You’ve planned your getaway. You’ve chosen what trails to hike. You even know where you’ll be staying. But what do you possibly pack for a trip to the Grand Canyon? While it can be a struggle figuring out what to wear, what to pack and what to bring, I’ve listed my favorite items I bought before traveling to the Grand Canyon.
water bottle
While bringing a water bottle may be seem obvious, I don’t think people realize how important water is when traveling to the Grand Canyon. After walking all day, hydration is key. Instead of buying multiple water bottles, bringing your own will save you and the planet(!) in the long run. Purchase one that can hold plenty of water so you’re able to last in-between water stops on the trail. My favorite is the wide mouths you can get at REI or Target.
HIKING BOOTS
Hiking boots/shoes are another must-have when traveling to the Grand Canyon. If you are traveling in the winter or colder weather, some of the trails are covered in ice making it pretty dangerous without the proper footwear. I purchased a pair from REI and I absolutely love them. I was worried about breaking these in, but they were perfect for me. Be sure to buy long socks to avoid blistering — I found this article helpful when choosing . You can buy my exact pair of boots from Colombia, but I’ve also seen them on Amazon. They are water proof, too!
MY FAVORITE LAYERS
Aside from drink a lot of water, layering up is another phrase to live by in the Grand Canyon. I heard this multiple times before our trip but honestly didn’t realize how helpful that tip was until we were there. If you plan to hike all morning and into the afternoon like we did, the change in temperature can be drastic. When we traveled there in December, snow would layer the ground in the morning, but in the canyon the sun was shining and it was a 60 degree day. Check out the layers I brought on my hikes.
If you are looking for what trails to visit for a day or over a couple of days, my travel guide lists all of the best hikes. Plus, you can find out how to rent a camper van like we did!
