Last updated on July 25th, 2022 at 05:44 pm
It’s hard to believe it’s Monday morning and I am living my travel dream in such a remarkable place.
Although my body was sore from climbing 10 miles through the Grand Canyon, I remained intoxicated from the flood of waterfall images and experiences I’ve devoured here at Havasupai Falls.
The tropical paradise that I camped in, swam in, and hiked around seems too good to be true.
Everyone who will see my photographs will want to see this desert oasis for themselves.
You, too, when you visit this desert miracle of a place will be deeply moved and exist like me in a state of shock that such a place exists in the continental United States.
I have been living in Arizona, which means I’m no stranger to explaining the hidden beauties of this incredible Grand Canyon state to visitors.
On my quest to prove that Arizona is more than just a desert and that the Grand Canyon is more than just a hole in the ground, I’ve provided more pictures of Havasu Falls in this post, along with my easiest tips for planning your dream trip to Havasu Falls for yourself.
How to Plan Your Dream Trip to Havasu Falls
1. Start planning early. There are two ways you can go–with a guided tour/group or with a self-guided group. Depending on your comfort level with hiking and your familiarity with the Grand Canyon, I would suggest going on a guided tour. That’s not to say that you can’t go on your own with a group of people. I just think it’s easier to go with people who know the area.
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that you will need to require a permit from the Havasupai tribe (it’s their land) to camp there. No day hiking is allowed. Everyone needs a permit. Getting a permit can take 6 months to a year. If you go with a guided group, they will do this paperwork for you. (How to get a permit for Havasu Falls)
2. Decide if you want to hike, helicopter, or travel by horseback. You don’t have to endure the 10-mile hike down to see this paradise with your own eyes. The Havasupai tribe offers trips in and out of Havasu Falls campgrounds with their horses and mules.
There are restrictions on how many pieces of luggage you can bring, but if you have the cash, you can do it a round trip for around $187.00. (How to reserve a horse or mule at Havasu Falls) For a pricey fee and a fancier arrival, you can take a helicopter from the top of the Grand Canyon or from Las Vegas–there are multiple services.
3. Train for your hike. This might sound pretty obvious, but it never fails that people don’t prepare properly. I am fairly active, live in a high-altitude area, being used to the Arizona heat and I still go dehydrated. Even though I trained every day for two months, specifically focusing on recreating the hiking situation, I still failed to hydrate myself properly. Not crucial, thankfully, but enough to make me–or my lips–feel 100%.
Plan to take at least four liters of water for your hike down. And plan to start training for the hike at least 6-8 weeks in advance.
Like I said earlier, there are many ways to go about traveling to Havasu Falls. While I suggest going with an experienced tour group, you can easily do it with your own group. As long as you start planning early and put in for your permit in time, you’ll be on track to have one of the best travel experiences in America, if not the world.
Katie Eigel
Katie Eigel is a world traveler and a self-proclaimed Wine Geek In Training who spends her days writing for various travel and wine publications.
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