Havasupai offers pre-sale lottery for the first time in 2024
Starting in 2024, Havasupai will be implementing a Pre-Sales reservation system. Each application will cost $15 in order to see turquoise paradise. This seems to be a logical step in a very competitive process for some of the most sought-after permits in America.
Going this route will be much more organized, and people will know before the open feeding frenzy in early February if they have received their permits. Plus, you can now pick specific days, which can help with planning and knowing when you’re free.
Previously, on the opening date, permit seekers would click on the dates they wanted and hope there were still open slots remaining. It was like a scene from The Last of Us.
This follows the same permitting mindset that the National Park Service uses for classic hikes such as Half Dome or the Enchantments (and the Enchantments Lottery).
When does the Havasupai Pre-Sale Start?
The pre-sale starts on January 5 at 8 am Arizona time (10 am ET/7 pm PT) and runs until January 18 at 5 pm AZ time.
How many dates will you get to select? And when will you be notified?
Each applicant will be able to select three of their preferred dates. On January 26, each pre-sale application will find out their result.
How Does the Pre-sale Process Work?
The following was grabbed from the official website.
1 Pre-sale Registration:
Tourists can register to purchase a 2024 reservation for the campground and/or lodge by selecting three (3) desired reservation start dates, as well as a designated month as an option if the desired reservation start date(s) are unavailable.
2 Reservation Limits:
Campground reservations are limited to one reservation (up to 12 permits) per trip leader. Lodge reservations are limited to up to three rooms (4 people per room, 12 permits total) per trip leader.
3 Pre-sale Fee:
Complete the pre-sale selections by paying a non-refundable fee of $15 per permit for a chance to secure a reservation on one of your selected dates.
4 Pre-sale Closure:
The pre-sale period opens at 8 am. Arizona time on January 5 and closes at 5 pm Arizona time on January 18, 2024. Once the pre-sale period has closed, a randomized process will assign a limited number of reservation dates among tourists who have purchased a pre-sale entry.
Please note that all pre-sale registrations are randomized following the closing time and are not dependent upon the date you purchase your pre-sale.
5 Pre-sale Notification:
Tourists will be notified of their awarded dates no later than January 26, 2024, via email. The total reservation payment will be processed at that time. Tourists may log into their online account(s) to view the reservation details.
It is highly encouraged to have your PATL(s) included on your reservation at the time of your pre-sale purchase.
6 Public Availability:
The remaining permits will become available to the general public for purchase on February 1, 2024, beginning at 8 am Arizona time.
Are you guaranteed a spot by going through the Havasuapi Pre-Sale?
Pre-sale entries are not guaranteed a reservation spot. That being said, participants who purchase a pre-sale registration significantly increase their chances of securing a reservation for one of their preferred dates.
Are prices increasing in 2024?
Yes, prices have gone up to $455 per person per trip. This includes four days and three nights. To stay at the hotel, it costs $2277 for four people for the same time period. This comes out to be $569 per person.
As a side note, I’ve stayed in the hotel and the campground. The hotel was back in the mid-2000s with my parents, and I have no idea what it cost. When I went to Havasupai in 2018, it was $375 per person, but we only stayed for two nights.
What dates will be most competitive? And least competitive?
The most competitive dates are weekends during the summer months. April through October is when most people want to visit Havasupai to take advantage of the warmer conditions in the water.
That being said, it is still nice to visit in the spring and fall as the water temps are generally consistent year-round.
The least competitive times will be November through March, as chillier conditions turn off visitors.
Why this is a good move
First, it takes a lot of stress out of your life. Simply select three dates and hope they work. If they do, ‘Woo Hoo,” you got your dates. If not, you go back into the system, just with a lot fewer people also clamoring for a spot.
Secondly, this should allow more people to get their preferred dates, limiting the need to trade or sell off their permits they can’t use.
Lastly, we can’t forget about how each year, the website crashes when tens of thousands (or more) swarm to the site on February 1. Now, it should keep the site from going down, allowing permit seekers a better experience.
All in all, the Havasupai lottery should be a massive win for everyone.
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