Mooney Falls Hike: Everything You Need to Know
Mooney Falls Havasupai is 1 of the 5 incredible Havasupai waterfalls located in the Grand Canyon. Not to be confused with the more popular nearby Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls roars down more than 200 feet of travertine cliff into a dazzling turquoise pool of water.
This is definitely the most heart-pounding Havasupai hike. It was by far one of our top moments on our trip to the Havasupai Indian Reservation. This unforgettable hike includes a steep descent down a series of slippery wobbly ladders with ropes and chains to make your way down a cliff.
Even when you think you don’t have a fear of heights, this short hike gives most hikers a few seconds of fear. The Mooney Falls hike is surely not for everyone, but when you are able to get over your fears, and maybe even your unknown fears, the hike is doable and absolutely worth it. To help you get ready to take on the challenging Mooney Falls ladder, we decided to share our experience with you.
In this post we will discuss:
- How to Get to Mooney Falls Arizona
- Quick Facts About Mooney Falls Grand Canyon
- What to Expect Hiking down Mooney Falls
- How Long Does it Take
- When to Hike to Mooney Falls Arizona
- 4 Pieces of Advice for the Mooney Falls Hike
- What to Pack for Mooney Falls AZ
Our Other Resources for Havasupai:
Luckily, you have come to the right place. We took care of all the annoying work for you by providing you with the ultimate Havasu Falls planning guide with a personal touch from our experience. Check out our other posts to find out more:
- How to Secure a Permit for Havasu Falls
- How to Hike to Havasu Falls: The Complete Guide
- How to Find Beaver Falls Arizona
*IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR 2023*
After a long shutdown from COVID and other issues experienced by the Havasupai Indian Reservation. The Tribe is happy to be welcoming back tourists in 2023. The Reservation will be opening back up as of February 1, 2023.
Here is what you need to know about Havasu Falls permits for 2023:
- Any current reservation from February 1, 2023, through May 31, 2023, will remain the same.
- Reservations for the dates June 1, 2022, through December 31, 2022, will be rescheduled for the same date in 2023. This applies to Havasupai Campground, Havasupai Lodge, and Pack Mule reservations that have been booked.
- New permits that will be available for 2023 are the ones posted to the Cancel & Transfer List. The list can be checked each day at 8:00 AM Arizona Time.
- You will need to check-In for all permit reservations at Grand Canyon Caverns Inn, located at Mile Marker 115, Route 66 near Seligman, Arizona 86434. Check-In will NO LONGER happen at the Tourist Check-In Office located in Supai Village.
- New Check-In Procedures: The trip leader must check-in for the entire group starting the day before your arrival date and no later than 5:00 PM on the first day of your reservation. Failure to check-in will result in your reservation being canceled.
- Unfortunately, Havasupai Lodge is still closed to tourists due to ongoing construction. The tribe hopes to open the lodge to tourists starting July 2023. Reservation holders affected by this will receive notice from the Havasupai Tribe.
- No information has been posted about getting new permits for 2024. Continue to check the official Havasupai Reservation website for updates.
- No information regarding the Havasu Falls permit lottery has been posted.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps us create free content for you to enjoy. Learn more about our disclaimer here. Thanks for your support!
How to Get to Mooney Falls Arizona
Mooney Falls is located in the Havasupai Indian Reservation in Arizona, just west of Grand Canyon National Park. To reach the Reservation, you have to follow a strenuous and long trail into the Grand Canyon or fly in with a helicopter. Havasupai is not reachable by car at all.
Hiking to Mooney Falls Arizona needs some preparation. You won’t be able to do this trip as a day hike, it requires an overnight stay at the Indian reservation. Therefore, you have to obtain a Havasu Falls permit which grants you access to the Havasupai land.
Then you have to get yourself to Arizona and to the Havasu Falls trailhead, located in the Hualapai Hilltop parking lot. Next, you will have to tackle a 10-mile trek to Havasu Falls to the Havasu Falls campground.
At the Havasupai campground, you will find the trailhead to Mooney Falls. Mooney Falls is about 1 mile from Havasu Falls.
Quick Facts about Mooney Falls Grand Canyon:
- Mooney Falls is the tallest of the 5 Havasupai waterfalls.
- The waterfall is located deep into the Grand Canyon
- Mooney Falls Grand Canyon was named in 1882 after the death of D.W. “James” Mooney. He died in an attempt to climb down to the base of the waterfall. This tragic event took place before the trail was established.
- ‘Havasupai’ means people of the blue-green waters. Mooney Falls Havasupai means a waterfall of blue-green waters.
What to Expect Hiking down Mooney Falls
General Information about the Mooney Falls Hike
Difficulty: Difficult (due to the steep descent down some slippery ladders)
Length: 0.5 miles from Havasupai campground
Type of Hike: Out and Back
Elevation Loss / Gain: about 200 feet
Location: Havasupai Indian Reservation
Permit: A reservation for the Havasu Lodge or campground is required
Once you are at the Havasupai campground, getting to the trailhead of the Mooney Falls hike was an easy 1 mile walk. The Mooney Falls Arizona trailhead is on the opposite side of the Havasupai campground from Havasu Falls. To reach the trailhead just walk on the path through the Havasupai campground.
You will know you are at the start of the trailhead when you see a sign saying, “descend at your own risk.” From the trailhead, you have a stunning birds-eye view of the waterfall.
At this point, you are at the top of Mooney Falls Grand Canyon. Here you will be able to overlook a cliff to admire the stunning waterfall.
To get to the bottom of Mooney Falls Arizona, you have to hike down the steep, almost vertical canyon wall via a series of wobbly slippery ladders.
It’s your decision: Do you stay at the top and admire from above or do you take on the Mooney Falls challenge? Seeing a sign that says “descend at your own risk” can be quite unsettling.
Do you want to continue? Awesome decision! As long as you are prepared, know your limits, are cautious, and wear proper footwear, the hike is absolutely doable. When you are seriously afraid of heights, you might consider stopping and enjoying the waterfall from the start of the trailhead.
Soon after spotting the “warning” sign, you will find a cave in the rocks. Enter the cave to continue your way to the base of Mooney Falls Havasupai.
The cave is not very big, so expect to duck down as you wander to the opening on the other side. Bolted chains in the walls will guide you through and help with your stability.
Top Tip: Make sure to snap a photo of Mooney Falls through the “window”, which gives you a unique perspective of the waterfall.
Once you have reached the other side of the cave, the Mooney Falls descent begins.
The first portion of the descent will be “stairs” in the rock with bolted chains to help assist you. Be mindful, these chains are usually very slippery from the spray coming off of Mooney Falls Havasupai. So take it slow and easy.
Top Tip: It is very helpful when the person who feels more comfortable with heights or who is more experienced, goes first. Sometimes it is tricky to find a grip on the rocks, so the first person going down can assist the person behind.
As you get closer to the base, there will be a few short wooden ladders to climb down, along with chains. Their surfaces seem to be even more slippery than the rocks. The ladders are sturdy but expect them to move slightly. Take as much time as you need.
We know that a line of people waiting for you to go down the ladder can be nerve-racking, but don’t rush and remember that you’re almost at the bottom!
Once your feet are back safely on the ground, don’t forget to breathe again. You did it! Now, take a few steps back and look up at what you just accomplished. You have made it to the bottom of the Mooney Falls hike.
Yes, you can swim in the pool beneath Mooney Falls. Even in the wintertime, the water of the waterfalls is still at 70 due to its geothermal heating but swimming might not be that enjoyable due to the colder outside temperatures. We would not advise getting too close to the waterfall, since it is very powerful and you don’t want to hit one of the underwater rocks.
Now that you are at the base of the Mooney Falls hike, you can explore Mooney Falls and its surrounding area a little more.
When you’re up for a little more hiking, make your way to Beaver Falls, which is located 3 miles below Mooney Falls. The turquoise cascading waterfall is definitely worth the effort.
When you’re done enjoying the serene views of Havasupai, let’s talk about the ascent back up! For us, we felt a little more comfortable with climbing up the Mooney Falls ladder. However, do keep in mind it is still very slippery and steep.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Down to the Base of Mooney Falls AZ
The actual Mooney Falls hike is not very long. Most of your time will be spent hiking to the trailhead of the Mooney Falls hike, whether that is from the Havasu Lodge or the Havasupai Campground.
From the Havasu Lodge, you will have to hike 2 miles to reach the Havasupai campground. The trek to Mooney Falls AZ will be along a dusty dirt path. From the Havasu Lodge to the start of the Mooney Falls trailhead it will take about 45 minutes, depending on your pace and how much you stop.
Once you’re at the campground it is just an easy stroll to the trailhead, which shouldn’t take you longer than 10 minutes.
Hiking the 200 feet down to the base of the Mooney Falls AZ will technically be quick. However, it may take some time because it is a very technical descent and there is absolutely no room for 2 way traffic.
The time you will need to complete the hike depends on the number of fellow hikers trying to either hike down or up the ladder and your level of comfort of going down or up the slippery ladder on the side of the cliff.
When to Hike to Mooney Falls Arizona
You can hike Mooney Falls Grand Canyon all year long. Any time of the day is good, but we would not suggest trying to complete the Mooney Falls hike after dark. Descending and ascending the Mooney Falls ladder is already a challenge when it is bright out.
Our recommendation is to hike early in the morning. The earlier you start your hike to Mooney Falls, the better. There will be fewer hikers on the trail, which allows you to take your time going down the ladder without getting rushed. Plus, you get to really take in the experience of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
We started our hike to Mooney Falls and Beaver Falls in August around 7:30 a.m. and had to share our way down with just two other hikers.
On top of that, we had the Beaver Falls almost to ourselves, when we arrived after hiking the 3 additional miles down the canyon. On our way back, we passed dozens of other hikers, who were on their way to explore the magnificent Havasupai waterfall.
4 Pieces of Advice for the Mooney Falls Hike
Before hiking Mooney Falls, do a self-assessment and see if you can follow these 4 Golden Rules:
Be Prepared – Do your research before you take on the challenge of the Mooney Falls hike. It is not for everyone. Make sure before you commit to the Mooney Falls hike you are aware of the difficulties.
Know Your Limits – When you are afraid of heights, you should consider enjoying the Havasupai waterfall from above instead of hiking to its bottom. Know what you’re capable of doing beforehand and not when you are in line to go down the ladder. We are not afraid of heights but looking down the steep wall definitely made us nervous. Being nervous makes you more cautious, which is not a bad thing. The hike is absolutely doable when you overcome your fears.
Be Cautious – Don’t rush. Take your time when you are on the ladder and the rocks. Both can become extremely slippery from the overspray of the waterfall and a fall can be fatal.
Wear Proper Footwear – Do not attempt to hike Mooney Falls without the proper footwear. It can be extremely dangerous to climb on the Mooney Falls ladder without properly protecting your feet and having a grip. Low hiking boots would be our recommendation.
What to Pack for Mooney Falls Hike
You will need to bring backpacking and camping equipment for when you hike Havasupai Falls. But since you will set up a campsite at Havasupai campground, you will only need to have a day pack for your hike to Mooney Falls.
Here are some items you will want to consider bringing with you:
Day Pack/Dry Bag – All the items listed above are best stored in a day pack. Deuter is one of the top brands for hiking packs and just happens to be our favorite. We like to use the Deuter Speed Lite 22 SL. I Deuter
Bathing Suit – A bathing suit is a must if you plan on taking a swim in the turquoise pools of Mooney Falls.
Travel Towel – We love our quick-dry, small packable microfiber travel towels.
Water Hiking Shoes or Hiking Sandals – When you want to go swimming in one of the breathtaking pools of the Havasupai waterfalls, water shoes or hiking sandals are very convenient. You will also want to wear them to cross the Havasu Creek several times when hiking to Beaver Falls since they give your feet the perfect protection and dry quickly. I Chacos, Bedrock Sandals
Hiking Boots– To climb down the canyon walls, you need shoes with good traction. Low hiking boots are perfect. Hiking on different terrain requires sturdy hiking boots you can trust. We totally count on the Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Hiking Boot. l Columbia
Comfortable Hiking Socks: Trust us, a quality hiking sock with a good cushion can make a huge difference in how your feet will feel after any hike. l Darn Tough
Water Bottle or Reservoir – The higher the temperature, the more liquids you should pack. We found out very quickly that having a good insulated water bottle makes a world of difference on our hiking trips. l Hydro Flask
Snacks – It is always good to bring some snacks, like nuts and seeds, dried fruits, or granola bars, for an energy push during your hike.
Sunglasses – Protect your eyes from the bright sun shining into the canyon with a pair of inexpensive outdoor sunglasses. I goodr
Sunscreen – The sun can be brutally hot at Mooney Falls Grand Canyon, so don’t forget a mineral sunscreen to protect your skin. I Blue Lizard
First Aid Kit – Always be prepared and equipped to handle basic emergencies while exploring. I Amazon
Head Lamp: Just in case your hike takes longer than expected, you don’t be caught in the dark. I Black Diamond
Camera – You will want to catch some pictures of this unforgettable Grand Canyon Mooney Falls adventure. You will want to have some type of camera device even if that is just your phone. Besides phones, we use our Olympus OM-D Mark ii Mirrorless camera and GoPro. I Olympus
Camera Remote: Help avoid camera shake for sharper images and to be present in your own photo. I Amazon
Polarizer Filter: Using a polarizer filter can help remove sun glare. I Hama
Lens Hood: Help protect your lens from direct sunlight. I Amazon
Photography Gear: Peak Design with its many smart photography accessories makes capturing our adventurous hiking moments so much easier. l Peak Design
Battery Pack: Don’t be left without a battery. We always recommend having some type of battery backup to charge your devices. I Amazon
GoPro – Film your thrilling adventures or your swim in the turquoise water with a GoPro. One of our favorite hands-free GoPro accessories is the P.O.V Kit for our capture clip to clip our GoPro right on our Deuter Speed Lite backpack. I GoPro
Tripod – We love to bring our travel tripod everywhere. It makes it possible to take pictures of both of us wherever we are. The tripod we use is the Rollei travel tripod but another great choice is the Peak Design travel tripod. I Rollei, Peak Design
Final Thoughts about Mooney Falls Hike
Hiking down to the pool of the Mooney Falls is an unforgettable experience, we didn’t want to miss it. The climb down was definitely a challenge and a little nerve-racking but in the end, it was an awesome adventure and totally doable without any climbing experience.
But we understand that this hike is not for everyone. When you’re not totally sure, if this adventure is for you, go to the beginning of the trailhead. From there, check out the trail. That might help you make a decision. The good thing is, to admire this stunning Havasupai waterfall, you don’t even need to hike down. You can just enjoy the views from the beginning of the trailhead.
How would you rate the hike down to the base of Mooney Falls? Was it one of your most challenging hikes?
Share your experiences with us or drop a question in the comments below!
Our Other Resources for Havasupai:
- How to Secure a Permit for Havasu Falls
- How to Hike to Havasu Falls: The Complete Guide
- How to Find Beaver Falls Arizona
You May Also Like:
- Waterfalls NY: 57 Spectacular Waterfalls in NY You Have to See
- Kanarra Falls: Kanarra Falls Trail Guide: The Slot Canyon You Don’t Want to Miss
- Sedona: 19 Can’t Miss Hikes in Sedona
- Zion: A Guide to Hike the Narrows in Zion National Park
- Hiking: 15 Most Helpful Hiking Apps to Download
- Hiking: What You Should be Packing for a Hike: The Essentials + Extras
- Hiking: 100+ Best Gifts for Hikers to Buy
- Quotes: 90+ Best Quotes about Falls to Inspire Your Wanderlust
Save this Post for later on Pinterest!
Did you like this post? Subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll send you more unique travel tips, updates, and even FREE content!
