One of the most important things about planning your backpacking trip to Havasupai is choosing the right time of year. We’ve rounded up the best time to visit Havasu Falls as well as what to expect during each month so you know how to prepare.
If you’re planning a backpacking trip to Havasupai, you are likely wondering what time of year is best to visit.
Choosing the best time of year to visit Havasu Falls will partially come down to your priorities and what you want out of this trip.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Do you want to prioritize hot temperatures so you can spend most of your time swimming?
- Or do you prefer cooler weather so it’s more comfortable for hiking?
- Do you want to avoid crowds as much as possible?
- Are you comfortable hiking during monsoon season if there’s an increased chance of flash floods?
- Will mosquitoes bother you?
In this article, we’re breaking down each month so you know exactly what to expect (and therefore what to pack). We’re also sharing our personal recommendation of the best months to visit Havasu Falls.
Spoiler Alert: Our top recommendation is mid-October if you can snag your Havasupai permits for that time. Our recommendation of times to avoid is July and August, as this is a common time for dangerous flash floods.
In this article, we’ll also cover the following:
- average high and low temperatures for each month
- monsoon season dates
- months that you can expect mosquitoes
- which months are too cold to swim
- which months are the most crowded
- tips for choosing the best time of year for you
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When can you visit Havasu Falls?
First things first: It’s important to know that Havasupai is not open to tourists the entire year.
Permits are available from February 1, 2024 – November 30, 2024.
This means Havasupai Reservation is not open to tourists during the months of December and January.
What is the best time of year to go to Havasupai?
The best time of year to visit Havasu Falls are the following months:
- April
- May
- (mid to late) September
- October
Our top recommendation: mid-October (this is when we personally visited)
Havasupai weather & temperatures
Even though Arizona is typically thought to be hot and sunny all year, the temperatures in the canyon vary a lot throughout the year and even get to freezing at times.
Interesting: Even though the air temps fluctuate quite a bit, the water of Havasupai Creek stays at a pretty constant 70ºF (21ºC) all year long.
Here’s a month-by-month snapshot that illustrates what weather and temperatures you can expect at Havasupai throughout the year:
February
Temperatures during the day are comfortable for hiking but too cold for swimming, chilly temps at night mean you’ll need to bundle up. There are historically fewer crowds during this month.
Since permits aren’t made available until the beginning of February, you won’t have much time to plan your trip. This makes it an ideal month for Arizona locals to hike to Havasu Falls, whereas it’ll be harder for someone who needs to secure flights and accommodations.
February temperatures:
- Average high: 64ºF (18ºC)
- Average low: 37ºF (3ºC)
February daylight hours:
- Mid-February sunset time: 6:12 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 10 hours 54 minutes
March
March has comfortable hiking temperatures but still usually too cold for swimming. Also, nighttime is pretty cold, so pack lots of layers.
March average temperatures:
- Average high: 71ºF (22ºC)
- Average low: 42ºF (6ºC)
March daylight hours:
- Mid-March sunset time: 6:39 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 12 hours
April
Daytime temperatures start to warm up during April, and there may be days where it’ll be hot enough to swim comfortably. However, it’s still relatively cold at night, so pack accordingly.
April average temperatures:
- Average high: 79ºF (26ºC)
- Average low: 47ºF (8ºC)
April daylight hours:
- Mid-April sunset time: 7:05 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 13 hours 10 minutes
May
Hot, summer-like temperatures are starting to creep in during the month of May, but it’s not nearly as hot as it will be in the coming months. You may start to see some bugs.
May average temperatures:
- Average high: 89ºF (32ºC)
- Average low: 55ºF (13ºC)
May daylight hours:
- Mid-May sunset time: 7:31 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 14 hours 8 minutes
June
This is the first month where you’ll likely see temps above 100ºF (38ºC). Swimming is not just comfortable, but necessary to keep cool on hotter days. You’ll want to be prepared for bugs.
June average temperatures:
- Average high: 100ºF (38ºC)
- Average low: 64ºF (18ºC)
June daylight hours:
- Mid-June sunset time: 7:50 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 14 hours 37 minutes
July
This month is very hot, and can be really miserable for hiking during midday. Night temps are cooler but still warm. Both July and August are the months that see the most rain, with dangerous flash floods a possibility.
July average temperatures:
- Average high: 103ºF (39ºC)
- Average low: 69ºF (21ºC)
July daylight hours:
- Mid-July sunset time: 7:47 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 14 hours 21 minutes
August
This month is very similar to July, with hot temperatures and chances of rain. August is part of monsoon season, meaning flash floods can happen at very short notice.
August average temperatures:
- Average high: 101ºF (38ºC)
- Average low: 67ºF (19ºC)
August daylight hours:
- Mid-August sunset time: 7:19 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 13 hours 29 minutes
September
Temperatures in September are still on the higher end, but it’s a bit of a reprieve from the July and August heat, especially toward the end of the month. Chances of rain are less than in July/August.
September average temperatures:
- Average high: 94ºF (34ºC)
- Average low: 60ºF (16ºC)
September daylight hours:
- Mid-September sunset time: 6:36 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 12 hours 21 minutes
October
October has some of the most comfortable temperatures you’ll see all year. It’s not too hot for hiking, yet during midday it is still warm enough to swim. Bring layers to wear at night. You shouldn’t see many mosquitoes and the chance of rain is slim.
October average temperatures:
- Average high: 81ºF (27ºC)
- Average low: 49ºF (9ºC)
October daylight hours:
- Mid-October sunset time: 5:53 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 11 hours 13 minutes
November
Temperatures are cooler and you likely won’t encounter bugs. This month tends to be less crowded, but the days are shorter so you have limited daylight for exploring.
November average temperatures:
- Average high: 66ºF (19ºC)
- Average low: 39ºF (4ºC)
November daylight hours:
- Mid-November sunset time: 5:22 p.m.
- Average hours of daylight: 10 hours 12 minutes
You can find the current weather forecast for Supai here.
Havasupai weather FAQs
Still have questions about the weather at Havasupai? We’ve got answers…
When is monsoon season in Havasupai?
Monsoon season is during the months of July, August, and early to mid-September. During this time it’s not uncommon to experience sweltering heat, heavy rainstorms, and flash floods.
It can rain at other times of the year (outside of monsoon season), but July and August are the most likely times for flash floods.
When there are flash floods, there’s a chance you’ll be evacuated for your safety. Alternatively, if you haven’t started your hike yet but there are flash flood conditions, there’s a chance your reservation may be canceled.
We heard a story from someone at camp whose family member was camping there during July of 2023. They were awakened in the middle of the night by an emergency response team telling everyone to evacuate. It was just a few months before our trip, so we felt incredibly lucky that we chose to do our hike outside of monsoon season.
Here’s a news clip from a major flash flood in 2018 so you can see what it looks like.
An even more recent example of this was August 22, 2024, when more than 100 hikers and tribal members had to be evacuated by helicopter after a flash flood tore through Havasupai. Tragically, one life was lost. This is just one example of how dangerous flash floods can be in this area, especially since the campground is at low elevation.
Related note: Get travel insurance
While getting travel insurance is (in our opinion) a must no matter what time of year you plan to go, we’d argue it is even more essential if you are hiking during monsoon season or shortly thereafter. Outside of the obvious – you could lose your belongings in a flash flood, need to be evacuated, or get seriously injured – there’s also the matter of your trip being canceled.
After a flash flood, the reservation must close down (sometimes indefinitely) while they recover. This means if you have plans to visit shortly after a flood has occurred, you may have to cancel your trip.
Remember: You cannot purchase travel insurance after a disaster has occurred. This is why it is important to buy your travel insurance at the same time you purchase your permit and flight.
Is Havasupai crowded?
Yes, and it is getting more and more popular each year.
The woman who checked us in said that there are between 300-400 people staying in the campground each night. This isn’t one of those “get away from everyone and find solitude” camping trips!
What is the least crowded time of year at Havasupai?
In the past, it has been said that peak tourist season is May – September with the months outside of that time seeing fewer people. That said, we did our hike in mid-October, but the campground was at full capacity.
The least crowded months will be in the colder months (February, March, November). The trade off for (potentially) fewer people is that it may be too chilly to swim.
Which months are too cold to swim?
Even though the air temperature fluctuates quite a bit, the water of Havasupai Creek remains at a pretty constant 70ºF (21ºC) all year long.
That said, the air temperature can play a big role in how comfortable it is to swim. The months of February, March, and November will be likely too cold for most people to comfortably swim.
Which months have mosquitoes?
We personally didn’t experience many bugs in mid-October (other than cute, fuzzy caterpillars all over the place!).
That said, during the warmer times of the year, there are mosquitoes (and other bugs).
If you are traveling during the months of May – September, I would expect mosquitoes and be prepared with repellant.
What time is sunset in Havasupai?
Sunset time varies throughout the year, with late June being the latest (7:52 p.m.) and early December being the earliest (5:15 p.m.).
Just like everywhere else in the northern hemisphere, June has the longest daylight hours. In mid-June, hikers to Havasupai will experience 14 hours and 37 minutes of daylight around the solstice (the 21st of the month).
If you are visiting in November, however, you might have just over 10 hours of daylight for exploring.
This website is a good resource to find the number of daylight hours you can expect during your trip as well as writing down sunset and sunrise times for your dates.
Tips for choosing the best time of year
Do you want…
…hot weather for swimming? Go in June
…to avoid crowds as much as possible? Go in February/March or November
…comfortable weather that’s not too hot or too cold? Go in April/May or September/October
Did you notice I skipped over July and August?
I did that for a reason! I personally wouldn’t recommend going to Havasupai during July or August for 4 reasons:
- It can get incredibly hot during the peak of summer (temperatures are often upwards of 100ºF/38ºC).
- Since it’s summer break, this is the busiest and most crowded time of year.
- The warmer months can get buggy and you’ll likely encounter mosquitoes.
- Most importantly, it is monsoon season and there can be massive flash floods.
Our personal experience
Wanna see what our Havasupai backpacking trip was like up close and in-person? Watch this video and you’ll see why I recommend going in mid-October!
Our permit was from October 12-15, 2023 and we had perfect weather. The temperatures were warm but not crazy hot, so hiking wasn’t uncomfortable but it was still refreshing to take a dip in the water. (We even got lucky enough to witness a partial solar eclipse! But that’s not a normal occurrence.)
The woman who checked us in at the Cavern Inn told us her favorite time of year to recommend is September and October, so it seems that we chose a good time to go!
Truthfully, I couldn’t recommend mid-October more highly. It really checks all the boxes, so this would be our top recommendation if you’re looking for the best time of year to visit Havasu Falls.
Plan the perfect Havasupai backpacking trip
Now that you know what’s the best time of year to visit Havasu Falls, here are some other Havasupai articles to check out. We’ve got tons of guides filled with essential information and secret tips that’ll ensure you have the adventure of a lifetime!
- How to Get a Havasu Falls Permit (instructions & tips!)
- Havasupai Hiking Guide + Map (All your questions answered!)
- Havasu Falls Camping Guide
- Havasupai Waterfalls
- Havasupai Confluence Hike: Is it worth it? + Essential Tips
- What to Pack for Backpacking Havasupai
- Everything You Need to Know Before You Go to Havasupai
Don’t forget to download our complete packing list for hiking Havasupai! It’s packed with good suggestions and insider tips to help plan your Havasu Falls hike. And it’s completely FREE, so why not!?
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We want to hear from you!
If you’ve been to Havasu Falls before, we’d love to hear all about your experience. Or, if you’re planning a trip to Havasupai and still have questions, we’re happy to help! Leave us a comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you.