Are you figuring out what to pack for your Colorado River overnight trip?
Every year, CKS employees gather together for an end of season river trip. In this new post by CKS Online, paddling experts Victoria Ohegyi and Julia Perkshen share a gear checklist for an overnight river trip and some other helpful tips to ensure you have a good time out there on the water.
This packing list is based on a 6 person + 1 dog trip single-night trip on the Colorado River through the Ruby Horsethief (RHT) Section from Loma, Colorado to Westwater, Utah.
RHT is a 25-mile stretch of mostly flatwater with sections of Class I and II rapids. For this trip, we brought 1 whitewater raft and 5 inflatable stand-up paddleboards (SUPs).
We provided a basic checklist below. View all of our recommendations in a collection here.The Raft Rig:
- 13' Boat
- 3-Bay Raft Frame
- Three 9.5' Oar Shafts
- Three Oar Blades
- Two Oar Mounts
- One Captain's Seat
- Two Oar Tethers
- Assorted Cam Straps
Pro Tip: Not sure how to size your raft frame for your boat? Check out our raft frame builder guide here.
The SUP Crew:
- 5 Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards
- 8 SUP Paddles
- Various Center + Click Fin SUP Fins
- 5 Quick-Release Leashes
Packed on the Raft Rig:
- 103 Quart Cooler
- 4 Rocket Boxes (20mm Ammo Cans)
- Camera + Protective Pelican Case
- 2 Waterproof Sleeping Pads
- 3 Six-Gallon Water Jugs
- River Maps Guide to the Colorado & Green Rivers
- Group Kitchen/Camp Gear
- Canine Gear
- 2 50-75L Dry Bags for Personal Apparel
- Six Group Camp Chairs
Packed with the SUP Crew:
- Personal Sleeping Pads
- Personal 65-75L Dry Bag for Personal Apparel
- Personal 50C Ammo Can or small DryBag (optional) for Personal Gear
- 55Q Beer Cooler
- 25L Drybag with Major First Aid
Pro Tip: If you're planning to cowboy camp (sleep without a tent), definitely set up your sleeping pad on your paddleboard! It will add 6 extra inches between you and the ground.
Group Kitchen/Camp Gear:
- Sand Mat
- Cook Kit + Stove
- Beer Coozies
- Folding Table
- Poop Tube
Canine Gear:
- Dog Food
- Canine Floatation Device (CFD)
- Dog Bed
Pro Tip: If you want to protect your pup's paws from the heat, wet down a towel or tapestry to put over the sleeping pad that's rigged to the raft. This will prevent the plastic from heating up too much.
Personal Apparel:
- Brimmed Hats
- Costumes
- River Shoes/Sandals
- Zeal Sunglasses
- Sun Hoodies
- Bathing Suits + Swimwear
- Paddling Shorts
- Warm Camp Clothes
Personal Gear:
- Type III or Type V PFD
- Water Bottle
- Sunscreen
- Wag Bags + TP
- Toiletries
- Locking Carabiners + Cam Straps for Additional Rigging
