Grand Canyon Rim to Rim Packing List
What to Wear
Shorts
Tank top (with straps wide enough to go under pack straps)
Long-sleeve sun shirt (Lightweight sun hoody is best)
Trail-runner style hiking shoes
What to Bring (Snacks and Drinks)
Hydration bladder (at least 3L)
2- 20 oz. bottles Gatorade OR 1 20 oz bottle to add Nunn-brand electrolyte tabs
1 24-oz insulated bottle to be filled with ice and a flavored liquid
Assorted trail mix/granola bars & protein bars
2 baggies grapes
1 peeled orange *Add to 20 oz water bottle for flavor and a snack in one place.
Pretzels or Cheeze-It crackers (Think SALT!)
Raisins and dried apricots (Potassium to prevent cramping.)
Turkey jerky sticks, cheese sticks
Snack bags with peanut M&Ms, candy corn, &/or Hot Tamale candies (quick energy, especially for the final push)
Gear
Daypack *We are a fan of the Osprey Sirrus for day hikes. The men’s version is called the Osprey Stratos. For more options, check out our daypack review.
Headlamp with new batteries *Bring extra pack of batteries.
Blistex lip balm/lip sunscreen
Ziploc bag for trash
Cheap/small “emergency rain poncho” (Or a large trash bag)
Emergency blanket*
Steri-pen*
Reservations printed
Frogg Toggs towel Note: Cooling towel is perfect for those middle hours of hiking.
NOTE: Items with an *asterisk indicates one of these items per party.
PRO TIP: Don’t own a good hiking daypack? We love Osprey’s Packfinder Tool. Osprey makes some of the world’s best daypacks and overnight backpacks, in our combined 50+ years of experience hiking and backpacking. And they have great customer service.
Personal Items
Phone
NOTE: There is no cell service IN the canyon with spotty service on the rims.
Camera
Bandaids
Kleenex
Hand sanitizer
Ibuprofen and Tylenol
Pepto and/or Imodium
Clean and dry t-shirt
Feminine products
Sunscreen
Bandana or Buff
$20 bill
Credit card
Driver’s License and credit card
Emergency contact numbers
GRAND CANYON PACK LIST FOR NON-HIKING DAYS
Long pants or leggings
Pair of capris
T-shirts—long and short sleeved (1 per rest day)
Fleece or jacket (Evenings cool off at the rim.)
Comfy shoes to walk around in (Birkenstocks, Tevas, or Chacos are great!)
Socks and underwear
Personal hygiene items
Nightclothes
Book/journal
Your 2022 Guide to Hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
Extra snacks/favorite beverage (There is a local campstore at both rims with limited options.)
NOTE: One can send a postcard from Phantom Ranch (at the bottom of the canyon) and it receives a special postmark. This is the only place in the US where US mail is carried by mule train. Bring a regular stamp. Purchase a postcard at the Grand Canyon store on one of the rims.
Related Reading:
Grand Canyon North Kaibab to Bright Angel Trail
Grand Canyon Rim to Rim: South Kaibab to North Kaibab Trail
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, we may make a small commission, but at no extra cost to you. Thank you for keeping this blog afloat!