How to get a permit for Havasu Falls in 2026 (Step by step instructions)

But to experience this desert oasis for yourself, you are required to have a permit. And it’s arguably the toughest part of the whole experience! This backpacking trip is wildly popular and with only 100 permits issued per day, snagging one can be a bit competitive. Even with its crazy steep prices (more on that in a bit…)

In 2024 we attempted to get Havasupai permits for the first time ever and it was a SUCCESS! Although, it wasn’t without a bit of stress along the way. And in this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know to successfully purchase a Havasu Falls permit. 

Including:

• Info about the permit, including costs, available months, when they go on sale, etc.
• The rules for Havasu Falls permits
• A step by step guide of how to apply for a Havasu Falls permit
• Our top tips to give you the best chance of getting a Havasu Falls permit
• What to do if you don’t get a permit the first day
• How to transfer your permit (NEW rules for 2026)
• FAQs about Havasu Falls permits

We’re crossing our fingers that you have the same luck we did and can experience the magic of Havasu Falls for yourself. May the odds be ever in your favor!

When acquiring a Havasu Falls permit, you are agreeing to follow all of the rules of the Havasupai tribe. PLEASE respect these rules and abide by them, as it is a privilege to be able to visit their land. You can read all of the rules on their website, but here are a few that we think are extra important to point out.

One of the most important rules is that you must pack out all of your trash and belongings. If you brought something in, it MUST come back out with you. This includes fuel canisters, camping gear, clothing, food, etc. There has been a huge issue in the past with people leaving items behind. The tribe is now fining people $1,000 if they catch you doing this.

Besides this major rule, a few others to know of are:

• No alcohol
• No drugs
• No smoking
• No nudity
• No fishing
• No drones
• No weapons
• No floaties
• No speakers
• No campfires, although small cooking stoves are allowed.

Dogs are also not allowed on the Havasu Falls trail. We travel full time with our dog Kona and during this trip she was boarded in Las Vegas. Don’t worry, there are many cute Havasupai pups to help you get your dog fix!

1. Create your account 

It’s VERY important that you create your Havasupai account BEFORE February 1, or at least before the time the permits go on sale. This only takes a few minutes, but you don’t want to lose any precious minutes creating your account when you should be trying to snag a permit.

To create an account:

1. Go to havasupaireservations.com
2. Click “My Account” in the menu bar
3. Click “Create Account”
4. Enter your email and last name
5. You will then be directed to a page to add your personal information, like your address.

Then, you will receive an email to create a password and finalize your account.

4. Getting your permit on February 1

Make sure to set your alarm for February 1 at 8:00 AM Arizona Time…or 7:45 AM to be safe. Arizona does not do Daylight Savings Time, and in February it aligns with Mountain Time. 

Below are step by step instructions for once permits go live on February 1st!

Log into your account 

About 15 minutes before the permits go on sale (8 AM Arizona Time), login to your account. We suggest logging in on your computer and your phone so that you have two ways of getting a permit. And if you can have a friend (or multiple) log in to their accounts as well, that will double your chances.

Click “Book Now”

Right at 8 AM, refresh the page (on all devices) and click “Book now” on the menu bar.

Select the Date

The first step to making your reservation will be to pick your arrival date and departure date, as well as your accommodation type (campground or lodge).

Important note: You can only book one person at a time, so keep “guest” at 1, otherwise it will not let you book.

Add additional people

To add more people to your group, click “add another booking” and then select the same dates and accommodation type. You will then be taken back to your cart and can put in their name and information. Repeat this process for everyone in your group.

Add your PATL, Confirm your information, & pay

After everyone in your group is added, you will need to select one or two PATLs (Potential Alternative Trip Leader). These are the only people who will be able to pick up the permits besides you. So if you are unable to make it, these are who can pick up the permits on behalf of the group. You cannot change this once you book the permit!

This is also the page where you can choose to have a mule. Lastly, you will enter your credit card information, accept the terms and conditions, and pay the fee. 

Keep in mind that when you select a date, a timer will start. So have your group member’s information ready and your credit card handy to speed up the process!

Jump off the couch and celebrate!

You’re heading to Havasupai! Once you’ve made your purchase, you should receive an email from the Havasupai Tourism Office confirming your reservation. 

Be prepared for website issues

While the process above is how things should work. Unfortunately for us, our process to get Havasupai permits was not smooth. Due to the high traffic at once, the website often crashes. Which is what we experienced.

When 8 AM rolled around, we were met with constant website issues. Like being logged out, struggling to log back in, the “number of people” page freezing, “internal server errors,” and more. This was an issue we faced on both computers and phones we were trying on. Thankfully, it wasn’t just us. In the Facebook group, we learned that everyone was having this issue. But about 1 hour and 15 minutes in, it finally worked and we got our preferred dates. So patience and persistence paid off!

Before you begin your hike to Havasu Falls you’re required to check in at Grand Canyon Caverns Inn to get your required documents and bag tags. 

You can check in either the day before, which we highly recommend, or the morning of, before 12 PM, otherwise your reservation will be canceled. The check in hours can vary by month and you can see the current hours here. One important thing to know is that only the trip leader needs to check in.

When you show up to the Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, you will want to go to the left of the check in desk to a side room. To check in, you will need the following items:

• Photo ID of the Trip Leader
• Printed copy of your camping/lodge confirmation. You are required to put this on your vehicle windshield as well when parking.

Every member of your group is also required to make an account in advance and have a copy of their proof of account. This shows that you have accepted all of the rules for the hike. To find this, go to your Account -> Profile and then at the top, you will see “your proof of account is here.” 

Make sure to hang on to all the paperwork given to you because all members of the party will be required to show required paperwork at the Havasupai Reservation checkpoint boundary 5 miles away from the trailhead.

When is the best time to go to Havasupai?

In our opinion, the best time to hike the Havasu Falls trail is either the spring or fall. This is when the temperatures will be mild. For the best experience, we suggest choosing late April, May, late September, or October, which are a tad warmer during the day, making it perfect for swimming, but still cool at night.

We highly suggest avoiding hiking from June through August. Not only will it be extremely hot with average temperatures over 100º, but July and August are the monsoon season. This means that heavy rain storms can occur, which can turn the falls brown and cause dangerous flash flooding. In August 2024, a major flash flood occurred, causing hundreds of hikers to be helicoptered out and closing Havasupai due to damage. And unfortunately, resulted in the death of a hiker who got swept away.

We personally hiked Havasu Falls from May 1-4. And the weather was just about PERFECT, with temperatures in the low 80s during the day and upper 50s at night.

Are Havasu Falls permits refundable?

Havasu Falls permits are 50% refundable if canceled at least 90 days before the start of your permit. If you need to cancel afterwards, you will lose the entire permit cost.

Can you change the date of the permit?

Your permit dates cannot be changed once purchased.

Can you do a day hike without a permit?

No, you cannot. You also cannot complete Havasu Falls as a day hike.

Is the high price worth it for the Havasu Falls hike?

YES! To be honest, I had to do some convincing to get Adam on board for this hike. Not because he didn’t want to go, but because of the cost. And while the price is very steep, especially for a camping trip, we are both SO happy we went. It was such a fun, jaw dropping, and special few days in the canyon. And while we aren’t sure how much more we’d be willing to pay, we have zero regrets spending the money to visit Havasu Falls.