4 Ways to Prepare for a Grand Canyon River Trip

Listed below are some ways to prepare for a trip down the Colorado River. We firmly believe that though it doesn’t take much to get ready for a River Trip, it’s nice to have a written guide to help you out. When traveling with Grand Canyon Expeditions, basically all you have to do is get to Vegas with your gear, and we will take it from there!

1 – PACKING

When you are packing your waterproof bag (received at the orientation meeting) the list below is the best guide to follow and contains everything you’ll need for a River Trip. One of the easiest ways to pack is to separate articles of clothing into Ziploc bags and label them. That way, even in your company provided waterproof bag they will have an extra layer of protection from sand as well as water when they are open onshore. Remember, anything you want with you during the day will best be stored in the day use camera case provided by the company.

Required Gear

• Two-piece rain suit
• Lightweight fleece jacket or sweatshirt
• Sleepwear/camp wear
• 2 or 3 pairs of ankle socks (good sun protection)
• 1 or 2 swimsuits (2 piece swimsuits or sports bra and nylon shorts are recommended for women)
• 1 pair lightweight long pants
• 3 pair nylon quick dry shorts
• 3 shirts (1 with long sleeves)
• 2 pair rubber-soled shoes, multi-sport shoe/water sandals, and flip flops or lightweight walking shoe
• Personal hygiene products
• Shampoo and soap
• Towel, washcloth (thin ones dry quickly)
• 2 hats or caps with brim and ties (1 for spare)
• Sunscreen (generous supply)
• Hand & body lotion (16 oz. per person. Sun, water, and heat dries your skin quickly)
• Lip balm with sunscreen
• Small flashlight or headlamp, extra batteries
• Pocket-size packages of Kleenex
• 8 Ziploc plastic bags, quart size 7″x 8″ (for personal trash, photo supplies, etc. during the day)
• 1 water bottle (1 qt. minimum to carry water while hiking)
• Sarong (a piece of light material that can be worn as a skirt or cover-up and used for sun protection)
•  Photo ID and credit card (in case of medical evacuation)
  

Optional Items

• Camera, film or extra memory cards, extra batteries & padding for camera case
• Sunglasses with retaining strap (a spare pair is a good idea also)
• Extra pair of prescription glasses if you wear them
• Bandanna or scarf
• Insect repellent (rarely needed)
• Small backpack
• Cotton sheet (for sleeping on top of sleeping bag in hot weather)
• Small inflatable pillow or small airline pillow
• Gloves (lightweight cotton- for hiking or climbing)
• Wet wipes (individual packets)
  

You can find more information by CLICKING HERE

2 – LEARNING ABOUT THE CANYON

What exactly does a trip down the Colorado River entail? Besides beautiful surroundings and a fun experience, there are many things to look forward to on your river trip. Our trip runs the entire course of the river, from the waters of Lee’s Ferry in Marble Canyon all the way down to Pearce Ferry in Lake Mead. The entire trip consists of the most thrilling whitewater and beautiful hikes that you’ll ever experience. There are also lots of flora and fauna to see!

Once you get back to the Rim World, you’ll already be ready to come back. If you want to learn more information about the Canyon, there are a number of ways to do so; you can always check out our website, call our office or find information on the National Park Service website. We’ve also comprised a list of reading material for those who want just a little bit more.

SUGGESTED READING ON THE GRAND CANYON

The following list of books gives a variety of interesting reading on the Grand Canyon.

Many of these books are available online at:

• Amazon.com
• The Grand Canyon Association; www.grandcanyon.org
• Fretwater Press; www.fretwater.com
  

PHOTOGRAPHY:

–Beneath the Rim: A Photographic Journey through the Grand Canyon -Photographs and Text

by C.C. Lockwood **Available through Grand Canyon Expeditions Company**

RIVER GUIDE: (mile-by-mile maps of the Colorado River through Grand Canyon)

–Grand Canyon River Guide / Buzz Belknap & Loie Evans

**Available through Grand Canyon Expeditions Company**

GEOLOGY:

–Grand Canyon Geology / Edited by Stanley S Beus and Michael Morales

–Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau / Ron Blakey and Wayne Ranney

–Carving Grand Canyon-Evidence, Theories, and Mystery / Wayne Ranney

–An Introduction to Grand Canyon Geology / Greer Price

NATURAL HISTORY:

–A Field Guide to the Grand Canyon / Stephen Whitney

–River and Desert Plants of the Grand Canyon / Kristen Huisinga, Lori Makarick, and Kate Watters

–An Introduction to Grand Canyon Ecology/ Ross Houk

–River to Rim / Nancy Brian

HISTORY:

–Exploration of the Colorado River & Its Canyons / J.W. Powell

–The Grand Canyon Reader / Lance Newman

–There’s This River / Christa Sadler

– An Introduction to the Grand Canyon Prehistory / C. Coder

NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY

Native American History 

3 – ASK QUESTIONS

“How many miles is the trip? Why do we need a rain suit? Will we be camping on the beach?” Our staff receives a lot of phone calls each day – most from guests just like you. We have been asked pretty much every question there is to ask, and there is no question not answerable. If you need to chat, have questions or just want someone to let you know what to expect, give our office a call at 800-544-2691. We love visiting with our guests and helping you prepare for the trip of a lifetime.

4 – GET READY TO HAVE A BLAST

One of the most important things to do before your river trip is to relax, and prepare to have fun! Our guides will take great care of you, and we will have everything you need to camp, eat and spend 8 days down the Colorado River! Nothing we say can prepare you for the beauty of the Canyon, the thrill of Whitewater Rapids and the Camaraderie of the group of people you’ll be spending time with – but we hope this guide has been helpful.