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The Ultimate Packing List for Havasupai: Fall Edition

Standing among the most beautiful waterfalls in the USA, the turquoise waters will blow you away against the red rocks. This backpacking trip was one of the few hikes where I immediately wanted to return. So let’s dive into what you need to succeed!

Imagine yourself traversing through ancient canyons, with each step leading you closer to the mesmerizing Havasu Falls. It’s like stepping into a postcard brought to life, where every corner hides a new treasure waiting to be discovered.

This hike is not for the faint of heart, especially if you are planning to hike to the confluence. I was able to acquire permits on the cancellation list for November 2023, this is definitely not a popular time to visit, but was ideal for me to avoid the crowds.

Please keep in mind that this blog will only cover basic information about this trail and mainly focuses on the packing list geared to the shoulder season for this trail.

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Where is Havasupai

Havasupai is located within the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. Specifically, it’s within the Havasupai Indian Reservation, which is southwest of the Grand Canyon National Park.

How to Get to Havasupai

The closest major airport to Havasupai is McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada. From there, you will have to rent a car or take a shuttle service to Hualapai Hilltop, which serves as the trailhead for the hike into the Havasupai area. It will be around a 4-5 hour drive from Las Vegas to Hualapai Hilltop. Alternatively, you could also fly into Phoenix Sky Harbour International Airport (PHX) in Phoenix, Arizona, which is also a 4-5 hour drive from the trailhead.

You will need to arrive the day before to check in before you depart, follow the directions sent by the Tribe.

The Best Time to Backpack Havasupai

The best time to visit Havasupai is typically during the spring and fall months when the weather is milder and more conducive to outdoor activities. Specifically, the months of April, May, September, and October are often recommended for a visit. During these times, you can enjoy pleasant temperatures for hiking and swimming without the extreme heat of summer or the possibility of winter snow and cold.

Additionally, visiting during the shoulder seasons can help you avoid the crowds that tend to flock to Havasupai during the peak summer months. However, keep in mind that permit availability may still be limited during popular times, so it’s essential to plan and book your trip well in advance.

However, the best time to visit will depend on your preferences and priorities. Whether you’re looking for ideal weather conditions, fewer crowds, or specific activities like swimming or photography, consider the season that aligns best with your interests for an unforgettable Havasupai experience. I chose to take the November cancelled permits because I didn’t want know if a September or October permit would pop up on the list and I didn’t mind hiking in cooler weather (I preferred to hike in cooler weather).

Map via NPS website

How to Get a Permit

To obtain a permit for Havasupai, you’ll need to make a reservation directly with the Havasupai Tribe. You will have to create an account to check the cancellation list, make reservations, etc. If you would like more information you can check that our here. The permit system opens on February 1st at 7AM Arizona time (as of 4/2024), always check beforehand in case any changes have been made to the open reservation system. If you are able to obtain a permit, you will be provided information about how to check in and what documents to bring, etc.

The Ultimate Packing List

When I visited Havasupai at the end of November, it was mid 60s to low 70s during the day with the lows at night being in the 50s. We did experience rain on day one for around a couple hours, but the weather was beautiful for the reminder of our time.

What to Wear:

  • Hiking Tops – I always start with a non-cotton t shirt, this Patagonia t shirt is the perfect hiking top and I paired it with my REI Co-op Sun Hoodie. You want dry-fit tops.
  • Rain Jacket – I wore my rain jacket while day hiking around from the campground and a great item to have if you’d like to take photos by the waterfalls!
  • Down Jacket – at night I wore my Cotopaxi Down Jacket when getting ready for bed and the hike back to the TH it was in the 30s (frost on the car) it was a very chilly morning.
  • Bottoms – I wore my Eddie Bauer Guide Pro Pants and leggings. If you are visiting during the warmer months these shorts would be great.
  • Socks – I brought a couple pairs of Smartwool and Darn Tough hiking sock.
  • Footwear – I wore my Dinner boots for the hike out to the campground and the hike down to Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls you have to traverse across the water many times. At one point the water was to my hip so I brought my Tevas to wear hiking out to these falls. My friend wore Keen sandals which I would highly recommend especially down to Mooney Falls
  • Neoprene Socks paired with your water shoes/sandals is a must in my opinion because sand/rocks can get into your shoes causing cuts/blisters/irritation. The socks will help eliminate that.
  • Bathing suit and microfiber towel
  • Gloves – I would bring gloves with grips for the descent/ascent to Mooney Falls. There are communal gloves at the start, but that grosses me out a little so I brought my own!
  • Beanie – It was nice to have a beanie in the mornings
  • Hat – Protect your face and wear a hat
  • Eye Wear: I wore sunglasses per usual, I never hike without them!

Gear to Bring:

  • Multi Day Backpack – My 60L Ariel Osprey Backpack fit all my gear perfectly, though this bag it on the heavier side, it is my go-to multi-day bag
  • Day Bag: I highly recommend bringing a day bag to store your snacks, first aid kit, water, etc. while hiking to Mooney/Beaver Falls, I wore the Mystery Ranch 19L Day bag
  • Tent – My tent was the NEMO 1P DragonFly which is my only one person tent, if you’d like to share the weight and bring a two person tent, this is NEMO 2 person tent is a great option.
  • Sleeping Pad – I always bring my NEMO Tensor Lightweight Sleeping Pad it weights around 14oz and it was extremely comfortable. My sleeping pad is one of the most important pieces of gear to me because I am a super light sleeper so I need something comfortable.
  • Sleeping Bag – The temperatures at night was fairly warm around 50s so I brought my NEMO Sleeping Bag rated for 30 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Pillow – This is optional, but I like to bring my NEMO inflatable pillow
  • Headlamp – My favorite headlamp is the BioLite Rechargeable HeadLamp
  • Trekking Poles – I will always be a trekking pole girlie, these were extremely helpful on the ascent and descent
  • Water Filter – I used the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter and used Smart Water bottles to filter. We did not end up using our filters because there is a spring at the campground where we just filled up our water reservoirs and bottles.
  • Safety – the Garmin Mini is a satellite communicator in case of an emergency.
  • Camp Stove – I brought my JetBoil to share with my friends since we brought dehydrated backpacking meals and remember to bring fuel
  • Utensils – I use this spork and a mug if you are a coffee drinker. We did not bring plates/bowls because we ate straight out of our backpacking meals
  • Bear Canister – to prevent any critters from stealing your food and other smelly items bring a bear canister or rat sack.
  • Wipes – I always bring wipes to wipe down at night before bed and also great for emergencies if the bathrooms have no toilet paper. Which every toilet I used did not have toilet paper so plan accordingly!
  • Sunscreen – as always, lather up in sunscreen and remember to re-apply!
  • First Aid Kit – You should always have a First Aid Kit with you. This includes lip balm with SPF, bandaids, advil/ibuprofen, bacitracin, blister specific bandages, matches, etc.
  • Multi Tool – A multi tool is a smart item to bring
  • Gaiters – I didn’t need any gaiters, but depending on the conditions, it might be helpful if it is super muddy.
  • Bring a print out of your permit and your ID
  • Cell Phone – I used my phone for navigation along with a print out. Remember to bring your charging cord
  • Power Bank – Since I was using my phone for photos, videos, and navigation I brought a Power Bank
  • Electrolytes and Energy Gels – We stopped every hour to have an energy gel and water as soon as we started the 99 switchbacks which helped immensely to prevent altitude sickness. I continually put electrolyte tablets in my filtered water (I also use Liquid IV).
  • Kula Cloth – I am a Kula Cloth fan, I have two and use them for every backpacking/hiking trip. Again the toilet paper was out in the bathrooms when I was there so super important to have this just in case.

Extras

  • Cash for fry bread near Havasu Falls. When I was there it was never opened so we had to hike back into Supai for dry bread and they did take credit card at the store.
  • Waterproof phone pouch and/or dry bag
  • Deodorant
  • Moisturizer – my friend recommended bringing moisturizer because some component in the water can really dry out your skin.
  • Hammock
  • Lantern
  • Hair brush
  • Deck of cards
  • Handkerchief (I always get a runny nose while hiking)
  • Camera
  • Toothbrush and Toothpaste
  • Ear plugs
  • Bug Net (we didn’t have any issues with bugs, but you never know)
  • Insect repellent
  • Rain Cover for your bag (mine came with one)
  • Camping Chair or Seat Pad – I chose not to bring a chair/pad to save on weight and most campsites have picnic benches

Snacks

It is important to bring enough food especially to prevent altitude sickness, not feeling hungry is a sign of altitude sickness so snack as much as you can, here are some snacks I brought

  • Apple sauce (squeezable)
  • Fruit snacks
  • Dried Fruit (cherries, mangoes, bananas, berry mix)
  • Nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews)
  • Small squeezable peanut butter
  • Jerky
  • Small cheez-its
  • Cliff Builder Bars
  • 3 Backpacking Meals
  • Two tortillas for the backpacking meals
  • Chocolate
  • Sour Patch Kids (of course lol)
  • Fruit Strips
  • Ramen
  • Tuna Packets
  • Hard candy
  • Electrolyte packets
  • Energy Gels

Things to Know Before You Go

  • Things that are not allowed: speakers, drones, pets, alcohol, firewood/coolers/large propane tanks, pool floaties, shampoos/shower gels/excessive toiletries/makeup
  • Follow LNT principles, carry EVERYTHING out, this hike was one of the worst places I have been to so far in regards to trash. It was everywhere. So many people leaving trash behind at the campgrounds too. DO NOT leave anything.
  • Respect other’s spaces, this is a large campground, though it was not full in November when I went, I still used my red light on my headlamp whenever you were moving around late at night or early. Someone kept blasting our campsite with their headlamps late at night which was honestly super inconsiderate. And be respectful to the people living in Supai.
  • If you are planning on hiking down to Mooney Falls, it’s best to camp closer towards the falls. Again this campground is HUGE so keep hiking down once you see the campground.
  • A helicopter ride is not guaranteed
  • DO NOT film and/or take any photos in the town of Supai.
  • As of my trip in 2023, we were not allowed to film or photograph the mules, the tribe was in trouble for animal abuse some years back, it you want to check out some articles
  • Reservation dogs will greet you when you start your hike, there was actually a puppy only a mile from Hilltop that followed two people out. We encountered many reservation dogs on our way in.
  • Bring a mask, the signs and information sent indicates you need to wear a mask when walking through Supai. But make sure to double check before you head out!
  • Tarantulas – yes there are tarantulas, we saw one hiking back to Supai for fry bread off on the side of the trail. The mating season is in October so just keep that in mind if you are deathly afraid of spiders!
  • You should train for this hike if you are not an avid hiker, this is a 10 mile hike one way, which does not include the days hikes to Mooney/Beaver/the Confluence
  • There are no public health facilitates in Supai, my friend’s friend hurt her ankle, she was forced to hike back (I believe 5 miles) to the campground from where she was hurt and then to Supai to be helicoptered out. So be careful and bring your Garmin!
  • The parking lot is very small at Hilltop (the trailhead), we arrived early so that we didn’t have any issues.
  • Plan your hike back especially if you are hiking during the warmer months, the hike back up to the TH is exposed to the sun (no shade). We opted to leave around 3am even in November to avoid the sun.

If there is any information I missed you can check out these two Facebook forms here and here to answer anymore questions. Also feel free to leave me a comment with your questions! Again this post is geared towards what to pack and briefly about the actual hike. I will be creating a blog more about what to expect when backpacking Havasupai!

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