Grand Canyon River Rafting Packing List

Temperatures in the canyon vary depending on location, season, and year. Average temperatures are:

April Daytime 70°-80° Nighttime 50°-70° 

May Daytime 80°-90° Nighttime 60°-70° 

June-Aug Daytime 90°-110° Nighttime 60°-80° 

Sept Daytime 80°-90° Nighttime 60°-70° 

Keep in mind that these are average temperatures, in the hotter months the inner canyon can reach temperatures over 115 degrees. Frequent swimming and splashes from the rapids can help to keep you comfortable. The water at Lees Ferry can be quite cold because it is released from the bottom of Glen Canyon Dam (Lake Powell) just 15 miles upstream. Water temperatures in recent years have ranged from 45 degrees to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Sunny days and incoming side streams help increase water temperatures as you travel downstream. 

Durable, comfortable clothing in good condition is important on the trip. When choosing clothing, look for loose-fitting, light-weight, quick-drying apparel. While in camp, lightweight pants, shorts and shirts work well. Light colored clothing is best. The sun reflects off lighter colored clothing which will help to keep you cooler during hot summer days. Protection from the sun is important! Bring a good supply of sun-screen, wide brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Sleepwear should be comfortable and may consist of a loose pair of shorts and top. On the first day of the trip you may wish to wear a combination of clothes which will allow you to take off or put on items as needed. Multi-sport shoes (Keen, Chaco and Teva), sandals or tennis shoes which are comfortable when wet are recommended; a shirt with long sleeves and long pants with your swimming suit underneath give flexibility in adjusting to temperature changes. 

We recommend that you bring a rain suit, not just for use during inclement weather, but primarily as protection while on the boat because the river is cold and the rapids are numerous. If you're on the river when the weather is cool or are going through rapids in the early morning or late afternoon shade, a rain suit will help to protect you from cold splashes. There can be wear and tear on a rain suit used on a motorized or dory trip, so we suggest that you purchase a good quality suit. Usually, a coated nylon or Gortex suit will hold up well. Lightweight vinyl suits generally do not last more than a few days as they rip easily. 

Proper footwear is important for this trip. On many canyon hikes you may wade across or walk up streams. Boots can be ruined and may not dry quickly. Some people prefer multi-sport sandals/thongs while on the rafts. Remember that some sandals and thongs do not provide good traction when climbing on or off the rafts or climbing on rocks and steep terrain. If you decide to use sport sandals, be sure they have good traction. Open-toed shoes provide no protection from cactus thorns. The most practical shoes are sturdy tennis or athletic/water shoes. Finally, consider what you bring as a second pair of shoes in case the first pair is lost or falls apart. Keen™, Chaco™ and Teva™ are companies that offer several types of footwear which work well for wearing on the boat and while hiking. 

Waterproof digital cameras are recommended. Anticipate taking lots of photos and bring along extra memories cards and batteries. External battery packs are recommended for charging batteries. These are available at many retailers including Amazon. We do not have the facilities to recharge batteries. We provide a camera box to store your camera and other items you need access to during the day. We recommend you bring a small towel or a piece of foam to pad the box for your camera. Many of our guests prefer to use their cell phone camera. We recommend an Aqua Case or similar for it. We sell the Aqua Case in our store at the orientation meeting. 

Although accidents such as dropping your camera or getting it wet seldom occur, the possibility does exist. We suggest that you have insurance to cover such accidents if they occur. Blowing sand and water can and do damage cameras. Grand Canyon Expeditions will not be responsible for loss or damage to personal gear. If you are concerned about damage to expensive camera equipment, we suggest bringing a Pelican Case for extra protection. Cases can be purchased from www.pelican.com or www.nrs.com. 

Life on the river involves camping on sandy beaches and this can cause problems for those who wear contact lenses. Water, wind, and blowing sand can make contacts uncomfortable. We suggest bringing glasses in the event you need to take your contacts out to be comfortable. 

If you have daily medications that are critical to your health or carry an epi-pen it is a good idea to bring along an extra supply. We can provide cool storage if needed.

There will be stops on the way to Lee’s Ferry and on the way back to the hotel from Pearce Ferry. You may want cash or a credit card to purchase snacks and other items at these stops. You may also want to bring cash for a gratuity for your crew. Tips are greatly appreciated and are at your discretion. Tips should go directly to your trip leader and are split among the crew. A suggested guideline is 10% of the cost of the trip. If you are not comfortable carrying cash you can also tip your guides with a check. Checks should be made out to your trip leader and not to GCE. 

You are welcome to bring your fishing rod along. It should be able to collapse down for storage when not in use. Please purchase a fishing license in advance. Licenses can be purchased online at: https://www.azgfd.com/license. Please print your license and be sure to bring it with you. Please reach out to us for more fishing information. 

Smoking is not allowed while on board any of our boats. Please smoke downwind and away from the rest of the group. Butts must be properly disposed of. Be prepared to follow crew instructions on appropriate locations to smoke. Please note that although marijuana is legal in Arizona and Nevada, Grand Canyon National Park is federal land and Marijuana use is illegal.