Mooney Falls

If you hike to Havasupai and stop at Havasu Falls, you will have missed the grandest of the waterfalls in the Grand Canyon: Mooney Falls. The hike to Mooney Falls is not only scenic, but getting to the idyllic pool at its base of this 200-foot falls is an adventure, requiring you to use chains and ladders.

The hike
Hiking to Mooney Falls is a great, short adventure when camping at the Havasupai Campground. Not only that, it is the most adventurous waterfall to reach, requiring travelers to hike down through a menacing passageway cut through the side of the canyon wall by miners at the turn of the 20th century. Descend to the base of Mooney Falls at your own risk.

The falls are named after a prospector (Mr. Mooney) who fell to his death way back when, prior to the existing path being in place (still dangerous now). While Mooney Falls makes a great destination, I would strongly encourage it to be only one stop along your way to the many cascades and Beaver Falls further downstream.

The hike to Mooney Falls is a relatively short hike, ranging anywhere from 3/4 of a mile to a few hundred feet depending on where in the campground you make camp. The trail to Mooney Falls is at the Northwest end of the campground.

The trail down to the base of Mooney Falls is not for the faint of heart. Sturdy chains bolted into the rock assist hikers in safely descending the slippery path down to the plunge pool at the base of the falls. Make sure to wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots with good traction. The mist from the falls keeps the rock moist and slippery. Take your time and proceed carefully using the chains to stabilize yourself. The view at the bottom is well worth the challenging descent.

After exploring the base of Mooney Falls, continue downstream along the creek to see more stunning waterfalls and azure pools. About a mile downstream you'll come to a fork in the trail. Going left will take you to Beaver Falls, a series of delicate cascades flowing into turquoise pools perfect for swimming on a hot day. The right fork leads downstream to the Colorado River. This makes for an ideal full day hike of around 5-6 miles round trip from the campground.

Pro tip: If you have a fear of heights or are not confident in your physical fitness, consider not descending, or descending late in the morning after ‘rush hour’ so you can go at your own pace.

The best time to go
I recommend going early in the morning to avoid a long wait trying to get down the passageway cut into the canyon wall. My favorite time to do this hike is at first light. Make sure you have plenty of light to safely descend, like a headlamp and flashlight!. This will also allow plenty of time to explore many of the cascades downstream of Mooney Falls, Beaver Falls, or even an all day adventure hiking to the Colorado River and back.

Spending some time downstream of Mooney Falls will help get much of the downhill traffic out of the way, allowing for a somewhat easier ascent in the early to mid-afternoon so two way traffic in the tunnel is minimized. I have made this descent in ‘peak traffic’ and have had to wait as long as 20 minutes on the side of the canyon wall for slower travelers to descend.

What to bring

• Pack plenty of water and snacks to keep your energy up.
• There is no shade along the routes downstream, so wear a hat and sunscreen.
• The falls and swimming holes provide a refreshing respite from the Arizona heat.
• A permit is required to access Supai and the falls. Plan ahead and reserve your permit early as they do sell out, especially during the peak spring and summer seasons.

Where to stay
People visiting this area must stay overnight as day hiking is not allowed. Plan to stay at Havasupai Campground - along Havasu Creek between Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls - or Havasupai Lodge, located in Supai.

Post-adventure must-sees
You’re probably going to need to fuel up shortly after a hike in Havasupai. Head to the Supai Store and Cafe to grab diner-style burgers and French fries, or nom on an “Indian taco” and Supai burger served with fry bread. Grab Gatorade, ice cream, and other small necessities at the cafe before heading back to your campsite or room at the lodge.