Hillary shocked me last year by saying she wanted to see Havasu Falls and would be willing to go camping to make it happen. Hillary had never camped and the thought of sleeping on the ground, sleeping in a tent, eating backpacking meals, and carrying 35-40 pounds on her back had always been beyond consideration. Yet here we were, she was willing to go camping for the experience!
We were thrilled to have the opportunity to visit Havasu Falls in late March 2024. We had thought it would be a long shot. Getting permits is supposed to be hard and we had a very narrow window in March 2024 that would work during DJ’s spring break. Any other time of the year conflicts with school, Amigos International, or starting next year, college tours. So it was then or not at all.
Turns out it was easy to get permits — perhaps because we were very early in the season or perhaps because we took advantage of the pre-registration. Regardless…
Checking in at Grand Canyon Caverns
We flew in and out of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. It was less expensive and frankly avoided Las Vegas. After a quick stop off at LowerGear Outdoors to get tents, sleeping bags, and a camp stove we were off. A quick 3+ hours later, including about an hour on historic Route 66, we made it to Peach Springs. Here you find both the check-in for Havasu Falls and, surprise, surprise, the Radiator Springs Gas station found in Cars the movie!
Having checked in, it was yet another hour over to Kingman for the Airbnb we used to bookend the hike. Just a note, close by is relative in this part of Arizona. There is NOTHING close to the start of the hike and you can’t sleep in hour car. So it’s at least an hour, if not two, from anywhere you stay, to Hilltop where you start the hike.
We took full advantage of our permit which allows up to four days and three nights. Since day 1 and 4 amounts to the hike in and the hike out (10 miles each, with gear) we had two days to explore the falls. I’ve outlined each of the days in more detail in the posts linked below — mainly lots of photos.
The highlights, for us, were beautiful scenery everywhere. From wide open desert floor to narrow canyons with cactus and cottonwood throughout, the ‘scare-the-wits-out-of-you’ climb down Mooney falls so we could access Beaver Falls, sending postcards to be delivered by mule train, swimming at Havasu Falls, and fry bread.
Climbing Down to Mooney Falls and Hiking to Beaver Falls
If you can stomach the climb, hiking beyond Havasupai Campground to Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls is a bit less traveled and well worth the effort.
Exploring Supai Village, Navajo, Fifty Foot, and Havasu Falls
We decided to explore the falls upstream from Havasupai Campground on our third day starting at Supai Village and working back down to Havasu Falls.
The Hike In and Out of Havasupai Campground
Hiking in and out from Havasupai Campground provides a beautiful view of the desert, cactus, cottonwood trees, canyon walls, Supai Village, and Havasu Falls.
