A backpacking trip to Havasupai requires a lot of planning and preparation. If you have reservations for the campground, you will be packing in everything you need for 3 nights. You will want to ensure you have the essentials, but do not overpack as every little bit of extra weight counts!
I have compiled a complete Havasupai packing list based on our experience while visiting in the warmer months. If you are planning to visit in the colder months, you will need to do additional research to find the best recommendations for cold-weather camping.
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A Complete Havasupai Packing List
Table of Contents
- Havasupai Backpacking Essentials
- Havasupai Camping Essentials
- Havasupai Cooking Essentials
- Clothing and Personal Items
- Havasupai Packing Checklist:
Havasupai Backpacking Essentials
Lightweight Backpack
You will need a sturdy but lightweight backpack that provides good support. We found that the 50L to 60L range backpack was a great size.
The Granite Gear Blaze has been rated as one of the best backpacking backpacks. We also like the Teton Scout due to the great reviews and affordable price point.
Water Bladders
It is recommended that each person carry at least one gallon of water while hiking in and out of the canyon.
We purchased these 2-pack water bladders at a great price. We each carried two 2-liter bladders (just over 1 gallon of water).
The tube is interchangeable so each hiker only needs to bring one tube to transfer between bladders.
Hiking Shoes and Socks
You will be hiking at least 20 miles round trip, so comfortable hiking shoes that provide good support and traction are essential.
I have been hiking with Danner Trail Shoes for years and I like the way they perform. I bought these Brooks Trail Shoes for my teenage son who hiked with me and he said they were really comfortable.
Just be sure to break your shoes in with a few hikes before your trip to Havasupai to help reduce the risk of getting blisters.
You will also want to wear thicker hiking socks that are moisture-wicking and designed to prevent blisters. You may want to go up a half-size with your shoes depending on how thick your socks are.
Trekking Poles
If you’ve never used trekking poles while hiking, you’ll be surprised at what a difference they make!
Trekking poles help reduce the impact on your knees when hiking downhill, help you keep your balance while hiking over loose and rocky terrain, and help reduce the strain on your legs while hiking uphill.
Before your hike, watch a YouTube tutorial to see the correct way to use trekking poles.
Day Pack
You will use your backpacking backpack while hiking in and out of the canyon, but you will also need to bring a daypack for hiking within the canyon.
A hydration pack is ideal so that you can carry a water bladder as well as snacks, sunscreen, a first aid kit, and other essentials.
Havasupai Camping Essentials
Lightweight Sleeping Bag
If you are visiting between May and September, the nights stay warm so you will only need a lightweight sleeping bag.
This lightweight sleeping bag is ideal for temperatures above 55 degrees and it compresses into a small pack to save space in your backpack.
Lightweight Backpacking Tent
We bought this 2-person backpacking tent and were impressed with how lightweight and compact it is. It is also easy to set up and take down.
It is a smaller tent, but can still comfortably sleep 2 people with sleeping mats.
Sleeping Mat
I love this sleeping mat because it weighs less than 2 pounds!
The bag also serves as the air pump. There was a bit of a learning curve at first, but once we figured out how to use the bag as a pump we were able to inflate it in just a few minutes. It is comfortable to sleep on and the price is affordable.
You may also want to consider bringing a camping pillow. This one weighs less than 1 lb and will help you sleep more comfortably. Another option if you are tight on space, is filling an empty pillowcase with your clothes and using that as a pillow.
Hammock
There are so many trees throughout the Havasupai Campground where you can set up a hammock. My son especially loved sleeping under the stars with the sound of the river drowning out all other noises.
We even brought sleep masks to block out the early morning light and he slept so good!
The advantages of bringing a hammock is that it is much lighter than a tent and you will not need to bring a sleeping mat and pillow.
When you’re out exploring for the day, it’s also nice to bring your hammock to hang by the falls or along the river.
The disadvantage of only bringing a hammock and not a tent is that you will not have any privacy for changing.
This is a great affordable hammock that comes with a bug net. You will definitely want the protection from the bugs if you are sleeping outside!
Collapsible Water Jug
There is only one spring at the campground that provides potable drinking water. The campground spreads for about one mile along the creek, so depending on where your campsite is, it may be a bit of a trek to the spring.
A collapsible water jug comes in handy for transporting water to keep at your campsite for cooking and drinking.
It is lightweight and collapsible for fitting easily into your backpack. There are also wheelbarrows located around the camp that you can use to transport the water container when it is full.
The spring water is checked often and is generally fine to drink, but just to be cautious I recommend a water filter bag. This also comes in handy if you are hiking to the confluence. It is a long hike and you can use this to drink from the river instead of carrying a lot of water.
You can also use a water-filtering straw. We tried using purification tablets, but it made the water taste funny.
Headlamps
Headlamps will come in handy around camp and also if you hike in or out in the dark. I like these headlamps because they come in a 2-pack and they are rechargeable so you don’t need to keep buying replacement batteries.
Inflatable solar lanterns are also a great option for around camp. They are lightweight and compact to carry, and since they are solar powered so you don’t need to worry about batteries.
Lightweight Camping Chair
A lightweight camping chair isn’t essential, but it is sure nice to have if you have the space. This camping chair weighs less than 3 pounds and folds up pretty small.
It’s a nice luxury item if you want to sit and read a book by the river or relax by the falls.
Havasupai Cooking Essentials
Food
You will need to pack in all of the food needed for at least three days of meals. The best lightweight option is dehydrated meals.
There are quite a few different meals to choose from, including breakfast and even desserts. We found that they were surprisingly good and packed with plenty of vitamins, protein, and nutrients.
We also brought protein bars and oatmeal for breakfast, and ramen for lunch. For snacks, I recommend granola bars, protein bars, dried fruit, nuts, trail mix, beef jerky, tuna packets with crackers, and other snacks that provide protein without a lot of empty calories.
I also recommend bringing energy gels and energy chews to give you an extra boost of energy when hiking, especially on the last stretch of switchbacks on your way up.
Electrolyte powder or tablets are also essential for preventing dehydration, especially if you are hiking in the summer months.
You must pack out all of your trash, so bring a garbage bag to keep at camp.
Portable Jet Boiler
You will need a portable jet boiler to boil water for the dehydrated meals. You can pour the boiling water directly into the meal pouch then seal it up and let it sit until the food has been fully rehydrated and cooked.
Mess Kit
If you are only bringing dehydrated meal pouches, then you only need to bring reusable plastic utensils. We brought oatmeal packets and ramen for some of the meals, so we brought collapsible bowls.
Hanging Food Bag
The critters in the Havasupai campground are notorious for chewing through bags to get to your food. The best way to prevent this is with a hanging bag or rodent-proof sack that you can suspend between tree branches.
We used a dry bag that we suspended with a rope and it worked great. I like this option since the dry bag is something we often use when on the water as well as when camping.
A bear canister is also an option, but it is heavier than a bag. Most of the campsites also have a bucket with a lid for you to store food in, but it is not guaranteed that there will be one available so it’s best to come prepared.
Clothing and Personal Items
What Clothes Should I Pack for Havasupai?
If you are visiting when the weather is warm, you do not need to pack much.
Your Havasupai permit covers 4 days and 3 nights of camping. I would plan to wear the same outfit twice so that you can pack lighter. You can use Campsuds to wash your clothes in the river only if necessary. You’ll also want to bring a paracord rope to use as a clothesline.
For girls, I would bring one pair of lightweight leggings or biker shorts for hiking, and one pair of athletic shorts to throw on over a swimsuit while hiking to the different falls.
Bring one swimsuit, two tank tops or lightweight T-shirts, and one long-sleeved sun shirt for SPF protection. Bring a hat and sunglasses for sun protection as well.
In addition to hiking shoes, bring a pair of flip-flops to wear around camp, and water shoes to wear while hiking to the different falls within the canyon. These are the Chaco sandals I use, but Teva and Keen are also great brands.
It is worth investing in quality water shoes that are comfortable and durable since you will be hiking a lot within the canyon. I’ve made the mistake of buying cheap water shoes before and my feet paid for it! We also brought carabiners to clip our wet shoes onto the outside of our backpacks.
Pack one pair of pajamas, underwear, sports bra, 2 pairs of hiking socks, and 2 pairs of socks to wear with your water shoes.
Trust me, when you are hiking in wet shoes you are bound to get blisters or raw skin so wearing socks with water shoes is a must!
You will also want to bring a lightweight towel if you plan to swim in the falls. We bring these Turkish towels with us all of the time when we travel. They are lightweight, fold up small, dry quickly, and are surprisingly absorbent.
Pack your clothes in a stuff sack or packing cube to help save space in your backpack. This could also double as a pillow if needed.
Toiletries and First Aid
Keep your toiletry items to a bare minimum. I would leave your makeup and skincare products at home and only bring the essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, hair brush, and hair tie.
The bathrooms often run out of toilet paper, so throw a roll into your backpack and bring hand sanitizer as there are no sinks to wash your hands at the bathrooms.
Bring a basic first aid kit with band-aids, antibiotic ointment, Tylenol, melatonin if you need help sleeping, sunscreen, SPF chapstick, bug spray, anti-itch cream (this is the cream I always use for bug bites).
I would also bring chafing cream since you will be hiking a lot in wet clothes and swimsuits. Moleskin is also more effective than band-aids for protecting blisters and raw skin.
Miscellaneous Items
The store and cafe at Supai Village take credit cards ($10 minimum purchase), but the fry bread stand at the top of Havasu Falls only takes cash. The prices range from $10 for a sweet fry bread to $16 for a Navajo taco with meat, so be sure you bring enough cash because you’ll want to stop several times!
The Supai Village is the only place in the canyon where you will have cell service, but you will still want to keep your phone charged for pictures and videos. We bought this 2-pack battery charger a few years ago and it still works great.
The Garmin InReach uses satellite technology and is a great safety device for keeping in touch when there is no cell service. This is especially important if you are solo backpacking.
Earbuds are handy for the hike if you want to listen to music, podcasts, or an audiobook. I recommend bringing wired earbuds instead of wireless so that you don’t have to worry about charging them.
Bring a deck of face cards to play in the evening at camp when you have some downtime. I also brought these riddle cards to help pass the time while hiking. They come in a small tin and are easy to stick in a pocket.
*Related Post: See our Complete Guide to Hiking Havasupai Falls for everything you need to know before your trip.
Havasupai Packing Checklist:
- Backpacking backpack (50-60L)
- Lightweight sleeping bag
- Lightweight backpacking tent
- Lightweight inflatable sleeping mat
- Small camping pillow and sleep mask (optional)
- Hammock with bug net (optional if using instead of tent)
- Day pack
- Water bladders
- Water filter bag/water filtration straw/purification tablets
- Electrolyte powder or tablets
- Hiking shoes and hiking socks
- Water shoes and socks (a carabiner to clip them on your backpack)
- Flip flops for around camp
- Trekking poles
- Headlamps/solar inflatable lantern
- Dehydrated meals
- Snacks and energy gel/chews
- Portable jet boiler
- Collapsible water jug
- Mess kit (collapsible bowls and utensils)
- Rodent-proof sack
- Garbage bag
- Lightweight camping chair (optional)
- Paracord rope for a clothesline
- Clothing and stuff sack/packing cube
- Swimsuit
- Campsuds (for minimal bathing, washing clothes, and dishes)
- Turkish towel
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen and SPF chapstick
- Basic first aid kit (band-aids, moleskin, antibiotic ointment, melatonin, Tylenol, chafing cream, bug spray, anti-itch cream)
- Basic toiletries (toilet paper, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, brush/comb, and hair tie)
- Cash and credit card (You’ll also need your ID for checking in and picking up the permits)
- Phone, camera, and portable charger
- Garmin InReach (optional safety device)
- Wireless earbuds
- Card games
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I hope this guide will help as you pack for your Havasupai trip!
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