Reservations for Arizona’s stunning Havasu falls go on sale Feb. 1. Here’s how to get an elusive permit
Reservations to hike to the idyllic green waters of Arizona’s Havasupai Falls don’t come easy.
If you want to try to reserve a 2020 hiking permit and campground reservation when they go on sale at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, you’ll need to take some steps now to improve your chances of getting one of the 350 spots available each day.
Make an account now at havasupaireservations.com and enter your credit card information so you don’t have to waste time doing that when the permits go on sale. Phone reservations are not accepted.
Available trip dates start March 1. Have a first choice and a few backup dates in mind before sales begin. Last year, the reservations were mostly gone within five hours of going on sale.
How to get a Havasu Falls permit
Before Feb. 1, go to havasupaireservations.com, enter your email address and create a password. Check your inbox for the verification email, click on the confirmation link, then fill out your contact and credit card information.
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New this year, you can list Potential Alternative Trip Leaders. Should you not be able to go, you can transfer your reservation to someone on this list free of charge. However, once a reservation has been made, you can’t make changes to that list so make sure you have it right before you reserve.
On Feb. 1, sign into your account before 8 a.m., at which time the page will refresh and display a “Make a 2020 Campground Reservation” button. Last year, several people reported problems with the site due to the overwhelming number of people trying to get a reservation. Those who weren’t signed in before 8 a.m. had trouble accessing the sign-in page.
There are no phone reservations. If you have problems with the online system, you can email Support@HavasupaiReservations.com.
How much does a reservation cost?
In 2019, rates were $375 per person for three-night trips, and those rates are still shown on the website. All trips are four days, three nights.
A spokeswoman for the Havasupai Tribe says the prices are subject to change without notice.
WHAT TO KNOW: Havasupai Falls hike: 6 essential questions answered
What if you can’t get one?
In 2019, Havasupai started a process for people who can no longer use their reservations to transfer them to others. You can find a list of available permits on the Havasupai website.
You’ll need to create an account to access the reservations page. Check it frequently for updates.
If you need to cancel, you simply list your reservation on the site. Once someone claims the reservation, the fee is returned to your credit card minus a transfer fee.
Havasupai Lodge reservations
If you miss out on a campground reservation, set a calendar alert for June 1 when reservations at Havasupai Lodge open up. But the rustic lodge has just 24 rooms so those are harder to get than a campground permit. The 2019 rates were $440 per night.
More Havasu Falls reservation facts
- You can make a reservation for up to eight people.
- Each person on the permit (not just the trip leader) has to make an account at havasupaireservations.com to prove they have agreed to the Havasupai Tribe’s laws and rules. Bring a copy or screenshot of this on your hike.
- Reservations are nonrefundable and nonchangeable. You can sell or transfer your permit only at havasupaireservations.com.
- The trip leader must show a photo ID upon arriving in Supai Village to show they are the person whose name is on the reservation.
- No alcohol, drones, amplified music or open flames are allowed. Gas canister backpacking stoves are permitted.
- Bringing young children is not recommended.
- Beware of inclement weather. In 2018, flooding closed the campground July 11-Aug. 31. The tribe recommends purchasing trip insurance.
Havasupai Facebook groups
The main Facebook group is facebook.com/groups/Havasupai. You can also find groups by month of departure: facebook.com/groups/HavasupaiJanuary and so on.
You can connect with Arizona Republic consumer travel reporter Melissa Yeager at melissa.yeager@azcentral.com. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
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