Items for a 2-day/1-night stay (at Bright Angel Campground) in mid June.
When planning for R2R, one of the biggest things I researched was what was necessary to pack and what people brought that they wish they hadn’t as it added extra weight. Remember that everything you bring is along for the entire 24-27 mile trek across the canyon! You can see the full recap from our hike in the post linked here. We obtained a back country permit for camping at the bottom of the canyon at Bright Angel Campground in the middle of our North Rim to South Rim hike so we needed our sleeping supplies, change of clothes, and more food than if we were to do R2R in one day. We each tried to keep our packs around 20-25 pounds max (with our 3L water added was closer to 25#).
As you look through our packing list below, remember that we did this hike in mid-June when temps were 27 degrees at the North Rim where we started (but warmed up QUICKLY) to 135 degrees at Phantom Ranch at the bottom. Other times of the year may require slightly different items. Please let me know what questions you have about the packing list below!
| Item | Recommended Brand/Link to Item | Notes | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pack w/ internal frame | Gregory or Osprey are both fantastic brands! | I used a 25L Gregory Citro pack and was able to fit everything. My friends had Osprey 50L packs. Both are fantastic brands w/ internal frame support systems. I’d recommend sticking to a smaller pack (~25L) so you aren’t tempted to overpack unnecessary items because you have room. | 1 each |
| Hydration bladder (3L) | 1-3L option on Amazon | Usually part of pack | 1 each |
| Single-Person Tents | Eureka, Kelty, or Marmot are great brands. Check evo.com, steepandcheap.com or rei.com. Here is an affordable option from Amazon | Could use one larger tent for all in your group if you wanted. We liked having our own and they fit in each of our bags. Keep weight in mind! | 1 each |
| Blanket (light sheet/towel) | Link to Amazon packable, lightweight option. | It was about 90 at the bottom at night so I didn’t use a cover until about 2 AM. A sleeping bag liner is a great option that is linked! | 1 each |
| Camping pillow | Link to Amazon option. | 1 each | |
| Inflatable sleeping mat | Klymit: Amazon. Click here for link | 1 each | |
| Water bottle for electrolyte mix | Collapsible w/ carabiner | 1 each | |
| Bug bite cream | We didn’t use/need but good to have just in case (small tube) | 1 total | |
| Solar chargers/cords (phone/watch/etc) | Simple solar charger. | 1 each | |
| Hiking socks (ankle height) | Bombas– Get 25% off at this link: https://refer.bombas.com/x/rOMBND | 3 each | |
| Flip flops | Any | A MUST if you are spending the night to get your hiking shoes off for a bit to allow feet to breathe! | 1 each |
| Hiking shoes | Get fitted at REI or a local shoe store! I love Solomon or Saucony brand but there are so many good options! | Invest in a good pair that won’t give you blisters! | 1 each |
| Pants-wear at start (just wore workout leggings) | Your preference | Just at start & for Ribbon Falls trek due to going through a ditch to avoid scrapes | 1 each |
| Shorts | Your preference, I love Athleta or Oiselle | 2 each | |
| Tank tops | Your preference | 2 each | |
| Bras/Underwear | Your preference | 2 each | |
| Lightweight jacket/long sleeve | Your preference | Only wore at start each day | 1 each |
| Sunscreen | Your preference | 1 total | |
| Headlamp | Great, inexpensive Amazon option. Also some on steepandcheap.com | 1 each | |
| Go Pro | http://www.gopro.com or from Amazon | Optional item but I LOVE documenting my adventures to relive and help others live vicariously! | 1 total |
| Lightweight quick drying Towel | Be sure to get the full body size | Packable, quick drying, and lightweight. Can use as a light blanket at night too. Dual purpose! | 1 each |
| First Aid Kit | 1 total | ||
| Utensils for dinner | REI or Amazon for reusable options | Depending on dinner plans! | 1 each |
| Sunglasses | 1 each | ||
| Toothbrush/toothpaste/Contacts | 1 each | ||
| Biodegradable toilet paper | Cheap on Amazon here | We never needed this as every bathroom was stocked but just in case you can’t make it to a bathroom on the trail, a nice-to-have item | 1 total |
| Wet wipes/compostable body wipes | Available on Amazon here. | Your shower in the canyon! 🙂 | 1 pack each |
| Sunscreen/SPF chapstick | Protect your lips! It is dry and the sun in STRONG! | 1 each | |
| Blister cream | Cream and blister cushions if one develops | 1 each | |
| Deodorant | 1 each | ||
| Trekking poles | Link to Amazon option here (cork handles were nice to prevent blisters!) | We used these the ENTIRE hike and it helped take weight off our legs! Poles definitely helped! | 1 set each |
| Canyon map | Had this fold-up one from Amazon. | 1 total | |
| Camping Permit! (apply 4 months in advance) | https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/backcountry-permit.htm | Have to apply for the lottery 4 months in advance to your hike then get selected. PLAN AHEAD if you want to camp in the canyon! | 1 total |
| Cooling towels | Amazon 4 pack here. | Definitely recommend if you are hiking in summer months. | 1 each |
| Water treatment (SteriPen, filter, tabs) | Popular water filter option on Amazon. SteriPen can be found on REI.com | We had a SteriPen and DID have to use it! SteriPen is the more expensive option over a filter or tabs but all work great. | 1 total |
| Ear plugs | These wax ones work WONDERS! Keep all sound out! | For at night as campers are coming and going at all hours but the steady sound of Bright Angel Creek is fantastic to fall asleep to! | 1 set each |
| Hat to block sun | Any | 1 each | |
| Light Rain Jacket/poncho | Any small packable disposable rain poncho | It didn’t rain but was a small/lightweight item that would be nice to have if a sudden downpour did come on! | 1 each |
| Ziploc bags-sandwich | Your preference | For trash or anything (pack out what you pack in!)! Would rather have a few on hand just in case than not have any when needed | 5 each |
| Camping Stove | Can get one on REI, Steep & Cheap or this affordable option on Amazon. | This is optional but it was amazing being able to have a hot meal after hiking 17 miles our first day! & My friends love their coffee in the morning 🙂 | 1 total |
| Camping Pot to boil water | Can get one on REI, Steep & Cheap or this affordable option on Amazon. | Again, optional but was amazing for a hot meal! | 1 total |
| Small propane tank (really small) | Walmart/camping store (cannot bring on flight so buy after you land if flying) | Again, optional but was amazing for a hot meal! | 1 total |
| Deck of cards for night? | Any | Optional, we had but never used because we went to bed around 8 pm | 1 total |
Of course, we also needed fuel for this trek. Below is what we carried to eat/drink during our 2day/1night hike. We tried to stay ahead on electrolytes and salt tabs as it was 135 degrees at the bottom of the canyon and we were exerting a lot of effort with our 20-25 pound packs…oh and it was 27 miles and a 5,000 foot vertical climb (there’s that!). The first day, we definitely did not eat enough calories due to heat/lack of hunger but we learned our lesson for the second day climbing out of the canyon and remembering to fuel our bodies often.
| FOOD list (2 days/1 night in canyon) | Recommended brand/link to order |
|---|---|
| Salt tabs | Amazon link to order. |
| Trailmix | Any kind you like! I like to make my own with salted almonds, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and dark chocolate chips (these will melt but I don’t mind that!) |
| Bagels (2 each) | Local Grocery (e.g. Safeway) |
| Nuun | nuunlife.com or Amazon |
| Dried mango | Any |
| Justin’s peanut butter packets | Order box of packets on Amazon for about $6. |
| Honey packets | Order box on Amazon. Great with peanut butter on a bagel (or tortilla). |
| Nuts | Any you prefer! |
| Beef jerky | Any you prefer. Here is a link to single serving packets on Amazon. We ate a lot of beef jerky on the second day as it was easy, salted protein to get in. |
| Honey stinger bars/waffles | www.honeystinger.com |
| Spark or coffee (for morning 2nd day) | Any coffee you prefer! If you don’t have a filter, maybe instant coffee packets. |
| Granola Bars | Any you prefer! |
| Dried dinner packet- We had Backpacker’s Pantry Pad Thai and it was FANTASTIC! | On Amazon, Backpackerspantry.com or REI with this link here (best price I found). Two servings in each pack. |
In general, remember that what you hike in, you must hike out. There are no garbage cans in the canyon. Leave no trace and leave the canyon better than when you arrived. Also, remember that every single ounce counts. Each time you say “well, it doesn’t weigh much, I’ll just bring it along” that it adds up quickly. When you have 2 miles left up Bright Angel Trail, you will be thinking of each item you wish you would not have brought and have to hike up/out! Keep it simple!
I’d love to hear if you have questions about what to pack for your own R2R trek! I honestly didn’t have anything in my back that I wish I hadn’t brought and there was nothing I could think of that I wish I would have had. We truly had the essentials and not a lot of added, unnecessary weight. In total, we drank about 4 gallons of water each over the 2 days and all of the water sources in the Canyon were turned on and working but you can check the status before your own hike here.
I hope this helps you plan for your own bucket list trek across the canyon! Once you do, you are part of the ‘less than one percent of population’ that has explored beneath the rim and you will have experienced one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World! If it were easy, more people would do it. Take on the challenge but TRAIN for it, know what your body is capable of, stay hydrated and fueled, and pack smart. People die in the canyon from heat exhaustion, overexertion, underestimating the toughness of the hike, and many other reasons. Respect the canyon, distance, and elevation but soak it all in!
Go explore, friends!
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Miles to Go: Adventure Awaits 