Right now
Right now as of Oct 29, 2026
- Permit Mooney Falls permit: covered by your Havasupai booking.
Status note (Oct 29, 2026): Open. The tribe's August 31, 2026 update says 'Havasupai Is Open' and that the trails are passable. We found no Mooney-specific closure on official pages on October 29, 2026. NPS says some canyon areas remain closed for repairs or unstable ground, without naming them. What the status labels mean
Mooney Falls drops about 200 feet on Havasu Creek in Arizona, per an NAU exhibit, and Wikipedia says it falls over a 210-foot canyon wall. It is about 10.5 miles from Hualapai Hilltop, 0.5 mile past the Havasupai campground, per NPS. Wikipedia describes a chain-and-ladder climb on slippery rock to the base. Your 3-night Havasupai reservation covers it, with no separate permit. The Havasupai Tribe's August 31, 2026 update says Havasupai is open.
About Mooney Falls
Mooney Falls is on Havasu Creek below Supai, on the Havasupai Indian Reservation in Arizona. An NAU Cline Library exhibit puts the drop at about 200 feet.
Wikipedia says the falls cascade over a 210-foot canyon wall, but that section of its Havasu Creek article cites no sources. We found no official height from the tribe or NPS, so treat both numbers as estimates.
The falls are named for D. W. 'James' Mooney, a miner who fell to his death there in 1882. Wikipedia says he was trying to climb up the falls with an injured companion tied to his back.
The reservation is tribal land, not part of Grand Canyon National Park. The Havasupai Tribe sells the reservations and sets the rules. One reservation covers both Mooney Falls and Havasu Falls, which is upstream on the same trail.
Getting there and parking
No road reaches Mooney Falls. You drive to Hualapai Hilltop, about 60 miles north of Historic Route 66 on Indian Road 18, and hike in. The tribe says to allow at least 1.5 hours for that drive.
The nearest gas is 70 to 90 miles from the trailhead, so fill up before you leave Route 66. The tribe's FAQ also says not to park on Indian Road 18.
Every trip starts with check-in at Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, at Mile Marker 115 on Route 66 in Peach Springs. Bring photo ID. You get your Hilltop parking pass there, so have your license plate number ready.
The FAQ lists check-in office hours as 8am to 5pm daily and says they can change. The tribe's homepage gives 8am to 5pm for November.
Map and nearby falls
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The hike
NPS lists 8 miles from Hualapai Hilltop to Supai Village, 2 more to the campground, and 0.5 mile from the campground to Mooney Falls. That adds up to about 10.5 miles each way, or 21 miles round trip.
You won't do it in one push. Every booking is 4 days and 3 nights, and the tribe suggests using Day 2 for 'the lower waterfalls (Havasu, Mooney, Beaver)'. From the campground, Mooney is just 0.5 mile away.
The tribe's FAQ calls the trail 'steep, rocky, and remote', with 'very significant elevation change'. It lists Hualapai Hilltop at 5,200 feet and Supai Village at 3,205 feet. We could not confirm an official elevation gain or hiking time.
The hardest part is the way down to the base. Wikipedia says the route runs down the left side of the falls (looking downstream), against the canyon wall, through two small passageways or caves.
The route to the base then ends in what Wikipedia calls a 'semi-vertical rock climb', where 'strategically placed chains, handholds, and ladders aid in the climb'. Mist from the falls keeps the rock slippery, and passing people coming the other way adds to the difficulty.
Wikipedia's description of the Mooney Falls descent comes from a section with no cited sources. We found no tribal or NPS description of the descent or of the ladders' condition, so look at the route from the top before you commit.
Past Mooney Falls, the creek continues about 8 miles to the Colorado River, according to NPS.
When to visit
Havasupai is open year-round by reservation. The tribe's FAQ also says it 'may close all or part of the reservation at any time for any reason'.
As of October 29, 2026, no 2027 sale dates or prices were posted on the tribe's sites or the NPS page. Start checking the official site in early January.
Heat is the main summer limit. NPS says Havasu Canyon can reach 115°F in summer and that trails into Supai close when temperatures exceed 115 degrees. The tribe's FAQ says May to September temperatures can exceed 100°F.
Monsoon season, about July to September per the tribe, brings flash-flood risk. The National Weather Service in Flagstaff says the northern Arizona monsoon officially runs from June 15 to September 30.
The tribe says the creek stays about 70°F year-round and suits water activities in warmer months. If you want a waterfall without an overnight booking, Fossil Creek Waterfall in central Arizona is a day trip, and overnight use is banned there in permit season.
| Height | 200 ftNote: about 200 ft per an NAU Cline Library exhibit; Wikipedia says it falls over a 210-ft canyon wall in a section that cites no sources |
|---|---|
| Trail | About 10.5 mi one way from Hualapai Hilltop: 8 mi to Supai, 2 mi to the campground, then 0.5 mi to the falls (NPS). Requires a 3-night stay |
| Difficulty | Hard: a steep, remote 10.5-mile trail, then a near-vertical chain-and-ladder descent to the base (Wikipedia) |
| Entry fee | 2026: $455 per person (campground, 3 nights) or $2,277 per lodge room (3 nights, up to 4 people); no separate fee for Mooney Falls |
| Permit / reservation | Covered by your 3-night Havasupai reservation ($455 per person in 2026); no day hiking |
| Parking | Hualapai Hilltop; pass from check-in |
| Hours / season | Open year-round by reservation; check-in office 8am to 5pm daily per the FAQ, which says hours can change (the homepage lists 8am to 5pm for November) |
| Dogs | Not allowed; pets, service animals and privately owned horses are banned anywhere on the reservation, 'including the trail, campground, lodge, and village' |
| Swimming | No Mooney-specific swimming rule found; the tribe says "Do NOT hike past the top of Mooney Falls or enter narrow parts of the canyon when it is raining or flooding" |
| Wheelchair / stroller | No; the tribe says there are 'no wheelchair-accessible paths' |
| Managed by | Havasupai Tribe |
Safety and swimming
The tribe names Mooney in its flood rule: "Do NOT hike past the top of Mooney Falls or enter narrow parts of the canyon when it is raining or flooding." If floodwater approaches, go to high ground immediately.
Havasu Canyon floods hard. On August 22, 2024, a flash flood killed a woman from Gilbert, Arizona, and the Arizona National Guard evacuated 104 people, AZPM reported.
The tribe closed the area indefinitely, and its tribal council announced a reopening for October 2024. On June 3, 2025, another flood stranded hikers near Havasu Creek, and all were accounted for, KNAU reported. The weather warning that day named Mooney Falls among spots expecting 'additional minor flooding'.
Help is far away. The tribe's FAQ says Supai has no public medical facilities or trained rescue teams. Evacuation by helicopter or UTV is costly, and the injured person pays for it.
On the descent, go slowly, keep a firm grip on the chains, and wait for people coming up to clear a ladder before you start down. Skip the climb if you are not comfortable with exposure.
We found no Mooney-specific swimming rule on official pages, so stay well back from the base of the falls. Pets and service animals are banned on the reservation. Our waterfall safety guide covers slick rock and flash floods.
Where to stay near Mooney Falls
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Photos
Mooney Falls FAQ
Can anyone go to Mooney Falls?
Only with a Havasupai reservation. There is no separate permit for Mooney Falls, and day hiking isn't allowed. In 2026 the campground cost $455 per person for 3 nights. Pets and service animals are banned on the reservation. See our Havasupai permit guide for booking.
How hard is the Mooney Falls hike?
Hard. It is about 10.5 miles one way from Hualapai Hilltop: 8 miles to Supai, 2 miles to the campground, then 0.5 mile to the falls, per NPS. The tribe calls the trail 'steep, rocky, and remote.' The last stretch to the base is a near-vertical climb with chains and ladders, per Wikipedia.
How do you get down to the bottom of Mooney Falls?
By a near-vertical climb with chains, handholds and ladders, per Wikipedia. The route first runs down the left side through two small passageways. Mist keeps the rock slippery. No agency describes the route, and Supai has no trained rescue teams.
How tall is Mooney Falls?
About 200 feet, per an NAU Cline Library exhibit. Wikipedia says it falls over a 210-foot canyon wall. We found no official height from the tribe or NPS.
Can you go to Mooney Falls when it rains?
Not past the top. The tribe says, "Do NOT hike past the top of Mooney Falls or enter narrow parts of the canyon when it is raining or flooding." Go to high ground if the water rises.
Has anyone died at Mooney Falls?
Yes. Wikipedia says the falls are named for miner James Mooney, who fell to his death there in 1882 while trying to climb up the falls. We found no official count of later deaths on the descent. A flash flood in the canyon killed a woman from Gilbert, Arizona, on August 22, 2024, AZPM reported.
Can you swim in Mooney Falls?
We found no Mooney-specific swimming rule. The tribe says the creek stays about 70°F year-round and suits water activities in warmer months. Follow its flood rule and stay out of narrow canyon sections when it rains.
Are Mooney Falls and Havasu Falls the same?
No. They are two separate falls on Havasu Creek. Havasu Falls is upstream on the same trail, and Mooney Falls is about 0.5 mile past the campground, per NPS. One Havasupai reservation covers both.
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Sources
Some facts credited to the NAU Cline Library come from search-result excerpts of its official pages. Confirm fees and rules on the official site.
- Havasupai Reservations (official): status update Aug 31, 2026
- Havasupai Reservations FAQ (2026 prices, rules, flood guidance)
- Official Havasupai Tribe site: homepage (Aug 31, 2026 status update; no 2027 dates as of Oct 29, 2026)
- NPS Grand Canyon: Havasupai Tribe Reservation (updated Jan 17, 2026)
- NWS Flagstaff: Monsoon information
- Wikipedia: Havasu Creek (Mooney Falls section)
- NAU Cline Library: Havasupai places exhibit (read via search excerpt)
- AZPM: Havasu Falls closed indefinitely after deadly flash flood (Aug 28, 2024)
- National Park Explorer: Havasu Falls will reopen in October (Sep 3, 2024)
- KNAU: Hikers accounted for after Havasu Creek flooding (Jun 4, 2025)
Last verified Oct 29, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with Havasupai Tribe before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.