Utah Kayaking & Arches Hiking
Packing List

Getting ready to start packing socks and shirts into a duffel bag? Remember, this trip includes backcountry paddling as well as frontcountry hiking. You’ll have time morning of day one to repack everything you want on the river into provided dry bags. Anything you don’t need until we hike in Arches National Park can stay behind in our trailer. We lock the van and trailer up, but it is abandoned while we are paddling so plan to bring any valuables along with you.

In anticipation for your trip, we recommend checking the weather forecast for the area and making any necessary packing adjustments. To get a weather forecast for our paddling days, check the weather for Green River, UT. For our hiking days, check the weather forecast for Arches National Park.

Bags & Packing

  • (1-2) Soft-Sided Duffel Bags

    We recommend arriving with all clothing and personal gear packed into 1-2 medium sized duffel bags. It is okay to pack your gear into a hard-sided suitcase instead, but most adventurers find more ease in working out of duffel bags during the trip.

  • Hiking Daypack

    A pack with 20 to 30-liters of volume works well for this trip. You need space for layers, trail snacks, water, and odds and ends. We suggest using a daypack that works well with a hydration bladder.

  • Small Packing Cubes or Stuff Sacks
    Optional

    These will help keep your clothing and gear organized.

Clothing

We expect to have warm and sunny days on this trip! On par with desert weather, temperatures will drop drastically once the sun goes down. Make sure your clothes can be layered together to stay warm on chilly nights. If you are on an October itinerary, consider bringing cold weather neoprene bottoms and extra layers.

  • (3-4) Synthetic T-shirts or Athletic Tops

    T-shirts or tops made for running or working out are good choices. Stick to moisture-wicking fabrics. A long-sleeve, light-color, vented sun shirt may also work well.

  • (2-3) Pairs of Shorts

    Bring shorts designed for running or working out or water sports. Look for quick-drying or moisture-wicking nylon, polyester, nylon/spandex, or polyester/spandex fabrics.

  • Hiking Pants or Full-Length Bottoms

    Nylon Hiking Pants or athletic leggings are good choices. Zip-off pants that turn into shorts rarely look flattering, but often work well!

  • Long Sleeve Baselayer Top

    Look for wool, Capilene, or polyester fabrics. No cotton. Don’t plan to wear this while paddling, you’ll want it to stay dry for cold nights at camp.

  • Pair of Baselayer Bottoms

    Moisture-wicking long underwear bottoms or ankle-length tights. Look for wool, Capilene, nylon/spandex, or polyester/spandex. No cotton. Don't plan to wear these when paddling; the seats of our sit-on-top kayaks are a bit too wet to expect these to stay dry.

  • (3-4) Pairs Athletic Underwear

    Stick to moisture-wicking fabrics. No cotton. If you pack shorts with built-in liners, you can pack fewer pairs of underwear.

  • (2-3) Sports Bras

    Stick to moisture-wicking fabrics. No cotton.

  • Upper Body Insulation Layer

    A warm, polyester fleece jacket or synthetic "puffy" jacket. This should be able to be worn under your rain jacket. No cotton.

  • Extra Upper Body Insulation Layer

    A lightweight polyester fleece top or other layer to add additional warmth. You should be able to wear this with all your other upper body layers.

  • Waterproof/Breathable Rain Jacket

    A lightweight hard shell you can wear over your other upper body layers.

  • Casual Clothing for Travel
  • Full-Length Neoprene Bottoms
    Optional, But Recommended

    These provide warmth when paddling - even if wet. 0.5 to 2 mm thickness suggested. If we experience a cold snap, we'll be glad to have lower body insulation that remains warm when wet.

  • Waterproof/Breathable Rain Pants
    Optional

    These provide obvious protection from precipitation but can also be worn as an extra lower body layer for cold nights

  • Long Sleeve Neoprene Top
    Optional

    0.5 to 1 mm suggested. This provides warmth while paddling - even if wet.

Hand, Neck, and Headwear

While we expect our days to be warm and sunny, we are in the desert, so temperatures drop drastically at night. Pack enough warmies to stay comfortable if there is a cold snap, especially if your itinerary is in October.

  • Hat with Brim
  • Knit Hat

    A wool, synthetic knit, or fleece hat for cool nights

  • Lightweight Gloves

    Pack fleece, Power Stretch, or other gloves made for running or for use as a medium-weight liner.

  • Paddling Gloves
    Optional, But Recommended

    Keep those blisters at bay!

  • Buff
    Optional

    Use for warmth, or to keep the sun off your neck, weather depending

Footwear

You’ll want a combination of footwear for hiking, paddling, and staying warm and dry at camp. On day 3, we park our boats and take a short hike from the water’s edge. You won’t want to wear your water shoes or river sandals, but we don’t recommend bringing hiking boots along for the river portion of the trip. These can be difficult to fit in dry bags. Rather, it is nice to have a lighter, packable shoe that you are comfortable wearing as a camp shoe, as well as doing this short hike in. You could easily do this trip with 2 pairs of shoes if you normally forgo the big hiking boots and hike in trail runners.

  • River Sandals or Water Shoes

    Footwear is required while kayaking. Bring either sport sandals with ankle straps (like Chacos or Tevas) or water shoes (like KEENs). Flip flops are not acceptable.

  • Pair of Hiking Shoes, Boots, or Trail Runners

    Make sure these fit well with the socks you plan to use on the trail. Also, be aware that feet tend to swell over the course of an adventure. It’s best if your shoes are already broken-in when you arrive for the trip.

  • Pair of Sneakers, Running Shoes or Trail Runners

    Plan to throw these either in a dry bag or directly in your boat. A lighter weight and more packable shoe is advantageous. You’ll wear these as camp shoes as well as on a short hike on day 3.

  • (3-4) Pairs of Wool Hiking Socks/Athletic Socks

    We recommend sticking to purpose-built, medium-weight hiking socks from companies like Darn Tough and Smart Wool.

  • A Pair of Warm Socks for Sleeping
  • Neoprene Socks
    Optional

    These will keep your feet warm when wet. They come in handy for cold mornings on October itineraries.

Personal Care

We recommend taking a stripped-down version of your personal care/toiletry items, especially on the backcountry paddling portion of the trip. Shoot for travel-sized items and repack liquids into anti-leak small containers. Our guides recommended the Nalgene travel bottles. While showers are available on day 4 of the trip, leave the shampoo and conditioner behind while we are on the river.

  • Sunglasses with Strap
  • Sunscreen

    Pack at least 4oz of sunscreen. Guides recommend at least SPF 30 Small containers work better than larger ones. No aerosol spray cans, please.

  • Lip Balm with SPF
  • 2oz Bottle of Hand Sanitizer

    It’s handy to have your own personal hand sanitizer that can either live in your tent, coat pocket, or PFD pocket.

  • Toiletries

    Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, soap, shampoo, conditioner, face wash, lotion, moisturizer with SPF, brush/comb, ear plugs, etc.

  • Microfiber Camp Towel

    To dry off after your shower. We recommend a small to medium-sized towel that won't take up too much packing space. Leave those beach towels at home!

  • Any Medications You Take
  • Menstrual Hygiene Supplies

    Tampons, Diva Cup, or pads. Pack 50% more supplies than you expect to need.

  • Spare Glasses or Contact Lenses
  • Bathing Body/Face Wipes
    Optional, But Recommended

Gear

  • Sleeping Bag

    Bring a mummy-cut, backpacking-style sleeping bag rated for 20-degrees Fahrenheit, or colder. Bring a sleeping bag that's highly compressible. Avoid large, heavy, roll-up-only sleeping bags because they may be too bulky to fit in the dry bags we use on the water.

  • LED Headlamp and Spare Set of Batteries

    Headlamps with an optional red light won't blind your fellow adventurers or ruin your night vision.

  • (1-2) Water Bottles

    Minimum of 1 liter carrying capacity for paddling days and 2 liters for hiking days. Pick bottles with a screw-top lid that covers the areas your mouth contacts. A Nalgene-brand bottle is a good choice.

  • Camping/Travel Pillow

    A compressible or inflatable camping pillow makes nights more comfortable.

  • Hydration Reservoir/Bladder
    Optional, But Recommended

    A 2-3 liter hydration bladder works well for our hiking days.

  • Sleeping Bag Liner
    Optional

    Nights are likely to be significantly colder if your itinerary is in October. If you are worried about your sleeping bag not being warm enough, having a liner packed is a great way to stay warm.

Other

  • $40-$50 Cash

    For an optional shower in Moab, dinner on day 4, and lunch on day 6.

  • Guide Gratuity

    Please consider rewarding hard work and excellent service with a guide gratuity at the end of the adventure.

  • Personal Reading Materials
    Optional
  • Notebook and Pen
    Optional
  • Portable Charger Battery Pack
    Optional
  • Phone Charging Cord
    Optional

Provided by Bad Adventures

  • Kayak & Paddle

    15 to 16-foot sit-on-top touring kayak.

  • Personal Flotation Device

    Our life jackets (PFDs) have pockets. Ooh la la!

  • Dry Bags

    These help keep your personal gear and clothing dry while we paddle.

  • Tent

    Sturdy, dome-style backpacking tent. Prefer to share a tent? Contact us.

  • Camping Mattress

    A comfy, inflatable camping mattress makes nights restful.

  • Stove & Cookware

    We'll pack all the necessary backcountry cooking gear.

  • Dinnerware

    Bowls, plates, utensils, and mugs. You can leave that rusty old spork at home!

  • Camp Chair

    Our camp furniture is comfy, collapsible, and fire engine red.

  • Group Gear

    Medical kit, satellite phone, emergency equipment, and more.

  • Trekking Poles

    These are great for extra stability on rocky, uneven terrain!

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