Havasu Falls Camping Guide and Rules

Are you planning a hike to Havasu Falls and wondering what Havasu Falls Camping looks like and whether you’ll be able to get a good campsite? In this article, we share our personal experiences and hints to help you choose the best campsite in Havasu Falls Campground. Chris has hiked to Havasu 3 times and had the opportunity to camp at Havasu Creek Campground 3 times during different seasons.

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Havasu Falls Camping – Introduction

We have compiled for you five comprehensive articles about Havasu Falls. Below, you will find details about Havasu Falls Campground. But we invite you to check the other articles, as well:

• Havasupai Packing List – after three hikes to Havasu Falls, we know exactly what is worth packing and what is useless.
• Havasu Falls Permit and Havasupai Reservations – all you need to know about getting a permit.
• Hike to Havasu Falls – details of where the Havasu trailhead is, how to prepare for the 10-mile hike and what the trail looks like
• Havasu Creek Waterfalls Travel & Photography Guide – here, you will find a detailed description of each five waterfalls hidden in Havasu Creek. There are 5 Havasupai waterfalls to explore, not only the famous Havasu Falls. Others are Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls, Little Navajo Falls, and Fifty Foot Falls.

We have visited this place three times, so we know it thoroughly. All photos in this article are also our own; we do not use stock photos. Chris and I are passionate about photography, and we present photos we took during our travel adventures on our blog.

Most Important About Havasu Falls Camping

Reservations are mandatory

Havasu Falls Camping is on the Havasupai Tribe land and requires permits and reservations made prior to arrival, which cost $455 dollars per person (2024) for 3 nights. And you have to stay there for 3 nights and 4 days. If you stay for one night, you pay for three. The Hike to Havasu Falls is 10 miles long one way, but it’s one of our favorites so far.

Havasu Falls Campground is on a first-come, first-served basis

The campground is a “camp wherever you want” campground running for over a half-mile on both sides of Havasu Creek between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls in the Grand Canyon. There are no designated or assigned camping sites, and you are welcome to set up camp anywhere within the campground area that is safe and respectful of the land and other visitors.

Check our tips to get the best campsite. There are enough campsites to host 350 campers per night. In addition, sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s a beautiful campground. Unlike anywhere else, Havasu Falls Camping brings lots of joy in the sun with swims, hikes, and waterfalls.

Havasu Falls Camping Rules

Respect Havasupai Tribe Rules

First of all, remember that you are on Havasupai Tribe land, and you must respect their law. The most important is to respect the Havasupai Tribe’s rules. Remember that you can’t take and use alcohol or drugs in all areas of the Havasupai Reservation. Another, you can’t use drones. It’s impossible to campfire, too. Besides, do not photograph the village or residents of the Havasupai Tribe and mules too.

Respect the environment

Furthermore, it’s crucial to respect the environment. Do not pollute the water in the river and waterfalls with any chemicals or cosmetics. You can’t feed wild animals. Above all, don’t litter. Practice Leave No Trace Principles to keep the campground and the falls clean for everyone to enjoy.

Take your garbage with you to the village after camping. Finally, do not jump or dive into waterfalls because it is highly dangerous. In other words, be careful. It is possible to swim behind the falls and enter a small rock shelter behind it. Be respectful of other campers and watch your noise at night. And be a good neighbor.

So, as a result of our article, we start with what you CANNOT TAKE to Havasu Falls Camping and what you CANNOT DO in Havasupai because they are strictly prohibited. Finally, you must know you can pay huge fines if you break the rules. So, above all, check all laws and campground rules and respect them.

What items can you not take to Havasu Falls Camping

• Alcohol
• Drugs (also marihuana)
• Pets
• Firewoods
• Fireworks
• Weapons/guns
• Coolers
• Drones
• Vehicles
• Bikes
• Speakers
• Biodegradable cosmetics, such as soap.

What you cannot do in Havasupai

• NO photographs of the village or residents of Havasupai, their community, as well mules
• NO make campfires in the Havasu campground
• NO use drones
• NO alcohol
• NO drugs (including weed)
• NO cliff-jumping
• NO diving
• NO rock climbing
• NO littering
• NO nudity or inappropriate clothing

Facilities Available at Havasu Falls Camping

What features offer Havasu Falls Camping?

Havasu Falls Camping is one of the most beautiful camping we’ve ever been to so far. This Campground offers you an unforgettable adventure in paradise oasis. Check our Havasu Falls Packing List to pack only those items that are necessary for this trip.

• There are composting toilets throughout Havasu Campground.  Usually, they are clean and have toilet paper and hand sanitizer. But it’s worth packing a hand sanitizer as you don’t have running water at the campground.
• There is one drinking spring in the campground – Fern Spring. Pack Bag Water Reservoir, so you don’t have to go to the water source all the time.
• You are responsible for bringing all the necessities for sleeping and cooking for yourself, so check our Havasupai Packing List, which helps you prepare perfectly for your adventure.
• You have a lot of trees suitable for a hammock, so you can relax with a book or listen to the sound of water. The campground offers many flat and well-shaded riverfront campsites.
• You have a lot of picnic tables next to the campsites.
• You can find campsites on both sides of Havasu Creek. Several makeshift wooden bridges are in place to get you across the creek. But wood is often quite slippery, and rocks in streams and waterfalls are also slippery, so be sure to pack waterproof sandals with good soles or water shoes.

Is there food at Havasu Falls Campground?

There is no shop in the camping, but you have a store in the Supai village that provides basic needs. Supai village is a 2-mile hike from the campground. But prices are much higher in the village, and the choice is limited.

There is also a tiny bar in the Supai village, so you can go for a 2-mile-long walk and eat in the bar. Another option is buying a simple hot meal 5 minutes walk from the campground. Next to Havasu Falls, every day from noon, you can purchase Indian tacos prepared by an Indian family (you need cash), and it’s very tasty and fresh.

What facilities ARE NOT Available at Havasu Falls Camping?

Havasupai Waterfalls is a remote wilderness area. There is no:

• running water,
• showers,
• shops,
• hospitals, or medical services
• restaurants,
• coverage,
• wi-fi,
• electricity.

How to choose the perfect Havasu Falls campsite?

Before you start your Hike to Havasu Falls, check our article, where we share our experience. After 10 miles exhausting hike, you have reached the Havasupai Campground. Hurray. You are lucky! But what now?
You have to pick up your campsite, put up your tent and hammock, and enjoy the beauty of this paradise. Below are some tips to help you make the right choice.

Start your hike as early as possible

Why? First of all, for your safety. Starting the hike before sunrise, you will avoid the heat. As we mentioned in our earlier articles, this is a long hike. No water, no shade. But also important – the faster you start, the sooner you’ll be there. You will have more beautiful places to choose from Havasu Falls camping.

Selecting a campsite at Havasu Falls isn’t that difficult, but the sites available to you will depend on which day of the week you arrive and what time. If your luggage is delivered on mules, it will come later than you. So book a place for your campsite using your jacket or other gear.

Walk through the Havasu Falls Camping

Havasu Falls Camping is over half a mile long. The campground is long and narrow, stretching the length of Havasu Creek for about a mile before reaching Mooney Falls. So if you are earlier, take your time. Walk along the campsite. Look carefully at the campsite.

You can cross a few bridges suspended by the stream. They are made of ladders and logs. So check if you choose a campsite on the other side of such a bridge, you won’t have problems maintaining balance. Will you be able to walk through it in the dark to the toilet?

Check water access and restrooms access

Check where the source of drinking water is. Fern Spring is located in the upper (upstream) at the beginning of the camping. So take a big water reservoir with you, because if you find your perfect place further, you will have a long walk to drink water.

You can fill up the freshwater once daily at the campground so that you don’t need to go back and forth whenever you need water. Take water treatment tablets or filters, just in case. You will find recommendations on our Havasupai Packing List.

Then check where the toilets are. You have three spots with restrooms at the beginning, middle, and end of Havasu Falls Camping. So choose a place closer to the toilet, because it is not easy to move in the dark. Please use the restrooms rather than going outside your tent. It is a unique place. Let’s leave it clean for the next campers.

Pick the riverfront campsite with trees to hang a hammock

Above all, check the campsite near the river. The Havasu Creek River’s sound during the night is a fantastic experience. So try to pick up the riverfront campsite. But during monsoon season, check first if it’s safe. Check the campground that is raised above the water level. It will be safer for you and your equipment in case of rainstorms. Floods are most common in July – September.

During rainy days, we recommend camping on higher ground. Find a dry place above the stream. See if, in the event of unexpected rain, the area will not flood by the water. Remember that it can be a bit cooler next to the water. Perfect if you find next to your campsite two trees, and it should be accessible in this paradise oasis.

Swinging in a hammock in Havasu Creek Campground is one of our most beautiful relaxations so far. During summer, when the nights are hot, you can even sleep in a hammock. Trees will offer extra shelter as a windbreak, too.

Watch out for falling rocks

Be careful with putting up a tent next to the canyon walls. Remember that rocks and stones may fall off them and hurt you or destroy your equipment. So, we think it’s better to avoid camping close to the canyon walls.

You can always change your campsite

Remember that you can always change your campsite. If your place was not the right choice, you could always change it the next day. Every morning some campers leave the Havasu Falls Camping so that you can move to their location. We met many people each of the three nights spent in a different place. Walk through camping in the morning, around 6 am -7 am. You’ll see people packing and leaving.

Don’t camp where you aren’t supposed to

Camping is not allowed at the base of Havasu Falls. The campground begins a few minutes further down the trail after passing through a fence. We saw people pitching tents right over the edge of Mooney Falls. It is not the spot for camping. Havasu Falls Camping is long enough to find a beautiful place for yourself.

Putting up a tent on edge is a danger. Otherwise, it’s rude, because other campers can’t admire the waterfall and take pictures because of your tent. Remember that some of them traveled from the other end of the world to see the beauty of Havasupai Waterfalls. So respect the right of others to admire this place.

Safety at Havasu Falls Campground

Safety is the basis. So take care of your safety so you can return from Havasu Creek with beautiful memories. Check our tips on what to pack for Havasupai. We recommend as Havasupai Tribe recommends too, to take out additional insurance for this trip. The Havasupai area is difficult to access; there is no medical assistance.

Havasu Falls Camping is safe. People are friendly and helpful. You will make new friends there.
The biggest threat is animals. So:

• be extremely careful with your food and equipment,
• pack exactly all your food and litter to prevent them by animals,
• hang the backpack on a rope or a tree branch so that the raccoons or squirrels do not damage it,
• always close the tent before you leave,
• tightly secure your garbage; you can use plastic buckets (available at the campsite) but put a large rock on top of it. Remember to take all your trash with you when you finish your camping; keep the campground and the falls clean for everyone to enjoy,
• there are no trash cans at the campground, so be prepared to carry out your own trash,
• do not feed animals.

What to bring to Havasupai Campground?

We have extensive backpacking experience and have traveled for many years. We love the wilderness and camping in the wilderness. Chris was at Havasu Falls Campground three times! That is why we have prepared a Havasupai Packing List for you, which contains the essential items you must bring to enjoy your camping experience in Havasupai.

Essentials are a tent, hammock, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, headlamp, day pack, first aid kit, kitchen gear: stove, fuel, cookware, sporks, food, water shoes, swimsuit, quick-dry towel, and more.

What to eat at Havasu Falls Campground?

Check our Havasupai Packing List to see the necessary camping gear you should take for your hike to Havasu Falls. Remember to keep your food safe. There are a lot of animals. If you are on a diet and require special meals, you must take all the food. In the village shop, you can buy food, but the choice is limited, and the prices are very high.

Remember, there is no road, so supplies are delivered on mules or helicopters. Below are our food suggestions that we like and usually, take to camping.

Breakfast at Havasu Falls Campground

We like Cinnamon Apple Oats, gluten-free instant cereal, and breakfast skillets.

Dinner at Havasu Falls Campground

It should be nutritious, especially after hiking or swimming in waterfalls. We like beef stroganoff with noodles, chicken lasagna, and lasagna with meat sauce.

We also recommended an emergency food supply, and a 3-day adventure bag, which is enough for three days of camping for a person.

Snacks at Havasu Falls Campground

We usually take snacks with us for a short hikes. Worth taking bites on a trip to Beaver Falls. For each of our hikes, we take beef jerky and protein bars, which are nutritious snacks.

As we mentioned, there is a bar in the Supai village. They serve burgers, sandwiches, and other junk food.

What to do at Havasu Falls Camping?

It’s such a beautiful place that three days it’s not enough. So rest, read books, walk, and meet people worldwide. Swing in a hammock, and enjoy the paradise scenery. Take pictures of each waterfall. We give you great tips and the best photography spots for each waterfall in this article.

Bathe in the waterfalls. And go hike to Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls (more about hikes in a separate article). Enjoy the paradise of Havasupai Waterfalls!

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