Grand Canyon Gear Guide: What to pack for your hike

Grand Canyon backpacker pausing hiking to gaze up with sun stars shining off his sunglasses on the Tonto Trail near Hermit Rapid in Grand Canyon National Park.
by Ellen Heyn, Digital Media Director

From blister supplies to water filters, let’s break down the gear you need to hike and backpack in Grand Canyon National Park.


There are thousands of adjectives that describe the Grand Canyon — majestic, breathtaking, awe-inspiring. Friendly is not on the list. The Grand Canyon is a landscape of sharp edges, armored plants, and poisonous critters. Temperatures are extreme; water is scarce.

The elements have shaped the Grand Canyon into what it is today, but they’ve also caught many a hiker underprepared and ill-equipped. Backpacking and hiking in the canyon require standard gear that’s probably already in your closet. But the steep, loose, rocky, poky, hot, dry, and unforgiving nature of the terrain warrants some additional considerations when hiking in Grand Canyon National Park.

Let’s start with the basics. Just want a gear list? Find a Grand Canyon packing checklist here

Know your water sources on your Grand Canyon hike

A woman in a backpack and visor refills her water bottle at filling station at the North Kaibab Trailhead at Grand Canyon National Park
National Park Service

In the Grand Canyon, a vertical mile of rock stands between you and your most reliable water source: the Colorado River. Knowing where you can find water and how much you need to carry between sources is crucial for any trip. Come up short and you’re looking at a deadly case of cotton mouth.

How much water should you carry in the Grand Canyon?

It depends. Your water calculation varies based on your route, how many miles you’re hiking, the season, where you can refill, and how acclimatized you are to the desert. At a minimum, plan to carry 3 liters a day, and considerably more if you’re dry camping.

Where can I refill my water supply in the Grand Canyon?

The only spigots you’ll find in the Grand Canyon are along the Bright Angel and North Kaibab trails. Otherwise, you’re looking at springs (some seasonal) and the Colorado River as your primary water sources. Check the park’s water bottle filling station page to see where you can find a filling station

Note: The Bright Angel pipeline often breaks. Before you hike, check the trail board to see what spigots are turned on along those trails, and plan accordingly. 

Know before you go. Check the Grand Canyon National Park website for trail conditions, closures, and updates on drinking water

Water filters

All natural water sources need to be treated. The Colorado River and its tributaries occasionally run muddy, rendering drops or UV wands useless. Real filters — the kind that force water through a physical barrier — work better for the river’s chocolate-milk conditions (more common July through September). You might want to consider bringing a bandana and an extra vessel to strain out sediment prior to filtering. Alum, which you can find in the spice aisle at your grocery store, when mixed in muddy water, will also help particles settle.

Collapsible water bottles

Having additional water-carrying capacity is crucial for backpacking. Some days you’ll need two liters, and other days six. Collapsible water bottles are the perfect solution — light and compact when you don’t need them, and lifesavers when you do. Bring enough vessels to cover your maximum daily water needs, plus an extra liter.

Don’t get stabbed in the Grand Canyon

Green leathery leaves of prickly pear cactus with long spines against a rock in the Grand Canyon
Tim Peterson

Plants are sharp in the Grand Canyon. Avoid prickly predicaments with these tips.

  • Tweezers: Pack a pair just in case you accidently brush against a cactus.
  • Sleeping pads: Ultra-light blow-up sleeping pads are great, but one puncture deflates your dreams. Either bring a foam pad to put underneath your air mattress, or bring patch supplies.

Blisters and shoes for Grand Canyon hiking

Cacti and yellow flowers overlooking the muddy Colorado River and cliffs of the Grand Canyon studded in green along the North Bass Trail.
North Bass Trail, Grand Canyon National Park. | Amy S. Martin

Hiking in the Grand Canyon is the perfect recipe for blisters — it’s a million degrees, your feet sweat and swell, and the trails are sandy. Don’t get caught without blister supplies (bandages, ointment, tape, moleskin, dry socks, etc.), and be proactive about taking care of your feet.

What shoes should I wear?

Footwear options range from traditional hiking boots to trail-runners. Just make sure they’re broken-in before you drop into the canyon (the Grand Canyon is NOT the place to try new shoes). And to state the obvious: high heels are entirely unsuitable for the Grand Canyon. The things we’ve seen on the Bright Angel Trail…

Toenail troubles

Descending a vertical mile in poorly fitting shoes can cause mega toe jams. Be sure to trim your toenails before hiking to prevent hours of painful pounding downhill.

The best clothing for hiking in the Grand Canyon

You know what’s way easier than carrying a big bottle of sunscreen and remembering to continuously reapply? Covering up! Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats are keys to comfortable Grand Canyon trekking.

  • During the summer months, make a personal swamp cooler with a sarong that you drench and drape over your head.
  • Don’t forget warm layers. Temperatures swing wildly at the Grand Canyon — you might start your hike from the rim in a down jacket and strip down to shorts and a T-shirt by the time you reach the banks of the Colorado River.

Food and what to eat when hiking in the canyon

What you pack for meals and snacks is personal preference, but make sure you bring enough salty foods. You’ll sweat more than you realize, and you need to recharge with salts and electrolytes. Indulge at the chip aisle when grocery shopping for your trip! (Pringles and peanut butter-filled pretzels, anyone?)

Be careful not to overhydrate

Drinking too much water is a thing. Drink frequently, but make sure you’re eating food throughout the day to balance water intake.

Dessert in the desert

We all love chocolate, but a hot day can turn the candy bar in your pack into a melted puddle of goo. If you want to avoid the mess, stick with M&Ms instead.

Critters in the canyon

Squirrel stands on its hind legs at the side of Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon looking tough
A squirrel along the Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon. | A.Sprutta, National Park Service

Rattlesnakes, scorpions, and venomous insects certainly deserve caution, but it’s the squirrels, ravens, and mice that you’ve got to watch out for. They chew through packs, open zippers, and steal your food if you’re not careful.

  • Don’t leave food out, and never feed animals.
  • If backpacking, store your food in a wire-mesh bag and shake your shoes out each morning.
  • Rubbernecking tourists cause major traffic jams on park roads when gawking at deer and elk. Please look, admire, and appreciate, but do so without stopping.

Shelter, or no?

The downside of desert backpacking is carrying an extra 10 pounds of water. The upside? There’s a good chance you can leave your tent at home.

Sleeping beneath a ribbon of stars, tucked in the bottom of the Grand Canyon, is magical. Especially when you don’t have a rainfly or mesh veil obstructing your view. That said, it occasionally rains in the desert, so you should check the forecast before ditching your shelter.

Note: Disregard our tent-free plug from July to mid-September. Monsoon storms reliably roll through the Southwest during the summer months.

Hammocks and tents

Hammock camping is great — assuming there are trees to string up your hammock. But trees in the Grand Canyon are few and far between. You might find some cottonwoods along creeks, but tamarisk and Russian olives are the dominant vegetation along the river corridor and not particularly hammock friendly. Most campsites are on beaches or bare rock. Free-standing tents tend to work the best (the hard ground bends stakes), but there are usually plenty of rocks around if you need to get creative.


Enough gear talk. Get out there and hike

Need a backpacking permit? Pro tips for getting one

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