Arizona Waterfalls: A List to Save, From Havasu Falls to Tucson

The best-known waterfalls in Arizona are Havasu Falls and Mooney Falls. Both are on the Havasupai Indian Reservation at the bottom of Havasu Canyon, and you can only visit with a multi-night permit from the Havasupai Tribe. Closer to the cities, you can reach falls in a morning: Seven Falls and Tanque Verde Falls outside Tucson, the Waterfall Trail at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park near Payson, and the Waterfall Trail in White Tank Mountain Regional Park west of Phoenix.

In the desert, flow is everything. Spring-fed Havasu Creek runs blue-green all year, while most other falls in Arizona come and go with snowmelt and monsoon storms. In Arizona, the waterfall is the weather report: check the forecast and the managing authority's alerts page before you leave.

How we chose

Every pick below is open according to its own managing authority's official page: the Havasupai Tribe, the USDA Forest Service, Arizona State Parks or Maricopa County Parks and Recreation. Each entry gives the hike length, difficulty and swimming rules as that authority states them. Where an official page says nothing, we say so rather than guess.

Havasu Canyon: the waterfalls on the Havasupai Indian Reservation

Havasu Canyon's waterfalls are on Havasupai Tribe land, which lies outside Grand Canyon National Park. The Tribe, not the National Park Service, sets every rule. Grand Canyon National Park's own Havasupai page says plainly that the Tribe administers the land and that no day hiking is allowed.

1. Havasu Falls

Where: Havasu Canyon, Havasupai Indian Reservation, northwest Arizona. The hike starts at Hualapai Hilltop, at the end of Indian Road 18. The Tribe puts the trailhead about 60 miles from the Route 66 turnoff, which is roughly 5 miles west of Grand Canyon Caverns and Inn.

Hike: The Tribe calls the 8 miles to Supai Village a hike with very significant elevation change: Hualapai Hilltop sits at 5,200 feet and Supai Village at 3,205 feet. Grand Canyon National Park's Havasupai page adds 2 more miles to the campground, about 10 miles one way, and rates it a difficult desert hike. The trails into Supai close when the temperature passes 115 degrees.

Swimming: The Tribe's reservation site says the water stays around 70 degrees all year and that the warmer months are ideal for spending time in it.

Permit: Every visitor needs a booking made in advance at havasupaireservations.com, and all bookings are 4 days and 3 nights. The Tribe has listed campground permits at $455 per person for the three nights, and prices can change each year, so check before you book. The Tribe strictly prohibits reselling or transferring permits, and the trip leader or a named alternate must check in with photo ID at Grand Canyon Caverns and Inn.

2. Mooney Falls

Where: Havasu Canyon, below the Havasupai campground, Havasupai Indian Reservation.

Hike: Grand Canyon National Park's Havasupai page puts Mooney Falls 0.5 mile from the campground, on top of the 10 miles in.

Flood rule: The Tribe says not to hike past the top of Mooney Falls, or into narrow parts of the canyon, when it's raining or flooding. Monsoon season usually runs July through September and brings a higher chance of flash floods. If water rises, the Tribe says to get to high ground immediately.

3. Beaver Falls

Where: Farther down Havasu Canyon, Havasupai Indian Reservation.

Hike: The Tribe groups Havasu, Mooney and Beaver as the lower waterfalls for one full day of a stay but doesn't publish a distance to Beaver Falls. Grand Canyon National Park warns that flood damage in 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024 left some areas of Havasu Canyon off-limits, so follow the signs and the Tribe's staff.

4. Fiftyfoot Falls and Little Navajo Falls

Where: Upstream of Havasu Falls, between Supai Village and the campground, Havasupai Indian Reservation.

What to do: The Tribe's suggested itinerary saves these upper waterfalls, plus another visit to Havasu Falls, for your last full day. In our view, that's the day for slowing down. There are no medical facilities in Supai, so go carefully.

Know before you go: The Havasupai Indian Reservation is dry. Pets, service animals and drones aren't allowed, and you may not photograph tribal members or sacred sites. The Tribe may close all or part of the reservation at any time.

Tucson-area waterfalls

Tucson has two classic waterfall hikes in the Coronado National Forest and a third in Catalina State Park. All three depend on winter snowmelt and summer monsoon water.

5. Seven Falls, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area

Where: Bear Canyon Trail No. 29, Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, Coronado National Forest, northeast Tucson. The visitor center is at 5700 N. Sabino Canyon Road.

Hike: The Forest Service puts it at about 8.5 miles round trip from the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center and rates it a moderate hike through wilderness, with many stream crossings and rugged ground. The Bear Canyon shuttle (fee charged) cuts about 4 miles off.

Swimming: The Forest Service page doesn't cover swimming. It does promise that your feet will get wet on the crossings when the water is running.

Fees and rules: The Forest Service lists $8 per vehicle per day or $10 per week. Pets aren't allowed in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, though ADA service animals are. A Forest Service order covering the Bear Canyon Trail area bans camping, alcohol and glass containers.

Why go: Sabino Canyon has been closed to private cars since 1978, so the shuttle is the only way to cut the walk short.

6. Tanque Verde Falls

Where: Tanque Verde Falls Recreation Area, off Redington Road, Coronado National Forest, east of Tucson.

Hike: The Forest Service lists two trails. The easy Overlook Trail, about 0.5 mile one way, shows you the 80-foot falls without putting you in the canyon. The Lower Tanque Verde Falls Trail No. 342 switchbacks down to the creek bed, a 280-foot climb back out over about 0.5 mile, to a creek of seasonal pools and waterfalls. There's no trail along the creekbed, and the rocks are slippery even when dry.

Flood warning: The Forest Service says the Southern Arizona Rescue Association is called every year for people stranded by high water or swept away. Flash floods can arrive minutes or hours after rain, so don't enter the canyon if a storm is possible.

Fees: The Forest Service says no fees are required, and dogs are allowed.

7. Romero Pools, Catalina State Park

Where: Romero Canyon Trail, Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Road, Tucson.

Hike: Arizona State Parks rates the first mile easy and the next 1.8 miles difficult, with about 1,000 feet of gain over rocky ground. Plan on at least 5.6 miles and 4 hours round trip from the Main Trailhead.

Swimming: The park says seasonal pools and waterfalls line Romero Canyon, and that picnicking and water play are popular at the pools.

Fees and rules: Arizona State Parks lists $10 for a vehicle with one person and $20 with two to four. Dogs aren't allowed past the Forest Service gate about a mile in. From January 1 to April 30 you must stay within 400 feet of designated Forest Service trails during bighorn sheep lambing season.

Why go: In our view, it's the best payoff for the effort in the Santa Catalina foothills, if you time it after winter storms or the summer monsoon.

Central Arizona waterfalls

These two are the easy ones: short trails, clear rules, and you can do either in a morning.

8. Waterfall Trail, Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

Where: Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, 10 miles north of Payson on Highway 87.

Hike: Arizona State Parks says the Waterfall Trail is about 300 feet long and ends at a waterfall cave, with uneven steps. Allow 15 to 20 minutes. The park warns that its trails are short but steep and strenuous.

Swimming: The park's pages don't address swimming.

Fees and hours: Arizona State Parks lists $10 per adult (14 and up) and $5 per youth (7 to 13). The park is typically open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the trails close at 4 p.m. Dogs aren't allowed on the trails, only on the paved path and viewpoints. Flooding can close trails and the area under the bridge, so check the park page.

9. Waterfall Trail, White Tank Mountain Regional Park

Where: White Tank Mountain Regional Park, 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, west of Phoenix.

Hike: Maricopa County Parks and Recreation lists the Waterfall Trail at 0.9 mile one way with 262 feet of climb, rated easiest. The first half-mile is barrier-free and interpretive, and the rest is hike-only to the falls.

Flow: This is a rain-fed pour-over. The county explains that infrequent heavy rains send floodwater plunging through these canyons, which is how the park's namesake tanks were carved.

Fees: The county lists $10 per vehicle. Hours change with the season, roughly 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. from November through April, so check the official site.

Why go: Maricopa County says White Tank, at nearly 30,000 acres, is the largest regional park in the county, and this is its gentlest route to a waterfall.

Northern Arizona waterfall

10. Sycamore Falls, Kaibab National Forest

Where: Sycamore Falls Trailhead on Sycamore Rim Trail No. 45, Williams Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest, near Williams. The Forest Service routes you from I-40's Garland Prairie exit (Exit 167) south on Forest Roads 146 and 56.

What to do: The Forest Service describes Sycamore Falls mainly as a popular rock climbing area and one of five trailheads on the Sycamore Rim loop. The roads are suitable for sedans, no fee is listed, and there's no water on the trail.

Flow and swimming: The official page says nothing about when water runs or about swimming. After heavy storms, the Kaibab National Forest asks visitors to avoid storm-damaged areas even where they aren't formally closed.

Why go: It pairs well with a day in Williams, and in our view the rim walk is worth it even when the falls are dry.

Why isn't Fossil Creek on the list?

The waterfall at Fossil Creek, reached by the Dixon Lewis Trail in the Coconino National Forest, is left off because the Forest Service can close the trail and the creek, sometimes for rain and hazardous road conditions. When it's open, you need a Recreation.gov parking permit from April 1 to October 1, and permits can't be issued on-site. The Forest Service says springs pour 20,000 gallons a minute into Fossil Creek, and it warns that swimming and cliff diving near the waterfall have led to several drowning deaths. Call the Fossil Creek hotline at (928) 226-4611 before you drive.

Save this: the Arizona waterfall checklist

• Check flow before you drive. Look at the managing authority's alerts page and the forecast the night before.
• Watch the sky, not just the trail. If a storm is building upstream, stay out of narrow canyons.
• Book Havasu Canyon early. The Havasupai Tribe opens annual sales on its reservation site, and every visit is 4 days and 3 nights.
• Get the right pass. Sabino Canyon needs a day pass, Catalina State Park and Tonto Natural Bridge charge entry, and Tanque Verde Falls is free.
• Carry more water than feels sensible. Sycamore Rim has none on the trail.
• Leave the dog home for Havasu Canyon, Sabino Canyon, Tonto Natural Bridge and upper Romero Canyon.
• Pack water shoes for Seven Falls and Romero Pools.
• Fill the tank. The Havasupai Tribe says the nearest gas is 70 to 90 miles from Hualapai Hilltop, so leave with enough fuel for 200 miles. It also notes the nearest EV charger may be in Kingman.

For more trails, see our Arizona outdoors guide and road trips.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a permit to see Havasu Falls?

Yes. Every visitor to Havasu Falls needs a booking made in advance through the Havasupai Tribe's reservation site, and all bookings are 4 days and 3 nights. Grand Canyon National Park confirms that no day hiking is allowed.

How long is the hike to Havasu Falls?

It's about 10 miles one way from Hualapai Hilltop to the Havasupai campground: 8 miles to Supai Village, then 2 more. Grand Canyon National Park calls it a difficult desert hike, and the trails close when the temperature passes 115 degrees.

Can you swim at waterfalls in Arizona?

It depends on the authority. The Havasupai Tribe describes the water in Havasu Canyon as around 70 degrees all year, and Catalina State Park lists water play at Romero Pools. The Coconino National Forest warns that swimming and cliff diving near the Fossil Creek waterfall have led to several drowning deaths.

What is the easiest waterfall hike in Arizona?

The Waterfall Trail at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park near Payson is about 300 feet long and takes 15 to 20 minutes, though Arizona State Parks warns that its steps are uneven and steep. The Waterfall Trail at White Tank Mountain Regional Park is 0.9 mile one way, and its first half-mile is barrier-free.

When do Arizona waterfalls flow?

Havasu Falls is spring-fed and runs all year. Most other Arizona falls depend on winter snowmelt and summer monsoon rain, and the Forest Service says Sabino Creek near Seven Falls is fed by both. Flash floods are most likely during the monsoon, which the Havasupai Tribe says usually runs July through September.

Can you bring a dog to Arizona waterfalls?

Dogs are allowed at Tanque Verde Falls Recreation Area near Tucson, according to the Forest Service. Pets are not allowed on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, in Sabino Canyon Recreation Area, or on the trails at Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.