I’ve been lucky enough to hike to Havasu Falls twice, and each trip was an unforgettable adventure. The waterfalls are absolutely magical and worth every ounce of effort it takes to get there.

This iconic Havasu Falls hike, located on Havasupai tribal land, is a bucket list destination for many outdoor lovers. The trail is 10 miles each way, departing from Hualapai Hilltop in Arizona where you descend into a steep canyon and travel through a dry sandy wash all the way to paradise.

It’s a long hike carrying your backpacking gear, but once you arrive and take off your pack, you’ll be rewarded with turquoise swimming holes, gorgeous waterfalls, and relaxing creekside camping.

In this post, I’ll share how to prepare and what to expect on your Havasu Falls hike so you are ready for an epic adventure!

Havasu Falls Trail Description

Hiking from Hualapai Hilltop to Havasu Falls

The total distance to the Havasu Falls campground is approximately 10 miles one way. The trail begins at the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot at an elevation of 5,200 feet.

I recommend getting an early start for two reasons. First, the trail has NO SHADE. So starting earlier means your hike to Havasu Falls will be a lot more comfortable. Second, the earlier you arrive, the more campsites you’ll have to choose from since you’ll be ahead of many other hikers.

Note: There is no water available at the trailhead or anywhere on the trail, so make sure you pack enough to make it all 10 miles to the campground. There are bathrooms at the trailhead.

From the Hualapai Hilltop trailhead, the trail begins an immediate 800-foot descent over the first mile, dropping you into Havasu Canyon which you can see below.

The hike on the way in is long but not too difficult and the initial descent is on a well-maintained series of switchbacks.

During your hike, you’ll likely encounter packs of horses/mules being led by local tribe members. These mules are carrying gear for campers who paid for the service.

Horses/mules have right of way on the trail so please step off the trail when you see them. Be alert and if you hike with earbuds in, consider leaving one out so you can hear them approaching. There’s no reason to make them work harder than they already are.

Once you reach the wash, the trail follows a dry river bed for the next 6.5 miles, gradually dropping another 1,200 feet. Here, the hiking can be a bit slow due to the sandy gravel, but the trail is very easy to follow.

If at any point you think you’ve lost the trail, just keep following the river bed until you meet back up with the worn path.

As you get closer to the Supai Village, the canyon chokes up and gets narrower. Here we were able to get some reprieve from the sun.

At 6.2 miles, you’ll reach an intersection with the Supai Trail and Havasu Creek. Here you’ll turn left. Soon you’ll start to see homes belonging to the Havasupai people. Stay on the trail and follow the signs to the village.

At mile 7.5, you’ll enter Supai village. No photos or videos are allowed in this area, and there may be signs asking you to wear a face mask as you walk through the village. Please be respectful and obey the current wishes of the Havasupai Tribe.

In the village, once you get to the Village Market, the road turns left. Continue on here and follow any signs pointing you towards the campground.

Once you pass through the Supai village, it’s another 2 miles and 150 feet of elevation loss down to the Havasupai campground.

Before you get to Havasu Falls, you’ll pass two other waterfalls at the halfway point – Fifty Foot Falls and Navajo Falls. These are located one mile from the Supai Village and one mile from the Havasu Falls campground.

Depending on the time of day, you might consider stopping to explore. If it’s getting late, you can skip these and come back to enjoy them on another day of your trip.

The different waterfalls on the Havasupai Reservation may look different than the photos here. Flash floods can dramatically alter the landscapes from year to year. The color of the water can even change depending on the time of day and whether it’s sunny out.

From Navajo Falls, it’s one more mile to the campground. First you’ll cross Havasu Creek on a bridge. Then as you approach the campground, the trail hugs the left side of Havasu Creek where it spills over Havasu Falls. This is a great vantage point of the waterfall and the pools below.

Here, I suggest taking a couple of photos but rather than stopping, continue another quarter mile to the entrance to Havasu Campground.

The campground is quite big and runs along more than half a mile of the trail between Havasu and Mooney Falls below. There are spots on both sides of the creek, so I when I was there, I really poked around before settling on a spot.

You’ll have plenty of time to explore the other Havasupai waterfalls over the next couple of days, but if you’re eager to see what you’re in for, the view point looking down on Mooney Falls is just a few minutes hike from the campsites.

Hiking back from Havasu Falls to Hualapai Hilltop

I highly recommend staying all 3 nights/4 days that your Havasu Falls permit allows since there is plenty to do and explore on days 2 and 3 (my Havasu Falls camping guide also has an itinerary)!

When the time comes to hike from Havasu Falls back to Hualapai Hilltop, there are two strategies, and it really depends on what time of year you are hiking.

Remember it’s a long 10-mile hike with 2,200 feet of elevation gain. It took my hiking buddies and I around 6.5 hours to hike out, which is a pace of 40 minutes per mile.

If your trip is in the summer, I suggest starting your hike no later than 6am. If you can manage to be packed up even earlier, that’s even better. As you noticed on the way down, there is very little shade on the trail, so depending on the time of year, the hike out from Havasu Falls can be deathly hot. That extreme dry heat can suck the life right out of you, and even in March on my first trip, the temps were in the mid-80s, and it was quite hot hiking out.

A 6am departure should put you back at your car around noon, avoiding the hottest part of the day on the steepest part of the trail (which also happens to be west facing).

If you aren’t an early riser, the second option is to have a relaxing morning, spend some more time enjoying the falls, and then start your hike later in the day. My trips were in March and May and it stifling hot, so this was the approach I took.

I took a refreshing morning swim in Havasu Creek before reaching Supai Village, and then I started my hike in the afternoon.

By the time I reached the steep ascent back to my car, the sun had gone down and the trail was in the shade. I got to enjoy the colorful sunset right as I finished the trail, and it was a great way to cap off the day. I’m not sure I’d suggest this in June-September, but for the cooler months, it was a great way to hike out.

Unlike previous years, the trail is now open 24 hours a day, so if your Havasu Falls hike is during the hot summer, than you can also hike out in the dark. Just make sure your headlamp is fully charged if you choose this route.

Regardless of what time you leave, make sure to save some food for your hike out as you’ll need fuel for the long day. Also, fill up all of your water so you have 4 liters for the hike out.