Pacheta Falls, Arizona: How to Find the Most Remote Waterfall in the State
Pacheta Falls has been on the radar of Arizona adventurers for years — one of those waterfalls that shows up on Pinterest and immediately goes on the bucket list. It’s stunning, it’s remote, and getting there is one of the most challenging drives I’ve ever done in this state.
I’m going to be straight with you: I don’t fully recommend going. The roads are unmaintained and deeply confusing, there is zero cell service, you won’t see another person past a certain point, and the waterfall sits beneath a sheer cliff with no defined trail. People have gotten lost out here. It’s not a hike you can wing.s
But if you’ve had it on your list for years like I did and you’re going to go regardless — I want you to go prepared. This is the guide I wish I had before I made the trip. I’ll walk you through the permit process, exactly how to get there, what to bring, and what to expect when you finally find it.
Where is Pacheta Falls?
Pacheta Falls is located in the White Mountains of Northeastern Arizona, on White Mountain Apache Tribal land. It is VERY REMOTE, and very hard to access, and the roads are NOT maintained. I will continue to caution you throughout this entire post.
This beautiful remote waterfall is 5.5 hours from Phoenix and 2.5 hours from Pinetop-Lakeside. I didn’t go for so many years because of how far in the forest it is. I’ve been to Pinetop a few times before, but didn’t want to take the time to go. Apple Maps did not lead to Pacheta Falls, but Google Maps does. Don’t just follow Google Maps without reading below.
WANT TO GO CHASING OTHER ARIZONA WATERFALLS?
Arizona is full of hidden gems. Here’s some of the other stunning waterfalls in State 48.
Discovering Havasupai- Arizona’s Hidden Waterfall Oasis
How to Find Sycamore Falls in Arizona
Exploring the Majesty of Cibecue Falls: Arizona’s Hidden Gem
Do You Need a Permit for Pacheta Falls?
What to Bring: Essential Safety Gear
This is not a hike where you pack light and figure it out. The roads to Pacheta Falls are unmaintained, there is no cell service past a certain point, and you will not see other people once you pass Reservation Lake. If something goes wrong out here, no one is coming to help you unless you have a way to call for it. These are non-negotiables.
Garmin InReach Mini 2 This is the single most important thing you can bring. The InReach lets you send and receive text messages and trigger an SOS signal without any cell service — which means if you get lost, break down, or get injured, you have a way to communicate with the outside world. It also has a trackback feature that can help you retrace your route on the dirt roads. I have one and I cannot recommend it enough for remote Arizona adventures. It’s expensive but it’s worth every penny.
Paper Map Download or print a map of the area before you leave. Your phone will die, your GPS will lose signal, and you will be grateful you have something to reference. Ask for one when you pick up your permit at the Sunrise General Store — the staff there are familiar with the area.
Backup Power Start your Google Maps navigation on every phone in your group before you lose service and keep them charging the entire drive. Bring a solar charger and a battery bank as backups. Running out of battery on this road is not a situation you want to be in.
First Aid Kit Pack a real one — not just a few bandaids. Include an emergency blanket, a flare, basic medications, and anything specific to your group’s needs.
Food, Water & Fuel Bring more than you think you need. The round trip from Pinetop is over 4 hours of driving on dirt roads plus time at the falls. Pack extra water, snacks, and a fuel source. There are no services of any kind once you leave Pinetop.
One final thing: always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. This is good practice for any remote hike but it is especially important here.
How to Get to Pacheta Falls from Pinetop
We’re going to start our trek from Pinetop, because I doubt you’ll be driving all the way from Phoenix just to visit this waterfall. Make the best of your weekend and stay in Pinetop and see what it has to offer. Pacheta Falls is 66 miles from Pinetop, which takes over 2 hours, because of the dirt road.
First, you’ll drive 25 miles east of Pinetop, and turn right on the 73. Then you’ll drive 15 miles (past Sunrise Ski Resort, East and West Baldy Trail), and you’ll turn right at FR409.) You’ll see a sign to Thompson Trail- which is 4 miles down dirt road 409.
Stop at Thompson Trail
I highly suggest stopping at Thompson Trail on your way to Pacheta Falls. It’s a there-and-back trail that is 5.4 miles total, but you can turn around whenever you want. We went 4 miles, and it took us under 2 hours, as we took it slow and took a lot of photos.
Thompson Trail to Reservation Lake
From Thompson Trail, you’ll climb a wide, well-maintained dirt road to Reservation Lake, which is about 4 miles and less than 10 minutes. You’ll find people parked to the right, sitting on chairs relaxing and fishing in the lake. Honestly, if I could go back, I would have just stopped here and enjoyed the lake.
If you choose to go past this point, it will be 18 miles and over an hour to get to Pacheta Falls. We saw NO ONE past Reservation Lake, and now you’ll be in the forest instead of in open land. Watch my video below to see what to expect.
Reservation Lake to Pacheta Falls
On your 18 mile dirt journey to Pacheta falls, you’ll drive on bumpy, unmaintained, skinny roads. I honestly don’t know how 2 cars could be on the road if they had to pass. There were mini trees growing out of the middle of the road, lol. Everything is poorly labeled. There’s some signs that we took photos of just in case, but I don’t know if it would have helped. Honestly next time, I’d get out at each turn and make a cairn or a stick arrow. Be really careful with taking turns- follow google maps. Eventually you’ll hit Pacheta Lake, and then a Sign for Pacheta Falls.
Arriving at Pacheta Falls
If you’re coming from Pinetop, when you have 1 mile left, you’ll make a left and then a right immediately and see a metal sign that says Pacheta Falls. This finally gave us some hope. Because I was nervous about getting back, I kept my Google Maps navigation on and my phone charging so we could follow it back. I stopped 0.1 miles before it ended, for this reason. Which was just in the middle of the forest. No signs or anything. So we walked a bit, just hit a cliff (which we figured the falls was in) but couldn’t see or hear anything so we walked back and took the other route.
At this point, I was pretty freaked out and wanted to leave. We decided we’d walk 5 minutes down the other direction and if we didn’t find anything, we would leave. We ended up finding it! The dirt road, if we would have kept going, was pretty impassable. It’s also very easy to forget where you parked. DANGEROUS, like I mentioned.
Pacheta Falls: The Destination
I was so relieved to finaly find the waterfall. I will say, I would have enjoyed it much more if I wasn’t half in a panic attack. The waterfall is beautiful, and lush, and green. Peace and quiet in the forest is nice, but to me it creeps me out. You walk down and see Pacheta Falls under the cliff. I visited in the afternoon, which made the photos tough, as the sun back lit the waterfall. Morning would be ideal!
People do hike down to the falls, and I honestly have no idea how. There’s no defined trail. When I asked someone that’s been before, they just said “just find the best way down.” It was STEEP. NO FRICKEN WAY I’D GO DOWN THERE. Safety is most important. If you made it, congrats!!
EXACT COORDINATES OF PACHETA FALLS: 33.667327, -109.524904
FAQ: Pacheta Falls, Arizona
Is Pacheta Falls worth visiting? That depends on your risk tolerance and how much you love a challenge. The waterfall itself is stunning — lush, green, and completely unlike anything else in Arizona. But the drive is long, the roads are confusing, and the whole experience is genuinely stressful without the right preparation. If you’re an experienced adventurer with the right gear and a high clearance vehicle, it’s a bucket list trip. If you’re looking for a casual day hike, there are better options.
How do you get to Pacheta Falls? You’ll drive about 66 miles from Pinetop on a combination of paved highway and unmaintained dirt roads. Take the 73 east from Pinetop, turn right at FR409 past Sunrise Ski Resort, stop at Thompson Trail, continue to Reservation Lake, and then follow the dirt roads another 18 miles to the falls. Google Maps works — Apple Maps does not. Download offline maps before you lose service.
Do you need a permit for Pacheta Falls? Yes. Pacheta Falls is located on White Mountain Apache Tribal land and requires a permit to visit. Permits are $45 per person and can be purchased at several locations including the Sunrise General Store near Sunrise Ski Resort. You can find a full list of permit locations at the White Mountain Apache Tribe outdoor recreation website.
How far is Pacheta Falls from Phoenix? About 5.5 hours from Phoenix. Most people base themselves in Pinetop-Lakeside, which is 2.5 hours from the falls, and make a weekend trip out of it.
Is Pacheta Falls dangerous? Yes — and I don’t say that lightly. The roads are remote and unmaintained, there is no cell service, you won’t see other people past Reservation Lake, and the waterfall sits beneath a steep sheer cliff with no defined trail down. You need a Garmin InReach or similar satellite communicator, a paper map, backup power, and ideally a high clearance vehicle. Do not go alone.
Can you swim at Pacheta Falls? Some people hike down to the base of the falls, but there is no defined trail and it is extremely steep. I did not attempt it. If you do, use your best judgment and prioritize safety over the photo.
Final Tips: Pacheta Falls, Arizona
Pacheta Falls is one of those places that earns its reputation. Getting there is genuinely hard — the roads are long, the navigation is confusing, and the remoteness of it all sits with you the entire drive. But finding that waterfall after everything it takes to get there is a feeling you won’t forget.
If you go, go prepared. Garmin InReach, paper map, backup batteries, plenty of food and water, and a group of people you trust. Start early, take it slow on the dirt roads, and stop at Thompson Trail and Reservation Lake on the way — both are worth your time and honestly might be the highlight of the trip for some people.
Trust your gut out there. If something doesn’t feel right, turn around. The waterfall will still be there next time.
