2025 Havasupai Falls Reservation Presale Information

Planning a visit to Havasupai Falls in 2025? You probably already know:

You need a permit to visit.
It involves a 10+ mile hike or helicopter flight.
You can camp along Havasu Creek by the falls or stay in the lodge in town.
Permits for February through November usually open to the public February 1st.
Mule costs & helicopter costs are extra.

The Havasupai Tribe is running a presale again before the full calendar opens to the public.

It’s a confusing process, but I’ve tried to break it down to the basics below.

Presale Details

Dates

Starts: 8:00 am (Arizona time), Monday, December 16, 2024
Ends: 5:00 pm (Arizona time), Friday, January 3, 2025

Eligibility:

You must have a Havasupai Reservations account to participate.
Create one anytime at https://www.havasupaireservations.com.
There’s a presale for camping, and a presale for the lodge.

Cost:

$20 per person/per reservation (Example: 10 people = $200).
Non-refundable and not applied toward the reservation cost.
This is an increase from $15 last year.

Havasupai Falls is made of a series of waterfalls along Havasu Creek.

How the Presale Works

Select Start Dates:

During the presale, you can choose up to three preferred start dates for your trip. The permits for the campground are for 3 nights and 4 days. Partial permits are *not* allowed.

The presale is open to both the lodge and the campground. There is a separate login for each.

Campground reservations: $455 per person for 3 nights/4 days.
Lodge reservations: $2,277 per room for 3 nights. Up to 4 people can stay in a room.
Remember: the lodge in Supai is a 2-mile walk to the waterfalls.

Notification Process:

If awarded a date during the presale, you will receive an email by 5:00 pm (Arizona time), Monday, January 6, 2025.

Accepting a Reservation:

If you are awarded a date, full payment must be made by 5:00 pm (Arizona time), Friday, January 24, 2025.

If you do not accept the date, no action is needed, and the hold will be canceled. You will *not* be refunded the $20 per person.

You can try for permits when the full calendar becomes publicly available in February, or buy cancelations on the transfer website later during the year. I’ve done this twice, and it’s worked perfectly!

From the base of Havasu Falls before a flood in 2024

Havasupai Reservation Permit Rules

Group Size: Up to 12 people per reservation.
One Reservation per Trip Leader: Only one trip leader can book a reservation for the group.
Optional Alternate Trip Leaders: You may (but don’t have to) name alternate trip leaders when booking.
Non-Refundable Policy: Once payment is made, reservations are non-refundable and non-cancellable. You can, however, put your permits on the Havasupai Tribe’s “transfer” page, which updates daily. This allows others to buy your permits.

Swimming in Havasu Creek near the confluence with the Colorado River

Campground & Lodge Information

Presale is available for both the campground and the lodge, each requiring a separate login.

Campground:
- $455 per person for 3 nights.
Lodge:
- $2,277 per room for 3 nights (up to 4 people).

Important Reminders

Participation in the presale does not guarantee a reservation.
Presale fees are non-refundable.
Create a Havasupai Reservations account at www.havasupaireservations.com.
Log in and select either the campground or lodge option.
Helicopter and mule fees are additional.
Never count on the helicopter, since its schedule is inconsistent.

Recap of the 2024 Havasupai Presale

In 2024, the Havasupai Tribe introduced a permit presale system for the first time. While the effort was innovative, the results were mixed, as overbookings led to confusion and cancelations.

2024 Presale Overview

Dates: The presale ran from January 5 to January 18, 2024.
Cost: $15 per person (nonrefundable).
Notification: Those selected were notified between January 25 and 26, 2024.
Payment: If selected, participants were automatically charged $455 per person for their permits.

What Worked & What Didn’t

Unclear Permit Numbers: It’s unknown how many permits were awarded through the presale.
Date Mismatches: Several participants reported being assigned dates that did not match their selected preferences.
System Issues: It’s uncertain whether these mismatches were due to a technical glitch in the reservation system or user error during the booking process.
Overbooking: The software allowed many dates in the spring to be overbooked, leading the Tribe to force an unknown number of visitors to change dates or postpone trips.

Wrap: Havasupai Falls Presale 2025

The 2024 presale marked a significant shift in how Havasupai permits are managed, and while there were challenges, it laid the groundwork for the 2025 presale process.

I have to believe the 2025 permit presale with be smoother, and that the Tribe’s vendor fixed glitches and learned from overbookings in 2023 and 2024.

Personally, I’ll avoid the presale and try to buy canceled permits on the transfer website later this year.

Regardless of the path you choose, good luck. The permit hassle will be worth it when you arrive at this oasis near the Grand Canyon!