Havasupai Falls is one of the pristine wonders of Arizona. Located in the Grand Canyon, Havasupai is a 20-mile all-around hike.
One of the hardest parts of this hike is getting a permit. This year, permits were released on February 1st at 8:00 a.m. in a first-come, first-serve frenzy. These permits could be obtained online through the official website as well as through phone.
The first step in order to plan out this trip is to get yourself a small group of individuals who are dedicated to going. Text your friends and family and find the people you would like to go on this adventure with. Preferably get this group going around November.
November is also a good time to start training and start getting your body in shape. Your group should have only between 1-4 people so that reservations are easier to secure. When February arrives, and the system opens up for registration, be ready to attack and secure your spot. Have multiple people working on this process so that at least one phone call goes through or a submission online works out.
Another thing to keep in mind is that your preferred date will hardly be available so make sure to discuss with your group the limitations of the trip. Only include individuals with the same availability so the dates could be flexible.
Another thing to keep in mind is the time that you are willing to book your trip.
February dates usually end up going last. One problem of going in February is how cold the weather will be. Remember that your group will have to camp out there overnight. Although the journey there would not be as hot as June/July, the cold weather at night would need to be tackled.
Going during summer in Arizona poses the problems of how you would need to tackle the heat. A large portion of the journey will occur in areas with no shade, therefore, it is important to train properly for this.
After getting the permit, the next step is to get all the supplies ready the journey. This means purchasing the tent, food supplies, gallons of water, clothing, and accessories necessary. Buy supplies that are low in weight and easy to pack. Some of the supplies can be bought cheaper but would weigh more.
In addition, it would be important to train carrying that load while training so you would be able to replicate it at Havasupai.
Havasupai is a journey that every Arizonian hiker should have on their list. If you can't get the permit this year, try again next year. The wait and trouble are worth the amazing adventure that Havasupai promises to be.
