Havasu Falls Explorer
Flagstaff, AZ
5.0 (8 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Turquoise Water & Plunging Falls
- 2 Full Days at the Falls
- All-inclusive Tour
- Amazing Natural & Cultural History
- Swimming in Idyllic Pools
- Descend Below Mooney Falls
- Fantastic Cuisine, Gear & Guides
Description
Our Havasu Falls Explorer backpacking trip into the famous Havasupai waterfalls and the canyon village of Supai is an adventurous, extended option for enjoying the Grand Canyon’s most spectacular waterfalls. We set off from Flagstaff, Arizona and head to the trailhead where we begin our hike into Havasupai. Our hike takes us across broad desert valleys and through serene, winding canyons to Havasu Creek. We follow the creek through the village of Supai and down to the campground, where we enjoy a comfortable basecamp. From camp we spend two days hiking, exploring, sight-seeing, and swimming up and down the canyon, visiting a total of 5 amazing waterfalls that are connected by one of the world’s most beautiful desert creeks.
The rate includes a professional Grand Canyon hiking guide, reservations, local transportation, nearly all your gear, and all your meals. Commercial tours are charged separate tribal fees by the Havasupai Tribe, which are detailed on this page in the pricing section, and are passed through directly to the tribe.
Need to Know: Currently No Havasu Falls Tours
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be operating Havasu Falls tours until further notice. We hope to continue operating tours to Havasu Falls in the future. In the meantime, we offer award-winning hiking and trekking vacations to other incredible Southwest destinations! Check out more of our Arizona adventures.
HAVASUPAI TRIBAL FEES
Havasupai Tour rates (per person) are broken down into two fees:
- The Wildland guided tour rate: this rate covers everything we provide, which includes local transportation, guides, meals, transport of supplies and personal items (not on backpacking trip), camping gear, camping reservations, safety equipment, and more.
- Havasupai Tribal Fees: the Havasupai Tribal fees are added when you register and cover a per-person entrance fee, environmental fee, and per night camping fees plus 10% tax (the tribe’s fees are higher for commercial companies than for individuals visiting on their own). These fees are dictated annually by – and passed in their entirety to – the Havasupai Tribe.
Please Note: all discounts apply only to the Wildland rate, not to the Tribal Fees.
If you have any questions about our rates or the tribal fees, feel free to call us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453)!
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 3
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
By Grand Canyon standards the hike to the Havasupai Waterfalls is a moderate trip. Elevation change from the trailhead to the campground is 2400 feet but spread out over 10 miles, making it a gradual descent/ascent. There is an optional day hike to Beaver Falls that requires an extremely exposed, vertical down climb on bolts and ladders secured to a cliff. If you have a fear of heights, you may choose to stay in camp on this day.
Hiking Distances:
7-10 mi
Backpack Weight:
25-35 lbs
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2400 ft
Heights Exposure:
Significant
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 25-35 lb backpack for 7-9 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on lightly rugged terrain
- Hiking in 105+ degree farenheit ambient temps may be required. Learn more about desert heat.
- Hiking with extreme heights exposure if you choose to join the day hike to Beaver Falls (optional)
SOLITUDE LEVEL 2
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 2 because the trail to Havasupai is well-used, but below Mooney Falls we’ll see far fewer people. You can expect as much as an hour of solitude at a time once we’re several miles into the Canyon. Weekends, and especially holiday weekends, tend to be very busy so if traveling during these periods expect to be around other hikers most of the time.
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
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ITINERARY
Day 1
- Shuttle to Hualapai Hilltop: 3.5-hour drive from Flagstaff
- Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
- Elevation Loss: 2,400 feet
This Havasu Falls backpacking tour begins at Hualapai Hilltop. We’ll do a pack fitting/adjustment before beginning our hike downhill through a relatively steep series of switchbacks before leveling off in a beautiful red sandstone canyon. After 6 miles of hiking this canyon intersects with Cataract Canyon and Havasu Creek, whose enchanting turquoise waters are some of the most inviting in the world. We follow this creek for 2 miles to the village of Supai before continuing on another 2 miles to the campground. En route to the campground we pass three of the five major waterfalls, Rock Falls, Fifty Foot Falls, and Havasu Falls.
We’ll set up camp and save the rest of the day for photographing and enjoying Havasu Falls, or walking down to the top of Mooney Falls. Your guide will prepare a fantastic dinner before we turn in a for a great night’s sleep.
Day 2
- Hiking Mileage: 7 miles (optional day hiking)
- Elevation Change: 500 feet
Leaving camp set up, we’ll spend day 2 exploring the stunning waterfalls that make Havasu a world-renown Grand Canyon destination. We’ll hike downstream to Mooney Falls which is perhaps the most magnificent of all of them at 200 feet tall. We’ll then continue hiking downstream another 2.5 miles to Beaver Falls, where the canyon becomes increasingly dramatic with small waterfalls cascading under ash and cottonwood trees. Big horn sheep are often an added bonus, as this area provides them with rare, valuable grazing habitat. Beaver Falls makes for a fantastic lunch spot before we hike back to camp and another wonderful dinner.
Day 3
- Hiking Mileage: 5+ miles (optional day hiking)
- Elevation Change: 300 feet
After sleeping in and enjoying a hearty breakfast we’ll have the rest of the day to hike and explore Rock Falls and Fifty Foot Falls, which are less-visited but equally as stunning as Havasu and Mooney Falls, and make for unforgettable swimming and photography. We’ll be back in camp mid afternoon to relax and prepare for the next day’s hike out.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 10 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,400 feet
- Shuttle to Flagstaff: 3.5-hour drive from Hualapai Hilltop
In the warmer months (May through September) we’ll get a very early start, which can be as early as 4 or 5 AM. We’ll hike back through the Supai Village, Cataract Canyon and up to Hualapai Hilltop, where we’ll enjoy lunch and cold drinks. Our drive back to Flagstaff is a time for reflection and will likely pass in a stream of memories as you relax and enjoy the natural scenery of Northern Arizona before arriving at our starting point in Flagstaff.
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be operating Havasu Falls tours until further notice. We hope to continue operating tours to Havasu Falls in the future. In the meantime, we offer award-winning hiking and trekking vacations to other incredible USA destinations!
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Top-of-the-line backpack, tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
- Havasupai camping reservations
- Roundtrip transportation from Flagstaff to the trailhead and back
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
What's Not Included
- Havasupai tribal fees (mandatory per-person entrance, environmental, and camping fees) are added separately and collected at time of registration (more info above)
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- A lightweight stuff sack for your belongings
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What To Expect
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!
Trip Logistics
How do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
Where Do We Meet?
Unless we tell you otherwise, you will meet your guide and group at the Little America Hotel in Flagstaff (use this reservation page for a 10-60% discount at Little America) for an orientation meeting at 5:00 PM the evening before the trip begins. We’re happy to give you a ride to this meeting if you’re not staying at Little America, but staying at one of our other recommended hotels. Your guide will then pick you up at your hotel the next morning for transport to the trailhead. For Private Grand Canyon Tours your guide will meet you at your hotel in Flagstaff at an agreed upon time.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Flagstaff
WHY WE BASE IN FLAGSTAFF VS. PHOENIX VS. PHOENIX
- Reduced drive time by 3 hours on first day of hiking
- Guide support is only an hour away vs. 4-5 hours away in Phoenix.
- Increased flexibility with unforeseen circumstances
- Flagstaff is a scenic mountain town with great hiking and restaurants!
Groome Shuttle
Groome Transportation operates an Arizona Shuttle that makes 9 dependable trips daily each direction between Phoenix and Flagstaff. The duration is 2.5-3 hours. They pickup/drop off at Sky Harbor Airport and the Metro Center in Phoenix, and in Flagstaff at the Amtrak Station (near downtown) and the NAU campus.
Note: Groome also offers daily transportation (3 trips in each direction) from Flagstaff to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Car Rental
Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix has a fantastic car rental facility that is easily accessible and hosts a great variety of companies. We recommend checking Priceline.com as well for especially good deals.
Arizona Executive Transport
Arizona Executive Transport offers private, reliable SUV service between Phoenix and Flagstaff. This option is best if you’re traveling in a group of 3 or 4. As Wildland Trekking guests, your one-way cost for up to 4 passengers is only $275. Simply type “Wildland Trekking Company” in the Discount Code Box at the bottom of the online registration page. You can go to http://www.arizonaexecutivellc.com to make your reservations online.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 4 and 7 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Weather in the Grand Canyon
The weather in the Grand Canyon varies tremendously from the rim to the canyon floor, with as much as a 30 degree Fahrenheit difference. For this reason, the Canyon is truly a year-round hiking destination. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). Read below for average high and low temperatures at the South Rim and the Canyon bottom:
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
| Month | South Rim | Canyon Bottom | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hi | low | hi | low | |
| Dec-Feb | 41° | 18° | 60° | 38° |
| March | 51° | 25° | 71° | 48° |
| April | 60° | 32° | 82° | 56° |
| May | 70° | 39° | 92° | 63° |
| Jun-Aug | 82° | 53° | 108° | 75° |
| September | 76° | 47° | 97° | 69° |
| October | 65° | 36° | 84° | 58° |
| November | 52° | 27° | 68° | 46° |
Accommodations
Backcountry Sleeping
Tent Camping
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
Backcountry Cuisine
Fresh & Delicious
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
Amazing Campsites
In the Action
Campsites vary by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your trekking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Reviews
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Paula I.
Ready to Book Again with Wildland Trekking
Paula and Rosie were both amazing guides. Extremely knowledgable about the Havasu tribe and the land we hiked through. They surpassed all of my expectations. The meals they planned were far beyond the typical backpacking meals I was expecting. Both were encouraging during our hikes in and out. Would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to book a hiking trip through Wildland Trekking.
Vic C.
Spectacular Trip
Havasu Falls, never dreamed something so close to home could be so spectacular One picture on the net and we knew we had to see it for ourselves. The hike, the falls, the incredible beauty within the canyon was beyond our imagination. 10 miles in 10 miles out and around 15 plus miles exploring the falls during our four day trip. Even though we trained a lot it was still a challenge but worth every step. We couldn't have picked a better company to lead us on our adventure. The Wildland Trekking Company was spot on with every detail and our guide Stefan was amazing, knowledgeable and a great cook, we hit the jack pot with him as the guide for our group. We were paired with the best group ever there was six of us plus Stefan, we will never forget our new friends. And we want to give a special thanks to Stefan and the people of Supai Village for letting us add Trudi to our family she is truly special. Also I need to add; The people in Supai Village are very kind a smile between strangers says it all, the animals are not starving, the dogs are friendly, The horses and mules are trained to pack in and out they are not mistreated. This is a way of life for both the people and the animals of Supai, respect their heritage
Kerry F.
A Transformative Adventure!
My trip to Havasu Falls was a transformative adventure! Our guides were professional, knowledgable, and fun! The food they prepared was way beyond any of my expectations. They also knew a lot of secret, secluded places in the Canyon and along the Havasu Creek to explore. I can't wait until my next Wildland adventure!
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