Hey friends! If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll know that more and more travel tips will be coming your way as we move forward on this blog. Although there are many trips I’d like to share with you, I think starting with one of the hardest feels like the best way to begin. In this post you’ll hear about what permits we needed to acquire, what our level of preparation was, and a few things we plan to do differently in the future at the iconic Grand Canyon.

So, let’s get started, shall we?! (P.S., I’ll be adding our very own shots from the trips in these kinds of posts. So, if you have any questions about the places in the photos drop a comment!)

Prepping for Rim to River to Rim

Adding more travel into our lives has been huge lately. The hubs and I kept saying we would do this, but you know how that goes. Work pressures you to do more, family obligations arise at inconvenient times, and well, travel can be quite expensive, so there’s that whole monster on its own.

Fortunately, we remembered to apply for permits last year and were lucky enough to snag some for May to hike the Grand Canyon in Arizona. We had a few months to plan, shop for essentials, and train for the heavy hike we were about to embark upon.

If you’re looking to grab a permit yourself, check out this site to apply.

We started out thinking that we would be okay with most of our gear, only to realize that a lot of shopping would still need to be done. As the trip got closer and closer, we recognized the need for more packable, ultra lightweight items to ensure we’d be able to carry everything we needed on our backs.

As this was going to be a quick in-and-out, we wanted to make sure we packed light as well to make the whole travel process more manageable. We reserved a little hotel room on the South Rim for the night before, and then scheduled a nice hotel in Phoenix for the day after. We ended up with 1 large suitcase for camping and hiking supplies, 2 small carry-ons for each of our things, and 2 Osprey backpacks. (This is our favorite brand of backpacks. We’re even thinking about upgrading to their luggage for our upcoming trip this December!)

It was an interesting first backpacking experience. We were not sure what to expect with the trail, with the Bright Angel Campground being shut down for construction, we anticipated it to be less busy. There were loads of people however, with smaller daypacks and a few with larger ones, but most of our fellow hikers carried nothing but a bottle of water.

*Before you go into a hike like this, be sure to know your (and your companions) limits! Hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back can be deadly if you are not properly prepared to handle its conditions. Like, seriously.

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Research Your Hike Ahead of Time

Which is exactly why it is pertinent to research your specific hike and plan for a time of year that you won’t get too baked by the hot Arizona sun. Make sure you have layers as the temperature can vary GREATLY depending on where you are at in the canyon.

Here is what we recommend bringing (at the bare minimum) for a short 2 day backpacking trip to the bottom and back up.

1. An ultralight tent (we have 2 people in our party but opted for the 3 person so we could allow room for our essentials along the inside.
2. A sleeping bag that is also ultralight, making sure to find one that suits your need for whatever time of year you go. (We chose ones that would keep us warm down to 30 degrees fahrenheit.)
3. Electrolytes. This is no joke. We brought 1 tube of NUUN tablets thinking it would be more than enough, we used them all and ran out just before the top. (Remember, we were only in the canyon for TWO days!) I would bring 1 tube, per day, per person moving forward to be on the safe side. They help recovery and soreness immensely. I was actually never a fan of them until that day. I’ve been using them everyday ever since.
4. Water bladders and filters. This was really helpful to have as a backup for when water was just okay looking or potable water was nonexistent. We prefer the Sawyer brand but it’s truly up to your preference.
5. Dehydrated food or homemade meals to heat up. I really like to opt for the ones that are high in calories, carbs and protein. These kept us fully fed and satisfied for several days without having anything else to eat or snack on.

(Check out your local outdoor store or hit up REI online for seasonal deals! Not to mention if you become a member, you’ll rack up some points that you can use the year to come!)

Here is a list of items that we brought for personal comfort or luxury items that are not deemed 100% necessary:

1. Ultralight camping chairs (these were a small fortune but kept us super comfy when we got to the campsite.) The campground actually provided picnic tables but these were a much more enjoyable option.
2. Books to read when we stopped for breaks or before bed for winding down.
3. A few extra plastic REI water bottles for mixing electrolytes or filtering water easier.
4. Hot chocolate, because of course.
5. Flip Flops, our feet were totally thankful.

Guys, this is the Grand Canyon. The one and only massive hole in the ground that will *and I repeat,* WILL kick your butt if you don’t set yourself up for success. Make sure to make ample lists ahead of time of what you need to bring, and definitely don’t forget your permit! The campground park ranger will come around and check to make sure you have one before you turn in for the night.

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Havasupai Gardens Campground

When we applied for permits, most of them were already taken even though we applied months ahead of our trip. We were lucky enough to score a spot in the Havasupai Gardens Campground (which is ironic since we will be headed to Havasupai Falls next April!) Stay tuned!!

It was so beautiful. I would highly recommend taking the route we did as it was easier on our legs and we were able to view both sides of the landscape. When we went down Bright Angel, it was straight up desert terrain. Sandy, red and brown, desolate, nothingness…except for the cactus and some squirrels trying to steal your dehydrated food.

At the bottom, we traveled onto an amazing manmade steel bridge along with some Indian ruins across the river. We passed Bright Angel Campground and watched as the helicopters brought supplies in and out by air. When we got to a small beachy area, we decided to stop for lunch. After all, we had just traveled down into the entire Canyon, and all we had left now was to go back up.

However, when we started up the trail to Havasupai Gardens, (which is about 4-5 miles from the top), it began getting greener, lusher, with lizards and frogs and more wildlife. We saw more and more trees that were taller and taller, and eventually came across a few creek crossings. (Which thankfully so, since we needed desperately to fill up our water! We brought 5 liters each but quickly went through them in the heat).

When we got to camp, we found a spot and set up our gear. There are no showers so don’t forget to bring body wipes! But there are several pit toilets along the entire trail and at the campground, but I wouldn’t rely on them since they are often closed due to repairs or cleaning.

Once we settled in, we made dinner and enjoyed our hot cocoa. We did some reading and went to sleep around 8pm to allow us to get up early and get started before the sun hit the canyon. We slept incredibly, even when it sprinkled rain during the night and despite the very LOUD frogs next to us. We thought it was pretty cool to see the hikers go back in the middle of the night with their headlamps, which we imagined was because they were backpacking the North Rim to the South Rim. (If you are thinking about subscribing, you’ll hear about this in the future as this is on our bucket list as well!)

When we rose, we quickly packed up after breakfast and made our way back up the canyon. Luckily, we beat most of the heat by starting early and were at the top by around 10am. We caught a shuttle and headed back to the car in one of the lots.

It was one of those lifetime experiences that will be unforgettable. I would recommend it highly if you have the chance. Make time. Enjoy life a little more often than you are.

Unfortunately we had to quickly pack up at the hotel and get on our flight the next morning, but in the meantime we look forward to traveling back in April to hike Havasupai! If you loved reading about our travel, check out our next post that will talk a little more about Arizona, Utah and the desert and why we love it so much.

If you have additional questions or are seeking advice for your Grand Canyon trip, feel free to comment below. And get to booking your next getaway! Isn’t it time for some you time?

Thank you for reading We Backpacked Rim-River-Rim Of The Grand Canyon In 2 Days

I want to thank all my readers for continuing to join me on my journey including today’s post about our journey backpacking Rim-River-Rim.  Have you been to the Grand Canyon?  What was your trip highlights?  Let us know in the comments.