01/29/2019

Havasupai Permits Guide 2027: Prices, How to Book & Everything to Know

Visiting Havasupai in 2027 requires a permit booked at havasupaireservations.com — the 2026 season has ended and 2027 reservations are expected to open in early February 2027 (historically February 1 at 8am Arizona time, with the exact date announced in January). In 2026, permits cost $455 per person for the mandatory 4-day/3-night trip and sold out fast. Day trips are not allowed, and you’ll hike 20+ miles roundtrip to reach the famous blue waterfalls.

If you’ve seen photos of turquoise waterfalls cascading over orange-red rocks and want to see them in person, this guide has everything you need. I’d wanted to visit Havasupai for years, but permits were always impossible to get — until a friend snagged one and I finally saw it with my own eyes. Let me tell you: it is everything!! The waterfalls are just as blue as the pictures, the other campers are so cool, and it’s a genuinely fun experience (plus a great workout).

What is Havasupai?

Havasupai is a Native American reservation near the Grand Canyon, home of the Havasupai Tribe (“people of the blue-green waters”). There are 5 stunning waterfalls:

1. Fifty Foot Falls

Four waterfalls flowing side by side, fifty feet tall as the name suggests. The water isn’t as blue as the others, so it’s less crowded — plenty of space to swim and relax.

2. Navajo Falls

A cluster of small falls fed by Fifty Foot Falls, surrounded by red rocks. One of the few spots with direct, head-on sunlight. About a mile before the campground and blissfully uncrowded.

3. Havasu Falls

The famous one — blue-teal water, the most photographed, and the most crowded since it’s the easiest to reach (well, after the 10-mile hike). There was literally a wedding happening there when I visited!

4. Mooney Falls

Taller than Havasu with way more swimming area. The climb down is via chains and ladders through a rock tunnel — slightly scary, slightly fewer people. You can follow the stream down the canyon and have whole stretches to yourself.

5. Beaver Falls

A gorgeous cascade of tiered waterfalls — beyond beautiful, perfect for hanging out and waterfall jumping. My favorite part of the whole trip.

How to Get Havasupai Permits in 2027

Permits are required and booked only at havasupaireservations.com. The 2027 on-sale date hasn’t been announced yet — historically it opens February 1 at 8am Arizona time, with any early-access presale announced in January. Here’s how the 2026 season worked, so you know what to expect:

Early access presale: January 21–31, 2026 (extra $40/person fee)
General on-sale: February 1, 2026 at 8am Arizona time — sold out fast
Price: $455 per person for the full trip (permits, fees, and taxes included) — 2027 pricing TBA
Trip length: ALL bookings are 4 days / 3 nights. No 2-night or day-hike options exist.
Cancellation: Cancel 90+ days out for a 50% refund; within 90 days it’s fully non-refundable — no exceptions, even for weather or emergencies.
Transfers: Reselling or transferring permits is strictly prohibited. You can name up to 2 alternate trip leaders (PATLs) at booking — they can’t be added later.
Group size: Up to 12 people per campground booking.

Book the minute 2027 reservations open — Havasupai sells out in hours, not days. Create your account before on-sale day, know your dates plus backups, and have friends try simultaneously.

How to Get to Havasupai

Drive to the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot — about 4 hours from Las Vegas, 5 hours from Phoenix. Check in at the Grand Canyon Caverns tourist office the day before your hike to get your wristbands (bring your ID and your car’s license plate number). Supai Village is an 8-mile hike from the trailhead; the campground is another 2 miles past the village. That’s 20 miles roundtrip minimum.

Distances one-way: Hilltop to Supai Village: 8 miles. Village to Fifty Foot/Navajo Falls: 0.5 miles. Falls to Havasu Falls/campground: 1 mile. Campground to Mooney Falls: 1 mile. Mooney to Beaver Falls: 2 miles. Beaver Falls to the Colorado River: 4 miles.

3 Ways to Do the Hike

1. Backpack it

Carry everything on your back — my friends and I did this and it was honestly fine. It’s a great beginner backpacking trip since you’re mostly going downhill or flat on the way in (which means uphill on the way out — start early).

2. Mule service (gear only)

Mules carry your bags so you hike light. The Tribe no longer offers mule rides for people — gear transport only. It costs $400 roundtrip per mule (each mule carries 4 bags); reserve online when you book, and drop bags at the trailhead by 7am.

3. Helicopter

Airwest helicopters fly between Hilltop and the village — a 10-minute ride, then you still hike 2 miles to the falls. It’s $300 per person one-way (a big jump from the old $85 days), first-come first-served with no advance booking, and tribal members get priority. Flights run Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday, weather permitting.

Where to Stay: Campground vs. Lodge

Day trips are NOT allowed — you must stay overnight.

Camping

A mile-long campground with bathrooms (toilet paper and hand sanitizer included). No campfires. You must pack out all your own trash. Included in your $455 permit.

Havasupai Lodge

Located in Supai Village. Lodge rooms run $2,277 for 3 nights (sleeps up to 4) and are now booked through havasupaireservations.com — no more phone-only reservations. Permits are bundled into the rate.

Food & Water

Bring your own food, but Supai Village has a restaurant, a small store, and fry-bread stands between the village and Havasu Falls (delicious but unreliable hours). There’s drinking water at the village and campground — but NONE on the 8-mile stretch from Hilltop, so carry plenty for that section.

My 3-Day Itinerary

Day 0: Drive to Hilltop the night before. Sleep in your car or pitch a tent in the lot so you can start hiking at dawn. (There’s a lodge in Peach Springs 1.5 hours away, but you’ll lose morning hiking time.)

Day 1: Start early — 4am in summer, 6am was fine for us in October. Hike to the village, check in, refill water. Set up camp near the campground entrance to save your legs. Then hike back to Havasu, Navajo, and Fifty Foot Falls for the afternoon. Dinner, stargazing, sleep.

Day 2: Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls — only 3 miles from camp but a full day of exploring. Hike back up to the top of Mooney for sunset. This was my favorite day.

Day 3: Hike out early morning or in the evening to avoid the heat. With a 4th day, I’d day-hike toward the Colorado River.

Best Time to Visit Havasupai

Summer is best for swimming — the water is warm and you dry off fast. I went in October: perfect hiking weather in the high 60s, but the water was chilly. Avoid monsoon season (July–September) when flash floods are a real danger; the canyon has flooded before, including a major evacuation in August 2024.

Packing List

Permit confirmation, driver’s license, car’s license plate number
Water + refillable bottle (lots of it)
Food — dry foods, jerky, granola bars
Comfortable backpacking backpack (I loved my Osprey’s anti-gravity suspension)
Daypack for the Mooney/Beaver day hikes
Hiking boots (I love my Salomons) + hiking socks (blisters are not fun)
Water shoes — you’ll walk through waterfalls; worth the weight
Headlamp, backpacking tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad
Hand sanitizer, trash bags (pack out everything), hiking poles
Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, quick-dry towel
Backpacking stove + utensils (unless you’re doing sandwiches all the way)
Gloves — the chains down to Mooney Falls are wet and slippery
Bug spray, toiletries, camera, battery pack
Floaties — optional, but floating in the waterfalls is elite

For more hiking inspiration, check out my Yosemite viewpoints and easy hikes guide and my Fifth Water Hot Springs hike in Utah.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Havasupai permit cost in 2027?

2027 pricing hasn’t been announced yet — in 2026 it was $455 per person for the mandatory 4-day/3-night trip, booked at havasupaireservations.com. An early-access presale (January 21–31) cost an extra $40/person; general sales opened February 1, 2026. Expect a similar structure for 2027.

How hard is it to get Havasupai permits?

Very hard — they typically sell out within hours of the on-sale. Create your account in advance, log in early, have backup dates ready, and have friends try at the same time to maximize your chances.

Can you do a day trip to Havasupai?

No. Day hiking is not permitted. All visits require the 4-day/3-night campground or lodge booking, and permits are checked at multiple points.

Can you cancel or transfer Havasupai permits?

Cancel 90+ days before your trip for a 50% refund; within 90 days, permits are fully non-refundable with no exceptions. Transfers and resales are prohibited, but you can name up to 2 alternate trip leaders when you book.

Is the Havasupai hike difficult?

Moderately. It’s 20+ miles roundtrip, but the trail is mostly downhill-or-flat on the way in, making it a good beginner backpacking trip. The challenge is distance and heat, not technical terrain — except the chained descent to Mooney Falls, which is genuinely steep.