Havasu Falls drops into a pool of such vivid turquoise-blue water that first-time visitors often assume the photos are edited, but the color is entirely natural, produced by high concentrations of calcium carbonate in the water. Tucked deep in a side canyon of the Grand Canyon on Havasupai tribal land, it’s one of the most sought-after hikes in the Southwest precisely because reaching it takes real effort: a permit, a long hike, and a multi-day commitment that keeps the crowds far smaller than the scenery might suggest.

Best Things to Do at Havasu Falls

Hike In to Supai Village and the Falls

The approach begins with a roughly ten-mile hike from Hualapai Hilltop down into the canyon to the village of Supai, followed by another two miles to the campground near the falls themselves. It’s a demanding trek in desert heat, but the payoff, turning a final bend and seeing the falls for the first time, is one of the more memorable arrivals in American hiking.

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Swim Below Havasu Falls

The pool directly beneath the falls is the main event, a genuinely swimmable, brilliantly colored pool where visitors spend hours floating, photographing, and simply taking in the roar of the falls up close.

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Visit Mooney Falls

A short hike past the campground, Mooney Falls drops even further than Havasu Falls, and reaching its base requires descending a steep, chain-and-ladder-assisted trail carved into the travertine cliff, not for anyone uneasy with heights, but worth it for a second dramatic waterfall and pool.

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Continue On to Beaver Falls

Further downstream, a longer hike from the campground leads to Beaver Falls, a series of smaller terraced cascades and pools that are quieter than Havasu and Mooney and make for a good full-day excursion for visitors staying multiple nights.

Explore Supai Village

As one of the most remote communities in the continental United States, still reachable only by foot, mule, or helicopter, Supai Village offers a small store, a cafe, and a glimpse into Havasupai tribal life along the route to the falls.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and fall bring more comfortable hiking temperatures than the intense summer heat of the inner canyon, though the falls are open on a permitted seasonal basis and closed part of the year, so checking current access dates is essential before planning around a specific season.

How to Get There

The trailhead at Hualapai Hilltop is a long, remote drive from both Grand Canyon Village and Las Vegas, with no services along the final stretch of road. From the hilltop, reaching the falls requires hiking in on foot, hiring a mule to carry gear, or booking a helicopter for at least part of the trip.

Good to Know

  • All visitors need a permit booked directly through the Havasupai Tribe, and permits routinely sell out well in advance of the season.
  • This is a multi-day trip by design; day hikes to the falls without camping or lodging in Supai are not permitted.
  • Pack layers, sun protection, and more water than seems necessary for the hike in, since shade is limited for much of the route.
  • Cell service is essentially nonexistent once you’re in the canyon, so let someone know your itinerary before you go.

Havasu Falls demands more planning and physical effort than almost any other waterfall on this list, and that’s exactly why it still feels like a genuine discovery when you finally see that blue-green water for yourself. Few places reward the effort of getting there quite this dramatically.