Havasu Falls, the turquoise water.

Field guide ◆ Havasu Falls

Plan the trip.

Havasu Falls is a 100-foot waterfall on the Havasupai Indian Reservation, deep inside the Grand Canyon — and the water is turquoise. Not metaphorically. Dissolved limestone gives Havasu Creek a vivid blue-green color you don't see in other rivers. The result is one of the most surreal swim-able waterfalls in North America.

Logistics are intense: 10-mile hike in from the trailhead at Hualapai Hilltop, descending into the canyon. Camping at the campground 2 miles past the village of Supai. Most people stay 3-4 nights. The waterfalls — Havasu, Mooney, Beaver, Fifty Foot — are all accessed by trail from the campground.

Permits open February 1 each year and sell out within hours. They're managed by the Havasupai Tribe (havasupaireservations.com), not the National Park Service. Permit cost is several hundred dollars and includes camping. Pack for desert heat and don't underestimate the climb out.