Havasupai Reservation Campground

I typically rate campgrounds as they fit into 1 of 5 categories. This campground will be rated as a Basecamp — grounds that offer a comfortable home base that you’re happy to return to after a day of exploring the surrounding area. Ratings for this category are based on: Value to cost: 5 Overall grounds: 5 Utility of sites (hookups, layout, accessibility): 5 Local Attraction Proximity: 5 Reservation Process/Ease of Getting a Site: 3 Amenities: 5 Customer Service: 4 Cleanliness: 4

Havasupai Reservation Campgrounds are quite an experience. The trek to the grounds are 10 miles one way. The difficulty of access is what makes the experience so attractive. The physical commitment to get to this beautiful oasis on Native American land is well worth it. Getting reservations for these grounds is very, very difficult as they sell out almost as soon as they’re released. We nabbed a couple days in November and while it was chilly, we were still able to swim and the evenings were very comfortable. Exploring the area was incredible. It might seem painful to think about hiking further, but you must explore Mooney & Beaver falls, about 6 miles RT. Pack a lunch and water shoes!

The main disappointing component is the trash and vandalism left behind by visitors. We found graffiti in the way of etched names on the canyon walls and trash left behind at many camp sites. What a disappointment. People complain about the high cost of these sites but I think it’s worth every penny to pay this community to allow us access.

There is a fresh water source at the grounds but you must have plenty to make it through the 10 miles in and back. There are also primitive restrooms available.

The sites are scatted throughout the area and it’s very easy to find a remote, private location. Just make sure you’re camping on a designated site. A picnic table is a nice-to-have but not all sites have them. You will be camping near water... use the primitive restrooms, please.

As an aside, there is a option to use a helicopter or mule to shuttle your bag to the grounds. I believe you should be prepared to pack it in and out yourself. Earn the trek and you will be driven to preserve the lands. It’s about way more than a photo for your social media, it’s a special journey!

Havasupai was on my radar for a long while, but I'd never managed to land a reservation until this year when I discovered the Havasupai cancellation reservation page. (You can find it by searching on Facebook and they post when new cancellations open and become transferrable).

Everything you've read about how amazing Havasupai is, is true.... Here are a few things I didn't read in advance that I wish I'd known.....

- Take a tarp. The weather can change in a split second in the canyon. I packed one at the last minute and it was THE BEST THING EVER.

- There are raccoons.  I'd read so much about the crazy squirrels who would invade your camp and eat all your food... and we took precautions against them- but nobody ever mentioned the RACCOONS who literally ate all of our food one night -- even though it was in a bucket with a lid. 

- Even though people are supposed to carry all of their stuff out, they leave ALOT of stuff. We spent our first day (in the rain) scavenging stuff to keep us dry, and our second day after the raccoons ate all our food scavenging stuff to keep us fed. You probably shouldn't rely on stuff, but people bring in a lot extra, and the community in this camp ground is AMAZING.

Because it rained the full 3 days we were there, we chose to camp on the high ground that is at the forward part of the campground rather than the sites lower down because of the potential of flash floods.

All the Falls and River are absolutely breathtaking, beautiful and amazing. But other than that, we had a few concerns with the whole area.

None of the trails are marked, miles of hiking, lots of side trails your asked not to hike on, yet NONE of the trails are marked. Most of the falls are not marked either. No signs, no trail markers, no idea how far you've gone or have to go. It can be frustrating unless your ready to go on adventure hikes not knowing where your at/going.

Even the drinking water in camp is not marked as such, instead its referred to as a Spring, with a PVC pipe coming out of a rock on the side of the mountain. So filter or not? Some do, some dont. But dont expect signs or any info around to help you decide.

Trash was pretty prevalent along the trail in, through town, and in camp. Which was sad, but not all from hikers and campers.

Most of the tribes people we interacted with, seemed unhappy to have guests, tourists, and customers. We did not even receive a smile at the Welcome Center.

Walking through town to camp you are surrounded with run down houses, yards filled with trash and debris, and a general unkempt look all around. Doesnt go well with the idea of being in the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon, or the ideal of this being a Native American Cultural Center and historical area. They have been extremely Americanized. It was great to see, but highly doubt we will go back.

This hike is on most peoples bucket list and for good reason. The falls and surrounding areas are incredible. The big thing to note about Havasu falls and the campground are they do not ever accept walk ins. You must book ahead of time! Reservations open on February 1st and sell out that same day. New this year, you can use their online booking site to secure a spot. It is both stressful and exciting. Once you have a spot secured you can begin dreaming about the blue waters.

The hike into the campground is 10 miles each way. Not so much difficult but hot and crowded. I would recommended leaving very early in the morning. The hike to the village is 9 miles where you will check in and then continue an extra mile to the campground. Once to the spots, the campground itself spans about 1 mile. Selecting a good spot is key, there are shaded spots as well as spots that are entirely in the sun (Temps get into the 100's in the summer). There are no designated spots but you will see open areas with picnic tables, that will let you know. You will end up camping on top of people in most spots as well. They allow 300 permits per day down there. *Note there are no fires allowed ever in this campground.

If you decide to stay at the end of the grounds you will be close to Mooney falls but will have to walk an extra 2 miles a day to get to Havasu falls and back plus add an extra mile to your hike out. The upside to staying at the ends of the grounds are less people so it is quieter. There is a natural water spring where you can collect water (some filter this, we did not and felt great!), it is located towards the beginning of the campground. Restrooms are are the beginning and the end, so think about that when picking a spot. Close is easy to access but you may smell it sometime. Also they run out of TP often, bring some.

Overall, amazing area and hike. The crowds never seemed to crazy. If you really need you can take a helicopter out from the village to the parking lot and also have pack mules bring your bags out (The latter is not recommended as the mules seem exhausted and overworked, they haul bags all day everyday)