All About the Adventurous Beaver Falls Hike in Havasupai

Beaver Falls is one of the most distinctive waterfalls in Havasupai, known for its tiered cascades and enticing turquoise pools. And the only way to reach this waterfall paradise is by descending deep into the Grand Canyon and navigating through the electric-blue Havasu Creek.

girl standing at beaver falls in havasupai

Although the entire Havasu Falls Trail is gorgeous, the trek from Mooney Falls to Beaver Falls is our favorite stretch.

This adventurous route winds through Havasu Creek and features sketchy ladders, technical boulder scrambles, deep creek crossings, and a lush meadow teeming with bighorn sheep, vibrant cacti, and endless turquoise waterfalls.

You won’t want to miss the Beaver Falls hike!

girl climbing down a rock face on the beaver falls trail in havasupai

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Beaver Falls hike in Havasupai, including a step-by-step trail breakdown and answers to all of your burning questions.

Table of Contents

All About the Adventurous Beaver Falls Hike in Havasupai

girl sitting at beaver falls in havasupai

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What Is Beaver Falls?

Beaver Falls is probably the most unique waterfall in Havasupai. Unlike many of the other waterfalls in Havasupai, Beaver Falls doesn’t have a single plunge. Instead, it boasts cascading tiers of falls separated by shallow turquoise pools, giving it a very distinctive look.

Hiking to Beaver Falls: Step-By-Step Trail Guide

Beaver Falls is nestled inside the Havasupai Indian Reservation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

To access this waterfall, you’ll first need to secure an expensive backpacking permit. My full guide explains the entire process.

Once you’ve secured your backpacking permit, you’ll unlock access to not only Beaver Falls but also five other breathtaking waterfalls in Havasupai.

girls standing in front of havasu falls in havasupai

girl standing in front of little navajo falls in havasupai

The adventurous 13.5-mile journey to Beaver Falls begins at the Hilltop trailhead. First, you’ll need to descend steeply into the Grand Canyon, wind through the rocky canyon corridors, travel through the tiny village of Supai, and cross through the Havasupai Campground.

Once you reach the end of the campground and the top of Mooney Falls, you’ll have to descend the nearly-vertical 200-foot cliff, navigating slippery rocks, sketchy ladders, and crude chains and bolts. You can read all about that wild adventure here.

people climbing down the chains to mooney falls in havasupai

girl standing at the base of mooney falls in havasupai

girls standing at the base of mooney falls in havasupai

Once you make it to the base of Mooney Falls, it’s time to head downstream and begin your 2.5-mile journey to Beaver Falls.

The trail is tricky to find at first. We initially started beelining it for the middle of the canyon, but we quickly reached a dead end in the form of a dense cluster of downed trees.

To find the correct path, turn away from Mooney Falls, head to the left, and keep your eyes peeled for pink ribbons tied to trees. (One of the pink ribbons is pictured below).

pink ribbon marking the beaver falls trail in havasupai

The narrow path will materialize as you weave through the tight copse of trees in the center of the canyon. Don’t worry if you lose the trail – it kind of zigzags all over the place, so you’ll soon be able to find it again.

The first part of the trail is easy and very scenic. The narrow path travels through lush meadows with low shrubbery, giving you insane views of the tall canyon walls and the ice-blue Havasu Creek.

girl hiking on the beaver falls trail in havasupai

havasu creek on the beaver falls trail in havasupai

Confession: I wasn’t expecting the Beaver Falls Trail to be an actual trail. I was under the impression that I’d have to walk through the creek for 2.5 miles. But that’s not the case!

In fact, there are only three creek crossings throughout the entire route, and they’re all in the first half of the trek to Beaver Falls.

Water levels will vary season to season, but for our hike in May, the first creek crossing was waist-deep while the other two were somewhere between knee and thigh deep. I am 5’8″ for reference!

girl crossing the creek on the beaver falls trail in havasupai

I wore my Tevas for the entire hike. They’re durable enough for hiking, and since they dry almost instantly, they are perfect for trail/water combo hikes like these. The convenience of not having to take my boots on and off every time I crossed a creek was absolutely game-changing.

We also brought a dry bag for our camera gear. We were grateful for it, especially for that first deep creek crossing. But it’s good to have anyway, even if the creek crossings aren’t too deep, in case you ever lose your balance and fall into the water.

The first two creek crossings are pretty close together. As I mentioned, the first one was the deepest during our visit, at waist-deep. The shallower water is brown, and the deeper water is turquoise. So if you glance at the photo below (of the first creek crossing), you can see it gradually gets deeper.

creek crossing on the beaver falls trail in havasupai — The first creek crossing

The second creek crossing is about knee-deep, and I believe it to be the most scenic. You’ll walk right by a really pretty waterfall! (Pictured below) Stop for a swim if you have the time.

waterfall by the creek crossing on the beaver falls trail in havasupai — The second creek crossing

The final creek crossing is the trickiest to navigate. Look for the wooden sign on the tree (pictured below) to help direct you. You’ll have to kind of zig-zag and maneuver through the water to avoid the deeper spots and the tree obstacles.

The closer you get to Beaver Falls, the more breathtaking the views become. We were captivated by the scenery. From the lush greenery, towering canyon walls, and blooming cacti (we went in May) to the vibrant blue creek dotted with endless mini waterfalls and adorable bighorn sheep milling around the vegetation, we were thoroughly impressed.

bighorn sheep on the beaver falls trail in havasupai

You’ll pass many waterfalls along the way – some with stairstep tiers and shallow pools that resemble Beaver Falls. More than once, we thought we’d made it. But nope – keep going! You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the sign for Beaver Falls.

Below is a photo of one of the trickster waterfalls that had us wondering if we were at Beaver! We called her Mini Beaver once we realized we weren’t there yet.

waterfall along the beaver falls trail in havasupai

Shortly before arriving at Beaver Falls, you’ll approach a neat-looking cave with a palm tree. Walk under the palm tree, cross over the wooden bridge, and turn to the right.

You’ll see a metal ladder propped up against the rock. This ladder isn’t wooden like the others; this one looks like it was plucked from the shelves of a Home Depot.

girl climbing a ladder on the beaver falls trail in havasupai

Don’t worry, it’s not as sketchy as it looks, especially when compared to all of the other questionable ladders and scrambles along this route.

Once you climb the metal ladder, you’ll have to hoist yourself up some fun rock steps. There’s some exposure here, but as long as you take your time and watch your step, you’ll be fine.

You’ll walk along the cliff for a little while. The creek will be below you, but you’ll still be walking parallel to it.

This is the part of the trail where we saw an abundance of blooming cacti. We kept stopping to admire the beautiful pink, yellow, and purple flowers sprouting from the prickly green cacti. I’d recommend coming in May so you can see them too!

blooming cactus along the beaver falls trail in havasupai

Once you spot the sign for Beaver Falls (pictured below), you’ll probably wonder how in the world to get down there. The answer is to keep going! There’s one final adventurous descent standing between you and the falls.

This final section is a little technical, involving more scrambling and ladder scaling. You’ll descend a ladder, scramble down some rocks, and pass a picnic table. The overlook at the picnic table is a great place to take photos!

From the picnic table, you’ll descend a couple more ladders and then scramble down some more rocks. The final scramble is tricky and a little slippery, so take your time.

Once your toes touch the creek, carefully navigate through the fast-moving rapids to reach Beaver Falls’ electric-blue tiers.

girl sitting in the water at beaver falls in havasupai

There’s a small amount of dry land to the left of the falls to hang out on. But if you’re like me, you won’t be able to resist sitting in the shallow pools.

If you need a good lunch spot, I’d recommend the picnic table at the overlook that you passed on the way in. Lunch with a view of Beaver Falls – doesn’t get much better than that!

If you’re not ready for lunch just yet, you could also eat at one of the many picnic tables scattered throughout the Beaver Falls Trail on your way back to Mooney.

Beaver Falls FAQs

How Hard Is the Hike to Beaver Falls?

Getting to Beaver Falls from the Havasupai Campground is technical at times, so I’d definitely classify it as a strenuous hike!

While you don’t gain too much elevation, you’ll have to descend the chains to Mooney Falls, cross the creek multiple times, scramble over rocks, and climb questionable ladders.

Can You Swim at Beaver Falls?

Yes! You won’t be able to resist dipping your toes in the shallow pools or sitting on the cool terraces.

Even though someone has installed a rope swing next to the tallest falls, I wouldn’t recommend jumping or diving at Beaver Falls; the pools seemed too shallow.

Is the Entire Beaver Falls Trail in the Water?

No. Three creek crossings dot the trail from Mooney Falls to Beaver Falls. Otherwise, you’ll be walking on dry land through the meadows and dry creekbed or scrambling over rocks.

How Long Is the Hike to Beaver Falls?

The hike to Beaver Falls from the Hilltop Trailhead is about 13.5 miles one way.

The hike to Beaver Falls from the north end of the Havasupai Campground is about 2.5 miles one way.

How Do I Get the Best Photo of Beaver Falls?

Snap photos from the overlook next to the picnic table. Set up your tripod beside (or on) the picnic table to capture the photos I got below.

The aluminum Peak Design is my favorite travel tripod. And this is the remote I use to take photos of us from afar.

When Is the Best Time to Hike to Beaver Falls?

Beaver Falls starts getting crowded around mid-morning, so if you want the falls all to yourself, I’d recommend beginning your hike from the campground by 7 or 8 AM.

How Tall Is Beaver Falls?

Beaver Falls isn’t one single plunge. Rather, it’s a series of tiered cascades. The total length of these cascades is about 40 feet combined

Are There Any Water Crossings to Get to Beaver Falls?

Yes! You must cross the creek three times on your journey from Mooney Falls to Beaver Falls.

Water levels will vary by season, but for our visit in May, the first water crossing was the deepest (it went up to my waist), and the other two water crossings were about knee to thigh deep. For reference, I am 5’8″.