GRAND CANYON BACKPACKING LIST

HIKING RIM TO RIM

 GOD HAS CREATED A 

GRAND WONDER!

BACKPACK:  Find a light weight backpack that fits your body and feels comfortable on your shoulders.

FOOT WEAR:  Wear hiking shoes that have toe protection, good traction, and protects the bottoms of your feet from sharp gravel.  Everyone needs to bring Bandaids or Moleskin for their feet.  Cut toenails before hiking to avoid black toenails.  Bring sandals to play in streams.  

HIKING POLES:  Everyone needs poles!  When you carry 30lbs on your back, it is easy to fall over. 

 

TAKE BREAKS

CAMELBACK and WATER BOTTLE(s):  Make sure you carry enough water between water spigots.  A separate water bottle is good to mix powder electrolytes.   The water system may be down, be prepared to filter water from the stream.

SUN PROTECTION:  Apply sunscreen, wear UV protective clothing, hat, sunglasses, and long clothing.

BRING A LIGHT WEIGHT CAMERA

CAMERA:  Make sure you bring extra batteries, lens tissue, and SD cards. This is a once in a lifetime experience.

TRAIL SNACKS:  High energy foods, bars, trail mix, fruit, nuts, electrolytes gummies and salty foods. 

CAMPWARE:  Bring a one burner stove, small can of fuel, titanium pan with a lid, drinking cup/mug, bowl, and a spork.  To cut down on weight, some people share cans of fuel.

BREAKFAST:  Oatmeal in a zip lock bag or paper pouch.  Orange peels and Apple cores can be disposed of in a few compost restrooms in the Grand Canyon.

LUNCH:  Sandwich, fruit, trailmix etc.

DINNER:  Freeze dried food, or make your own meal.

NORTH KAIBAB TRAIL

FIRST AID:  Bandaids, moleskin, ankle wrap, roll bandage, Ibuprofen, pocket knife, toe nail clippers, and anything you might need.

RAIN JACKET:   You might enjoy getting wet, but it is always good to pack a rain jacket so you don't get hypothermia. You may need a rain cover for your backpack too.

GARBAGE BAG:  Most backpackers take out a large zip lock bag full of garbage. Remove all packaging from food items, and put the contents in labeled zip lock bags.  

TOILET:  Not everyone needs to carry a plastic shovel; but everyone needs to bring their own toliet paper.  Bring a zip lock bag, to carry out all tissue and baby wipes.  It is illegal to bury or burn.

TOILETRIES:  Small toothbrush, mini tooth paste, floss, soap, hand sanitizer, baby wipes,

TENT:  The smaller and lighter your tent, the more fun you'll have hiking.  A two men tent is great to share with someone and each person can carry half.   We do not recommend you sleeping on the ground, because of critters.

To protect your tent from damage, use a tarp, space blanket or footprint.

SLEEPING BAG:  Lightweight sleeping bag.

On the Rims it can drop to 30's at night, and at the bottom of the canyon, it may be so warm, you'll have to sleep on top of your bag.

Make sure you have clean clothes, wool socks, and knit hat (cold season) to sleep in.

Bring a therma rest or air mattress to help you stay warm at night.

COLORADO RIVER SILVER BRIDGE

CELL PHONES:  May not work below the Rim.  Emergency phones are placed at campgrounds, and rest houses along the corridor trails.

CLOTHING:  Wick dry clothing is light weight, dries fast, and doesn't hold odor like other fabrics.

MAPS:  One map, GPS or trail book is needed for each group hiking.    

IPODS:  Leave your music at home and experience the sounds of the Grand Canyon.

This is not a perfect list, you may need other items depending on the weather and time of your Grand Canyon visit.