Havasu Falls Just Announced a Huge Change to Its Permit System for 2026

The changes apply to both campground and lodge stays and will take effect for the 2026 season. Here’s what to know if you’re hoping 2026 is your year to visit Havasupai.

Mooney Falls is one of several waterfalls on the Havasupai Reservation. Photo: Juancat/Shuttrstock

For the first time, the Tribe announced an early booking window, allowing visitors to purchase permits before the usual February 1 date. Early access to permits opens on January 21, 2026, at 8 AM Arizona time. Permits will be on sale until 5 PM on January 31, 2026. During this window, travelers can claim three-night reservations for either the campground or the lodge by paying an early-access fee.

Campground permits during early access cost $455 per person for a three-night stay, plus a $40 early-access fee per guest. Lodge reservations are $2,277 for a three-night stay for up to four people, plus a $160 early-access fee per reservation (not per person). Sales are managed through the official Havasupai Reservations website, where additional details about the new system will be added in the coming days.

For travelers who don’t want to pay the early booking fee, the February 1 sale date remains as it has in years past — but there could be a catch. The Tribe has not said whether early access sales will reduce availability for normal sales, or whether all the permits could sell out immediately on January 21. So while you may theoretically be able to buy a permit at the same price as last year, it’s unclear whether any reservations will actually be available.

Demand for Havasu Falls permits has historically been intense, with reservations selling out nearly immediately once sales opened. Travelers who weren’t able to snag a reservation on February 1 had to rely on the imperfect transfer board, or enter the lottery system that occasionally released additional permits. It was a process that many travelers felt was stressful, unclear, and hard to navigate. Past users complained of not getting reimbursed from permit transfers, website errors that confused availability,  and extended delays and pent-up demand due to COVID-related closures.

Hikers headed toward Havasu Falls. Photo: Ryan Kelehar/Shutterstock

New in 2026 is a formal cancellation refund policy, which has never existed before. Under the new policy, travelers who cancel their reservations at least 90 days before their permit start date will have half the fee refunded (minus any early access fees). This will replace the system, which allowed for two options: use the transfer board and hope you found a hiker to take over that specific reservation, or cancel the permit for no refund (and then have the space re-sold via the lottery system). Cancellations within the 90-day window will not be refunded, though the Tribe asks that travelers let them know if they don’t plan on using it.

As of 2026, there is no way to transfer a permit to someone new. So if there’s a chance you may not be able to go, be sure to list a “Potential Alternative Trip Leader” (PATL) at the time of purchase. That person can check in and claim the reservation instead if you’re not able to go, but a PATL can only be added at the time of booking. So make sure you have your plans finalized as much as possible by January 21.