What gear do you plan to pack to ensure you have a safe rim-to-rim (R2R) hike of the Grand Canyon?

There’s an endless list of items you to consider. But, you’ll probably need to strike a careful balance between being prepared and carrying too much unnecessary weight.

After all, if you’re planning a R2R hike in a single day, you’re going to be tempted to go as light as humanly possible to get across the Grand Canyon quickly. Each pound of gear on your back is sure to feel insanely heavy. Especially when you’re making your way up the steep incline to the rim.

After some careful consideration, here’s the list of essentials (and a few extras) I think should make the cut on everyone’s packing list.

Great gear to wear

Trail shoes – Ditch the clunky leather boots and hike in trail shoes instead. Why? Because every extra pound on your feet is like carrying five additional pounds on your back. So focus on lighter footwear to propel you up and down the steep trails.

Gaiters – The Grand Canyon has several sections of loose sand. This is especially true on the River Trail between the River Resthouse and the Silver Bridge. If you want to avoid extra stops to empty out your shoes, consider wearing some ultralight gaiters.

Trekking Poles – Hiking up steep terrain with trekking poles will allow you to ascend out of the canyon with less energy. They improve your balance and stability when hiking on steep terrain. And trekking poles relieve stress on your ankles, knees and hips.

Brimmed Hat – The sun can be brutally hot inside the Grand Canyon, especially during the 7-mile stretch of the North Kaibab Trail between the Colorado River and Cottonwood Campground. This portion of your hike will be 20-30 degrees warmer than the temperatures on the rim. And there’s precious little shade to protect you from the sun while it’s overhead. A hat can make a world of difference in your comfort.

Sunglasses – A pair of good sunglasses will help protect your eyes and skin from the UV rays. They also come in handy if the wind picks up and starts blowing sand into the air.

Wicking clothing – As with any long distance hike, you’ll want to wear wicking layers. The elevation changes 4,500-5,500 feet between the bottom of the canyon and the Grand Canyon’s rims. So, you need to be prepared for a variety of temperatures and conditions. Wicking clothes will help keep you dry and comfortable throughout your journey.

Camera/GoPro – Take a few moments to document your hike. Whether you prefer to take photos or videos, this epic adventure is something you’ll definitely want to share with friends and family when you finish.

Bring something to document this trip of a lifetime (Photo credit: Jakob Owens)

Gear to carry in your pack

Camelback/water bottles – Water is the most critical item you’ll need to carry during your R2R hike. As I previously blogged about HERE, you will probably need to plan to drink 6-8 liters of water while crossing the Grand Canyon. Thus, you should plan to bring a hydration system, bottles, or water bladders to carry at least 3 liters of water at any given time.

Water filter – Depending on when you choose to hike, there may be limited places to refill your water. The three year-round water sources are generally reliable. However, the National Park Service may need to temporarily turn the water off if these pipes develop a leak or need repair. Carrying a water filter will allow you to still use natural backcountry water sources like the Colorado River, creeks, and streams, if needed.

Drink mixes/electrolytes – Drinking water probably won’t be sufficient to rehydrate you during this strenuous hike. Prolonged physical exertion will result in the loss of electrolytes too. So rehydrating with sports drink mixes will help restore this imbalance.

Salt or salty snacks – When you’re crossing the Grand Canyon, you may not even notice how much you are sweating. That’s because it’s so arid that the sweat may quickly evaporate off of you instead of soaking your clothes. As your sodium levels drop, you might experience muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. To ward this off, bring some salty snacks or even some packets of salt to replace what you are losing.

Fat & Protein – In an upcoming post about my own R2R2R hike, you’ll read all about why my hiking partner “bonked” on the way up to the North Rim. This has a lot to do with what he was eating (and what he wasn’t!). Take some time to balance you’re snacks with some extra fat and protein. Refueling with both are essential to a successful hike.

Salted nuts – a great way to make sure you have enough salt, fat, and calories (Photo Credit: Jenn Kosar)

Headlamp – If you plan to cross the Grand Canyon in a single day, there’s a strong possibility you may end up hiking in the dark. Do yourself a favor and make sure to bring a headlamp. A flashlight will work fine in a pinch. But hiking with a headlamp frees up your hands for other activities (drinking water, using trekking poles, etc).

Rain jacket and gloves – I previously blogged about what time of year is best to hike the Grand Canyon and discussed some of the hazards during the various seasons. Regardless of when you decide to go, you need to be prepared for unpredictable weather. If you want to avoid hypothermia, these items that should definitely make your packing list.

Spare socks – It goes without saying that you need to take care of your feet. Especially if you plan to hike long distances. A pair of spare socks can make a world of difference in preventing blisters and hotspots. Plus, you can even use them on your hands in lieu of mittens in a pinch!

Sunscreen – Even while wearing a brimmed hat, you’ll need sunscreen for the back of your neck, your arms, and possibly even your legs. The Arizona sun can be relentless, especially at the bottom of the canyon.

First Aid Kit – This item is a no-brainer. You’re planning to hike in the backcountry, right? So, you definitely need to carry a small first aid kit with you. After all, you can’t just pop off trail for a bandaid, some ammonium, or a needle to pop some blisters. Be a smart hiker!

Map – We live in the world of tons of apps and GPS. Everyone with a smart phone feels confident in navigating without a map. And the trails inside the Grand Canyon are super easy to follow. But maps can help estimate your location for an emergency rescue if you (or someone else) gets hurt. At an mere ounce or two, it’s worth the weight.

Thoughts on how to carry your gear

So now that you have an idea of what to bring, you’re bound to tailor this list to your own hiking needs. Whether you stay ultralight or pack plenty of extra comfort items, you need a way to carry all this gear.

My preference is definitely a daypack. You can fit everything in without the risk of being over burdened during the hike up. But, there’s some other solutions out on the trail too.

Since water is such a major concern, many hikers will opt for hydration packs. Outdoor companies like Camelbak, Osprey, and others have a full lineup of hydration packs designed to carry several liters of water.

One of the benefits of this solution is that the shoulder straps are generally pretty comfortable when carrying heavy liquids. And the water bladders tend to have a secure pocket spreading the weight out across your back. This is a lot more comfortable than feeling like you’re carry a bag of water that’s sloshing around and ready to burst all over your back at any moment.

Of course, there are a few downsides to these hydrations packs too. First, the packs tend to be pretty small. So if you are hiking in a season where you want to carry some extra clothing layers, there may not be sufficient room in the pack.

Second, if you prefer drinking from bottles instead of a bite tube/bladder, you might not have any side pockets to hold your water. And even if they do exist, they tend to be harder to access than a traditional daypack when it’s on your back.

Regardless of what you choose, make sure to take it on plenty of hikes beforehand. You don’t want to ruin your Grand Canyon experience with a pack that rubs, pinches your shoulders, or rides awkwardly.

Grand Canyon (May 2017)

Final Thoughts

No matter what you ultimately plan to bring on your R2R hike, you need to be prepared. As I mentioned above, this is a backcountry hike.

There are no easy access points to get on or off the trail. So, if something goes wrong, you won’t have the same ease in getting help that you’d have in the front country.

Being prepared and putting a lot of thought into your packing list is one way to set yourself up for success. Take some extra time to scour the internet and see what gear other R2R hikers packed. Whether it’s reading blogs or watching a Youtube channel, there’s a lot of information out there.

The most important items you can bring along aren’t on most gear lists though. They are: (1) common sense; and (2) a good hiking partner. Both should keep you safe along the route!

Interested in learning more about hiking the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim?

Check out my upcoming blog posts on:

• Fueling You Body During Your Rim-to-Rim Hike
• Lessons Learned From My Own R2R2R Hike
• How Much Water Do You Need When Hiking the Grand Canyon?

The material provided in this blog is informational only. Hiking in the Grand Canyon is an inherently risky activity. Every hiker is responsible for their own health and safety, and should plan for their rim-to-rim hike with those risks in mind. Outdoor Pilgrim is in no way responsible for the use or misuse of this information. Please hike responsibly!