Havasupai Q&A

Hey guys,

First of all, I want to thank everyone who was following our trip to Havasu Falls.  Since my blog post was posted, I received a lot of questions about Havasu Falls, so I decided to collect them all and answer them in one post.

Here we go!

What to pack for my Havasu Falls trip? 

Packing For Havasu Falls tips

Where can i get the reservation and the permit? Can anyone answer my question?

Here

You definitely need to get a permission to go there. Our suggestion would be to plan this trip in advance.  Their reservation system is 20th century and you have to call multiple times to get a hold of somebody.  Reservations for camping start in February.

How long did you call before you reached someone?

We spent 1 week..We were calling them every day, using 2 phones.

Which tour did you take to go to the Havasupai Falls?

We didn’t book any tours.  We planned everything ourselves. We like to be independent.

Thank you for sharing with us your adventure. What month did you guys end up going? For the last picture of your adventure near the tall grass, is that near havasupai falls, or mooney falls? I’ve been trying to figure out where could you point out where exactly which falls it is near?

We were there in the middle of June.  By the way, don’t go to Havasupai July-August because it’s a flood season. And it’s not fun. Some people say that the best time to go there is April-May.

The tall grass is near Havasu falls, right next to the camp site.

 

So if after a 10 mile hike you come to a restaurant, store and wifi, how does food get there? Someone hikes it in?

 Food gets there on helicopters and mules.

Do you think it’s possible to bring a dog in this hike?

 I would not bring a dog to the reservation. There are many dogs living on the reservation. You can see them walking freely around the campground and near the falls.  Even though they are pretty calm and not interested in people, I think there could be problems with your dog because you will enter their territory. So I would leave the dog at home. Also, the hike there is not easy, so your dog would not enjoy it.

Is mountain biking an option to get there?

Not an option. The trail is too rocky and not safe to share with hikers.

Can you camp at the waterfall or near it?

 Yes, there are a few sweet spots right on top of Mooney Falls.

Can I ride my mule?

 Your own mule? 🙂 I’m not sure if there are rules against bringing your own mule.  I would call them.  As far as using their mules, they only use them to transport cargo, not people.  They used to let people ride them, but not anymore.

What camera lens set up do you use?

Canon 70D with a Canon EF-S 18-200mm lens and a GoPro Hero 4.

 Did you go on a guided tour or do your own travel agenda? If you did your own thing, how did you go about getting all of the required documentation… if you did a tour, which one was it?

We did our own travel agenda.  Tour guides would only ruin the experience.  You have to experience nature for yourself, without some annoying tour guide telling you their opinions about the scenery.

To get a camping reservation you have to call their office.  For us, it took like a week to reach them because their number was always busy.  We arrived a day early of our reservation because we couldn’t book the exact dates we wanted, because of their stupid phone reservation system.  When we arrived, nobody even asked us about our reservation.  We just told them how many nights we’re staying, got a pass, and that was it.  Apparently the reservation system is not that strict.

I’m an avid hiker this is a must for me. I have done Mt Whitney 4 times 1 of which was a in 1 day ( brutal) but made it, with minimal training. Is it comparable? Can i use a hammock? & what is the best time of year? I would like to do it in the night.

 You’ll be fine! Yes, you can use a hammock. It’s a great idea to bring one.  Best time of the year is April-June.   July-August is flood season.

Can people take the helicopter to this place and if so how much?

 Helicopter costs $85 per person (one way). The only problem is that they fly to the village only a few days per week, so you have to plan your trip according to the helicopter’s schedule.

How much does it cost just to hike it?

 You can find more information about prices here.

Our suggestion: Book your trip in advance.  Reservations for camping begin in February.  Be prepared to call multiple times to reach somebody.  They still haven’t figured out how to use the Internet for reservations, even though they have a website.

My boyfriend and I are doing this the first week of November! I’m hoping the weather will be nice? Also, if you have the helicopters or mules take your bag back up, where do you retrieve it once you make it up?

 There’s a place in the campground where  they “park” their mules and pack and unpack cargo. You will see this place because you will walk though it. Don’t forget to ask the person in charge about the time when you need to drop off your backpack. Also, it may take some time for them to deliver your stuff.  We left our bags at 7am and received them back at the parking lot around noon.  They leave your stuff near the Halaupai parking lot office.

Are the pools deep enough to cliff jump from the top of the falls?

 If you are talking about Havasu Falls, then no. You definitely can not jump from the top of the cliff because the pool is not deep enough.  The best place to cliff jump is at Navajo Falls.  You’ll see people jumping there.

Any specific shoes you recommend?

You’ll be hiking over rocks and through water once you get to the trail past the camp site.  Get shoes that drain water quickly, have a hard sole, and won’t give you blisters.  Blisters are almost guaranteed on this hike.

I would absolutely love to do this hike however I am terrified of snakes… Did you see an awful lot of them?

 Yes, we saw a couple of snakes.  Just be careful and look where you step.

After 10 miles of hiking in the canyon, you will reach the Indian village, where you can find a restaurant, a store, and wifi. Don’t get too comfortable – you have to hike 2 more miles to the camp ground.” Ummmm restaurant, store & wifi, you can drive there….

 Good point haha but no, you can’t drive there.

All communication with the world outside is done via helicopters and mules.

How difficult for a person with fear of heights?

 You’ll be fine up until you get to Mooney Falls, which is past the camp site.  To get past Mooney Falls, you have to climb down a rock wall using ladders.  Might be scary for some people.

How is the lodging set up? Tents, Cabins, Hotel? Do you have to bring your own tent? Is it group hiking? I don’t know anyone to hike with but really want to go.

You have an option to stay at their hotel in their village, or to camp using your own tent.  You have to bring all your own stuff.  It’s not group hiking.  Everyone hikes on their own at any time they want.  Just make sure you talk to the parking lot attendant and get a pass.

Question? I have been doing a lot of hiking with my 2 children. I have a 7 month old that I carry on my back and a 3 yr old that hikes just as good as I do. He’s all over the place! This place looks awesome and I have been wanting to go there for a long time but do you think it would be to difficult for us? We’ve done long hikes in sedona and page and we did fine even with our packs loaded up.

There is only one challenging part.  It’s at Mooney Falls.  You have to climb down a rock wall using ladders.  I don’t think a 3 year old should be climbing that.  But the trail up until Mooney Falls is doable, just really long and hot in the summer.  Bring tons of water and electrolytes. However, I’d think twice before bringing your children there…

Wait, so do you start at the trailhead parking Hualapai Hilltop and hike up to the falls, then the village, then the campground? Meaning you must hike with EVERYTHING (tent, clothes, etc.) on your back all the way up to the campground?

You start at the Hualapao Hilltop parking lot.  That’s the trailhead.  Then you hike with all your stuff to the village, then Navajo Falls, then Havasu Falls, then the camp site, drop off your stuff, then hike to Mooney Falls, then Beaver falls, and if you’re really rave, you can even make it all the way to the Colorado River.  You can make the hike easier if you pay for a mule to carry all your stuff to the camp site and back.

Omg! is it an actual hike or just a super long walk? Can you get there on like a quad?

It’s a super long walk.  Very long walk through the Grand Canyon desert. Quad bike is not an option. The trail is too narrow, steep and rocky.  Only hikers and horses/miles are allowed on the trail.

 

Please let me know if you have any further questions!

Jx

See more adventures on Instagram: @juliapelio

Find Arthur on Instagram: @djpelio