Permit Tips And Advice From The 52 Hike Challenge Community
1. Plan your Havasupai trip ahead
As stated above, YOU MUST HAVE A PERMIT/RESERVATION TO VISIT. For the first time this year, online reservations were taken, however, when they were sold out this was the message from their website: "UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: Due to overwhelming reservation requests our online reservations will be unavailable. We are working with Sunrise Reservations to make online reservations available in the future. Please check back. For campground reservations you can also still call the Tourist Office at 928-448-2121. For Havasupai Lodge reservations please call them directly 928-448-2111."
- shelovesarizona They have now posted a website this year for permits. http://theofficialhavasupaitribe.com. They release the permits on February 1st, my advice would be to plan now and be ready to book on February 1. We booked on February 2nd (the day they released the online system) and by the end of the day they were about gone. Thousands of people come here every year so it fills up quick. Please note - You HAVE to have a permit to backpack and camp.
- weputthefuinfun Been a couple times, and never had an issue getting a permit but then social media came and I haven't tried since, as with any permit situation important to plan way in advance, also important to note that they make you pay for an overnight trip, you don't have to camp, but you have to pay for a site, as it warms up plan to leave early, it warms up quickly, especially on the hike out.
- Sigifredo Zepeda They have a website now but they only take reservations on Feb 1st. Within that first week, they get booked for the whole year. Unless you get lucky and someone cancels. Also they changed their terms of payment... One has to pay for everyone and all the days of the camping trip all at once now.
2. Be flexible and plan to visit off season or on weekdays
- rachelecornett Consider going in the off season. Weather was good and no crowds!
- Pamela Michal There is really no easy way to get a reservation... The thing is you need to keep dialing over and over. It's pretty much booked through Oct I believe. Best of luck next year or try to go when it's not the busy time. We went in October and it was beautiful!!
- Katrina Reid I finally got through after 2 days of calling. They are all booked through October so I made reservations for the end of November. Won't be able to swim but at least I'll see the beautiful water falls. Oh and yes they charged my card for all 4 people.
- hisnheradventures This year they raised the prices. Going during the week is much easier than a weekend. One needs four days to enjoy the trip including the long drive. Hope that helps.
3. Be Persistent. Cancellations do occur.
- springs2002 Be persistent and keep calling them. Eventually you'll get thru to their reservation office.
- sabrinabattistagollust I did Havasu last year and I believe it took me and one other girl 3 months of calling to get through. We would go through spurts of 5-6 hours of calling non-stop every day, and then we got kinda discouraged, and did every few days for a few hours. The key was persistence... Also if you join the Havasu Facebook page that could be helpful. I know I saw last year a lot of people would say they suddenly couldn't go anymore and we're giving away their dates. If anybody has any questions about Havasu feel free to pm me.
- backpacking_beauties As of now it is booked, but people make cancellations all the time, so I would keep an eye out. Check often because in the beginning people book whatever dates they can get, just to later change them when the more ideal dates open up.
- shoestringadventures Be flexible and try calling to see if there are last minute cancellations when you are available to go!
4. Reserve the lodge at Havasupai.
Rates start at $145 per night for up to four people, deposits + permits additional. chuangers Currently responding from the In N Out in Kingman, AZ after 3 amazing nights at Havasupai. It's much easier getting lodge reservations than campsites. I booked a year in advance and went during the off season. Way less people at the falls and on the trails. Also calling right at 8 am repeatedly or right before 8 am helps too. Good luck and happy trails!
5. Be Respectful. Be Educated. Pack it in pack it out.
- taniainnature Havasupai is such a magical place! This is a sacred place for the Havasupai people and for that reason it should be respected and taken care of. We are all guests to these lands let's pack our trash on our way out 😁😁
- jazohikes74 Please if you do visit Respect their Reservation and do not criticize their way of living. Let's also keep that beautiful place clean for everyone to enjoy! Best of luck for those permits! 😊👏👣❤️
- ssvuv2010 Please clean up after yourselves: everything from chairs, inflatables, food scum, candy wrappers, etc. It is quite disappointing to see trash all over the trail as you go in thru the canyon and throughout the campsite. Be aware. Be conscious. Love our earth. Keep it clean.
Gear Up For Your Havasupai Adventure Now
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Photo from 52 Hike Challenge team member @michahastattoos
I am a PATL on someones account who will not be going. If he direct transfers it to me as the PATL, do I have to pay for it even though I am listed on the original reservation? Why do I have to pay again?
Hi Robert, great question! Summer at Havasupai is very hot, so we would consider that the off season. You might experience less crowds, but you will need to plan for extreme heat and possible monsoons. Honestly, this area is pretty crowded year-round as permits sell out within minutes for the entire year. Either way, it’s definitely worth a visit!
Great blog. Found it very informational. The only question I have is when is the off season? Since a lot of ppl recommend it I would like to know roughly when that is considered. Thanks