Regularities in the manifestation of hysteresis effect in the relationship between water discharge and suspended load in rivers in the permafrost zone of Siberia and Far East are studied for individual phases of water regime. The existing typifications of hysteresis curves, the formation mechanisms of suspended load peaks in permafrost zone rivers are considered. Data of regime observations are used to determine the predominant types of hysteresis curves discharge-sediment load for 27 gages on 16 large rivers in the region. The role of permafrost conditions and processes in the formation of the hysteresis effect is identified and a relationship between the type of the hysteresis curve and the predominant sediment source is established.