Get Ready for 2026 Havasu Falls Permits! Everything You Need to Know About the Permit Process to Increase Your Chances at Grabbing a 2026 Havasupai Permit This Season
Getting a Havasu Falls Permit is arguably the most difficult part of the Havasu Falls hike, and each year getting a permit to hike Havasu Falls gets more and more competitive.
In fact, according to the Havasupai Reservations website, most permits sell out the first day reservations open. You are REQUIRED to have a permit PRIOR to your visit, so no walk-ins, and sorry, no day hiking allowed.
I want to help you be as prepared as possible for this process, because… yes, it really is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and so worth the hassle and cost! In order to increase your chances at grabbing a permit for the 2026 season, this entire article is dedicated to helping you be as prepared as possible to grab YOUR Havasupai Permit this season.
Guide to Getting Havasu Falls Permits
I’ve structured this post to cover everything you need to know specifically about the Havasu Falls permit process without sorting through Havasu Falls hiking details. But if you want to read more about the hike itself, you can do that here: The Ultimate Guide to Hiking Havasu Falls
Here’s what we are going to cover in this guide to getting Havasu Falls permits:
What’s New in 2026 for the Havasu Falls Permit Process
When to Apply
Where to Apply
How to Apply Step-by-Step (i.e. what does the process look like)
Cost: How Much do Havasu Falls Hike Permits Cost in 2026?
The Fine Print Behind your Permit for Havasu Falls (Things to Consider!)
Tips for Increasing Your Chances of Grabbing a Havasu Permit in 2026
What to Do if You Don’t Grab a Permit on Opening Day
1) What’s new in 2026 for the Havasu FallS Permit Process?
The Havasupai Tribe just announced some big changes to the permit process in 2026!
They have instituted an early access presale from January 21, 2026 (8:00am AZ time) through January 31, 2026 (5:00pm AZ time). Unlike the last couple years, this will NOT be a lottery, but a chance to purchase permits immediately for an extra $40 per person early access fee.
Along with campground reservations, lodge reservations will also be available during this early access period for a $160 early access fee.
The cancellation policy for Havasu Falls permits has also changed significantly in 2026. You will now be able to get a 50% refund of your permit fee (not including the early access fee) if you cancel your permit at least 90 days before your permit start date. Permits cancelled within 90 days of the start date will receive no refund.
The transfer portal has been discontinued, so you will no longer be allowed to tranfer your permits if your plans change, and you will not be able to snag last minute permits this way.
For the most recently updated info on the 2026 Havause Falls permit process, visit the official Havasupai Reservations site.
2) When to Apply
The early access presale of Havasupai permits runs from 8am on January 21 through 5pm January 31, 2026. The regular sale of any remaining Havasupai permits begins at 8am on February 1, 2026.
Note: Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time, so make sure you adjust for time zone correctly.
Check the Havasupai Reservation site for the most updated information about reservation dates.
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3) Where to Apply
YOU MUST APPLY FOR YOUR HAVASUPAI FALLS CAMPING RESERVATION ONLINE! This is the only method to apply for permits for the Havasu Fall hike. You used to be able to also call and get reservations, but now it’s all done online.
Where specifically? Go to the Havasupai Reservations website and first set up an account. You MUST make an account on the Havasupai website in order to get a campsite reservation, and it’s best to do this in advance!
Again, there are no phone reservations!
4) How to Apply Step-by-Step (i.e. what does the process look like)
The Havasupai Tribe has announced they will be using a new online booking platform for 2026, so the process will look a little different than pictured here. This is a step-by-step visual guide of what the online reservation process looked like in previous years.
I highly recommend setting your account up before Havasu permits go on sale. You can do this at https://www.havasupaireservations.com/
During the account set up process you will:
Enter an email address and create a password for the account (save this information for later)
Check your email to confirm your email address
Fill out the required account information such as: name, email, phone, address,
Optional: add a payment method to your account (I suggest doing this to make the process faster on permit day)
Read the Havasupai agreement and confirm that you’ve read it.
Then wait for opening day to grab you Havasupai permits!
On Opening Day:
1) When you go to the reservation website, you will click "Make A Campground Reservation". Again, you’ll want to do this on January 21st for the presale or February 1st for the regular sale. Be online as soon as the reservation system opens!
2) Then you will see a page where you select the number of people and days you want the reservation for. Reservations must be for 3 nights.
3) You will then be directed to another page which shows you the start dates available. Select the dates you want accordingly. It’s good to have a variety of dates that you can choose so that you increase your chances of getting a Havasu Falls camping permit. Be flexible on dates.
4) You will have a timed limit to make up your mind, select your dates, and press continue. The final page is still "timed", and you will need to enter your details and payment info before that time is up in order to secure your Havasupai camping permits. Again, I recommend that you set up your account details and payment info AHEAD of time before the permit sale begins.
5) Cost: How much do Havasu Falls permits cost in 2026?
This hike has gotten extremely popular, and the prices seem to rise every year. When I first did this hike back in 2016, I think we only paid about $80 a person, but it is much more expensive now.
For 2026, it will cost $455 per person for a 3-night campground permit. If you purchase your permits during the presale, you will also have to pay an additional $40 early access fee per person.
You must pay for your reservation in full at the time the reservation is made. So if you have a big group going on the hike, be sure to let your group members know to pay you up front.
Be prepared to throw down some cash for this hike, but trust me, it is totally worth the cost! If there is ever a hike that you spend a bit of money to experience, this is definitely one of them!
6) The Fine Print behind your Permit for Havasu Falls (Things to Consider!)
There are a bunch of little rules and fine print around the Havasu Falls permit process, and you can (and should!) read all of the rules at the Havasupai website.
Here are a few of the most important things you should keep in mind as you prepare for grabbing 2026 Havasupai Falls backpacking permits.
How many people can be on one reservation? A campground reservation can include up to 12 people max. However, keep in mind that the larger your group is the harder it might be to get a Havasu Falls backpacking permit for a specific weekend. I recommend between 4-8 in a group.
Minimum & maximum night stay: All campground reservations will be for 3 nights / 4 days.
No day hiking is allowed! Also, please take note of some of the other rules on the Havasu Falls Trail. There are no drones allowed. There is no cliff jumping allowed, and there is no alcohol and drugs allowed. Plus, no littering, which I shouldn't have to even say here because you shouldn't go hiking if you intend to litter. That's just not cool.
The trip leader listed on the reservation MUST be present on the hike or else the Havasupai hiking permit isn’t valid, unless you designate potential alternate trip leaders (PATLs) which can only be done when you make your reservation. YOU MUST BRING YOUR PHOTO ID ON THE HIKE TO CONFIRM.
All visitors (even if they are not a trip leader on the reservation) must have an account on HavasupaiReservations.com prior to arrival. This is to confirm each person’s understanding of and agreement with all Havasupai Rules and Laws.
Can I get a refund if I decide to cancel my trip? The cancellation policy has changed in 2026, and you can now get a 50% refund of the permit fee (not including the early access fee) if you cancel your reservation at least 90 days before your permit start date. Cancellations within 90 days of your permit start date will not be eligible for a refund. The transfer portal has been discontinued, so permit transfers are no longer allowed.
Don’t forget this! Make sure to bring a printed copy of the email confirmation of your campground reservation or at least a screenshot of your reservation on your phone. Also make sure that you know your license plate number (or have a photo of it) of your vehicle that is parked at the trailhead. These things are all required at check in!
No one is permitted to proceed past the Supai Village without a wristband, so make sure that everyone in your group has a wristband before heading to the Campground.
Is there a fee/permit for parking? There is no fee or permit needed for parking and generally there is plenty of parking for everyone. Do not park in areas that say “no parking” and do not park in the parking area by the helipad. Please note that RV parking is tight, and might be trickier.
Your reservations are only for the hike and campground. If you want to book a spot at the lodge, you will need to do this separately, and they can be even harder to get.
7) Tips for Increasing Your Chances of Grabbing a Permit to Hike Havasu Falls in 2026
The best way to increase your chances of getting a Havasupai permit in 2026 will be to try to purchase a permit during the early access presale.
How can I guarantee that I get a Havasu Falls camping reservation!? You can’t “guarantee” anything in this system, unfortunately, because it’s highly competitive. However, my best advice is to team up. While I mentioned that it might be harder to get a permit to Havasu Falls for a larger group, this could go both ways.
I had some friends in 2019 who had a group of 8 people they wanted to grab permits for. All 8 of them woke up early on February 1st to grab permits and just had a mass group text going to let each other know if someone "got in" for the dates that they wanted (that way not all 8 of them were buying permits). One of them was able to get a reservation, so they were successful on their 1st try.
Here’s what I recommend doing to prepare for a successful Havasu Falls permit-grabbing day in 2026.
Before The Early Access Presale Opening Day:
Set up your Havasu account ahead of time. See Section 4 “How to Apply Step-by-Step” above for more details.
Figure out who you want to go with on your Havasu Falls Trip. Find a group of people to commit to going with you and helping you get permits. I’d say a group of 4-8 people is ideal. Each person who plans to go on this trip should also commit to be online to try to get permits with you on opening day. Create a communication strategy to keep in touch with each other during the process (text, group phone call, Facebook message.. etc) so that you don’t accidentally double book a reservation.
Pick several date options for your trip to try and apply for in advance. Split up the different times amongst your group.
Choose dates later in the season, around October and November to increase your chances of grabbing a permit. These dates tend to be less competitive.
On Early Access Presale Opening Day:
Get online and logged in early. Login to your account and make sure everyone is ready to go for permit open time.
At 8 AM, the page will automatically refresh and the "Make a 2026 Campground Reservation" button will activate which will allow you to proceed. All the info that you used to create your account will be auto-populated in the tool (you can review edit that info prior to purchase though)
As soon as someone from your group is successful in grabbing their permits for Havasu Falls, then notify the rest of the group and proceed with purchase.
After you grab your permits:
If you successfully grabbed a permit then congrats! You can start planning your trip. Check out our Havasu Falls Hike Guide to learn all about the hike!
8) What to do if you don’t grab a permit DURING THE EARLY ACCESS PRESALE
Try again on February 1st. Since this is a new process this year, I am not sure how many permits will still be available when the regular public access begins on February 1st, but it’s worth trying!
Ask around. See if any of your friends got permits with extra spots available that you could join in on.
Watch for cancellations throughout the year. Though the transfer portal is no longer active in 2026, the Havasupai Tribe has stated that they will release any cancelled permits back into the system, so you might get lucky.
Come better prepared for 2027: There’s always next year. Just keep trying, it’s so worth the wait!
I hope this post was helpful in understanding the Havasu Falls permit process. Get ready for the big day, and good luck!
For More Havasu Falls Resources, Check Out our Other Havasu Guides:
looking for more Arizona and hiking inspiration?check out our other resources below!
More Arizona Hikes and Desert Hiking Trail Guides:
Arizona: Best Hikes in Sedona Arizona
Arizona: Things to Do in Page
Arizona: Hiking the Wave
Arizona: Hiking Humphreys Peak (Tallest Peak in Arizona)
Utah Desert: Kanarra Falls Hike
Utah Desert: Hiking Angels Landing
New Mexico Desert: The Ultimate Guide to White Sands National Monument in New Mexico
California Desert: The Ultimate Death Valley Weekend Getaway
Also be sure to check out these essential hiking resources!
Cheers,
Allison - She Dreams of Alpine
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