Backway to Havasu Falls

The Backway to Havasu Falls follows ancient trading routes across the Coconino Plateau, descending through juniper-covered mesas before reaching the Havasupai reservation boundary near Supai village. This lesser-known approach avoids the crowded Hualapai Hilltop trailhead, following ranch roads and BLM tracks that wind past hidden springs and Ancestral Puebloan sites. The route drops into Havasu Canyon’s red limestone walls, where Havasu Creek has carved pools and terraces for centuries.

Moderate difficulty requires high-clearance 4WD and careful navigation using current maps—GPS coordinates shift with road conditions. Tribal permits mandatory for Havasupai lands, with strict camping reservations required months in advance. Best attempted fall through spring when flash flood risk diminishes. Carry ample water and camping gear; this isn’t a day trip. The payoff is approaching one of the Southwest’s most spectacular destinations without fighting tourist crowds, experiencing the canyon country as generations of Havasupai people have known it.