A Guide to Havasupai Falls in September: Camping, Hiking, & Swimming

Visiting Havasupai Falls in September can be hot, but it’s an enjoyable time to visit, if you’re prepared for the desert heat.

With temperatures in the 90s most days, you’ll need to take extra precautions to stay hydrated and healthy.

Fortunately, Havasu Creek offers a fantastic way to cool off in one of the most beautiful settings I’ve ever seen.

Another important factor to consider is the summer monsoon season. This weather system brings storms (sometimes severe) to Arizona and typically lasts from late June through September.

Key Info on Havasupai Falls

• You’ll need a permit, which become available each February.
• Camping permits are $455 for 3 nights (per person).
• Lodge rooms are $2277 for 3 nights (for 4 people).
• The helicopter is unpredictable, so be prepared to hike 10 miles through a canyon.
• You can hire a mule (when you book your permit) to haul your tent and backpacks in.

August Weather Overview

In September, you can expect daily highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s, with overnight lows in the upper 60s. On hot days, the rock walls of the canyon seem to absorb heat, and then radiate it at night on the campsites.

• Average High: 90°F
• Average Low: 65°F
• Rainfall: Zero to several inches, depending on the monsoon.

Weather Warnings

As a resident of Phoenix, I’m accustomed to summer heat. However, I experienced heat exhaustion during a trip to Havasupai Falls in the summer. By the end of our third day, despite drinking gallons of water, I barely made it to my tent before passing out around sunset. Hours later, I was moved to the creek, where I submerged myself for two hours to lower my body temperature.

When I woke up the next morning, I felt slightly better. We later learned that many other hikers had suffered even worse heat-related issues and needed to be flown out for medical attention.

I’m not sharing this to discourage you from visiting in the warmer months; I want you to learn from my experience. Drink much more water than you think you’ll need, and take breaks to cool off throughout the day while hiking!

Monsoon Awareness

As mentioned, monsoon season continues into September in Arizona

In August 2024, a major monsoon storm struck the area, causing a devastating flash flood in the canyon.

Tragically, a young woman died while hiking near the confluence with the Colorado River. The flood also affected the town of Supai, damaging several homes, the campground, and the main trail through the canyon.  

The Arizona National Guard airlifted a couple of hundred people out of Supai.

I don’t write this to advise against visiting Havasupai Falls during monsoon season. However, it’s crucial to be aware of the potential for storms and flooding.

Daylight Hours

You’ll have around 12 hours of daylight in September.

• Sunrise: : 6:15 AM
• Sunset: 7:00 PM

With longer daylight hours, it’s safer to hike the extra 10 miles one day to the Confluence, where Havasu Creek meets the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

Crowds and Permit Availability

It can be difficult to secure a permit to Havasupai Falls any month of the year, and it’s the same in September.

My advice, which I’ve followed several times myself, is to keep checking the Tribe’s “Transfer” website. It’s the only place to buy permits from other people who no longer want them.

As for crowd size, Havasupai Tribe doesn’t release exact numbers, but public filings online with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and other agencies provide some insight.

The tribe grants roughly 100 permits per day. Up to 30,000 people visit Havasupai Falls each year. The campground is almost always buzzing with new people arriving and other groups packing up to leave.

Hiking to Havasupai Falls in September

In the spring months (February, March, April, and even into much of May) the weather is cool enough to start your hike to Havasupai Falls at any time of day.

However, during the summer and into September, you should begin your hike before dawn from the Hualapai Hilltop. Depending on your pace and how many stops you make to rest, the hike will take approximately 5 hours.

While there are some shady spots along the trail, it’s important to avoid hiking in the midday heat. This is especially true if you’re carrying 30 pounds of gear!

Also, note that the Havasupai Tribe often enforces a rule requiring all hikers to depart the trailhead by 2:00 PM. As a result, hiking during the evening or at sunset may not be permitted. Therefore, it’s ideal to start your hike before dawn in September.

Trail Conditions and Challenges

The storm that damaged the trail in August of 2024 was a rare occurrence. The trail is established and well-worn. You should find the route clearly marked and easy to follow.  

The tiny springs along the trail will create a couple of small algae-filled ponds, but there’s really no water along the way until you hit Havasu Creek around mile 7. Be prepared to carry plenty of water to drink until you can refill your filter bottles in the creek!

Camping Along Havasu Creek in September

Into September, you’ll have warm summery nights camping along Havasu Creek.   

You’ll find campsites on both sides of a one-mile stretch of the creek, between Havasu and Mooney Falls.

Campground Conditions and Best Spots

Several times over the years, monsoon storms have triggered flash floods on Havasu Creek, forcing campers to move to abandon their campsites and moves to higher ground. While it’s nothing you can really prepare for, it’s still important to keep it in mind.

Otherwise, my advice for choosing a camping spot is:

• Hike past Havasu Falls toward Mooney Falls to choose a spot along the creek.
• Choose a site away from the vaulted toilets. There’s usually an odor wafting from them.

Nighttime Temperatures and Sleeping Tips

Nighttime temperatures will generally be in the 60s in September, so keep that in mind when you’re choosing your sleeping bag and tent. In the summer months, many people choose to sleep in hammocks rather than tents.  

The next time I go in the summer, I might not even bring a sleeping bag. It might work better if you bring a sheet to use over your sleeping pad rather than a sleeping bag.

As I mentioned earlier, the tall rock canyon walls on either side of Havasu Creek absorb heat during the day and radiate it at night. So while the natural outdoor temperature might be 65, the heat from the walls will make it feel much warmer.

Wildlife and Bugs to Watch For

I know people who’ve been bothered by mosquitoes and flies. I never have, but I always carry a small bottle of insect repellent just in case the bugs are bad on a hike.

I also know people who’ve had their food supplies broken into by squirrels or scavengers. We’ve always managed to keep our food secure in airtight bags and containers, but many people choose to bring rat sacks as an extra precaution.

As for wildlife, you’re more likely to encounter frogs and lizards near the creek, as you would expect. Plus, hiking down past Mooney Falls, you’re bound to have an amazing encounter with desert big-horned sheep!

Waterfalls and Swimming in September

Whether it’s snowmelt in February, spring showers in April, or a summer monsoon storm in July, there’s always a chance that the blue creek will turn brown.

September is still monsoon season in Arizona, and it doesn’t take much rainfall on the plateau above the canyon to muddy the creek and falls. Usually, if a storm moves through and muddies the creek, it’ll clear up in two days.

Water Temperature

Here’s a chart of the water temperatures in Havasu Creek over the month of September in 2023. (The gauge was knocked out in September of 2024 by a flood, so that data is unavailable). Temperatures vary through the day, but the water is usually in the lower 70s.