Are you ready to dive into the breathtaking beauty of Utah? From towering red rock formations to serene mountain trails, your next adventure awaits in the Beehive State. Whether you’re planning to hike through the majestic canyons of Zion National Park, visit the vast expanse of Canyonlands, or explore the surreal landscapes of Arches National Park, having the right gear is essential.
This Ultimate Utah Packing List for Your Adventure to visit the Utah Mighty 5 with G Adventures will ensure you’re fully equipped. We’ve curated a comprehensive selection of essentials, so you can navigate Utah’s diverse terrains with confidence and comfort. Don’t let a forgotten item disrupt your adventure—instead, pack smart and embrace the thrill of the great outdoors. Let’s get started on preparing you for the adventure of a lifetime!
We traveled to Utah in the middle of May to hike the Utah Mighty 5 with G Adventures. Please check the weather and plan your specific packing list accordingly. Our temperatures ranged from 29 – 85 degrees. We had conditions of rain sprinkles, to quick rain down pours to winds, clouds, and bright sun. The weather ranged quite a bit, so you will need to be prepared. On Day 3 we even woke up to ice crystals on our tent when we took it down.
For travel to Las Vegas, our starting location, I wore leggings, tank top, light weight jacket and tennis shoes. I used these tennis shoes and jacket throughout the trip as well.
Below is exactly what I packed (This is going to be more for the female traveler, my husband packed much lighter.
He only packed 4 pairs of hiking pants, 8 t-shirts, socks, underwear, hiking boots, and the bare minimum of everything else. I have all the extras, such as power banks, first aid and snacks. As a minimal man that he is, depending on your personal taste, know that what I have below is plenty and adjust what you pack accordingly. Just remember you don’t want to pack any more because you will be loading the bags and you don’t want your bag to be too heavy.
Essential Hiking Clothing for Varying Weather Conditions
- Moisture-wicking clothing layers for 7 hiking days to include:
- Hiking Pants – convertible and water proof are nice so you don’t have to pack rain pants and capris/shorts (I absolutely cannot stand to hike in loose hiking pants, so I always choose capris and biker shorts and just suck it up if it decides to rain but my husband loves hiking pants)
- Capris (pack 7)
- Biker shorts (pack 3)
- Nike Tempo Shorts (pack 1)
- Tank tops or tech t-shirts (pack 7)
- Sports Bras/underwear (pack 7 each)
- Hiking Socks (pack 7 pairs)
- Rain Jacket
Must Have Gear for Hiking and Exploring
- Lightweight/waterproof hiking boots (pack 1 pair)
- Hiking Poles (I only used mine one day, but others used theirs everyday. Some people didn’t bring any at all)
- Hat and sunglasses
- For our day pack, we both carried a 40L REI pack with waterproof cover.
- Osprey Hydration system (1.5L & 2L, mine & hubby’s respectively)
- Extra water bottle
Snacks
- High-energy snacks (peanut butter, nuts, fruit) (we are vegan so sometimes vegan snacks on the go can be tricky; we probably packed more than the average person. No matter what, make sure you are eating healthy high protein, high energy snacks to fuel for the hiking). You can also buy these at your first stop at Walmart on your way to Bryce Canyon when G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO) goes on first grocery shopping trip.
Clothing For After Hiking & At the Campgrounds
- Shower Shoes (pack 1 pair)
- River Shoes – Teva or Chaco type with ankle straps for if you decide to white water raft in Moab (pack 1 pair)
- Jeans (pack 1 pair)
- Socks (pack 2)
- Extra Sports Bras (pack 2)
- Extra Underwear (pack 4)
- Bathing Suits (pack 2)
- Sweatshirts/Hoodies (pack 3)
- Jacket Puffer or Fleece (pack 1 if your are cold natured)
- Beanie (pack 1)
- Gloves (pack 1 if you are cold natured)
- Warm Pajamas (pack 2 sets)
Clothes for Trip Home
- Leggings/comfortable pants (pack 1)
- T-shirt (pack 1)
- Socks (pack 1 pair)
- Bra/underwear (pack 1 each)
Camping Essentials
- Sleeping Bag Liner (optional-will provide extra warmth if cold at night or cool on a warm night if the sleeping bag is too warm)
- Small bag to carry clothes and toiletries to showers
- Fast dry washcloth and towel
- Camping pillow
- Air bed/sleeping mat (G Adventures does provide one but it is very thin, definitely RECOMMEND you bring a thicker one as well)
- Sleeping bag
- Head Lamp & extra batteries
- Extra towel if you decide to white water raft or swim at the falls or pools at any of the campgrounds
- Lightweight slip on shoes to wear around camp – slides or Birkenstocks are nice so you can wear with your socks on since I recommend you sleep with your socks on to stay warm at night (if you can use these to double as your shower shoes)
- Card Game, small notebook and pencil/pen
Health & Safety Items
- Prescription medications (taken daily)
- Basic first-aid kit (ibuprofen, Tylenol, Imodium, bandaids, Neosporin, blister bandaids, moleskin, insect repellant, lotion, sunscreen, lip balm sunscreen/chapstick and/or Vaseline, electrolyte mix, Zyrtec, water purification tablets, non-drowsy dramamine (if travel in moving vehicles makes you nauseous-for van ride))
- Toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, & floss
- Basic toiletries for shower (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face cleanser)
- Hairbrush & hair ties
- Bathroom kit (flushable wipes, tissues, bags for waste)
- Bathing Wipes
- NOTE: Keep in mind the air is very dry. Your skin will be dry, so bring more lotion, chapstick, and sunscreen than you think you might need.
Photography Gear To Capture Stunning Landscapes
- Camera (trust us, you’ll want it; we just used our cell phones)
- Memory Cards (if you bring a dedicated camera)
- Tripod if you want to take advantage of the dark sky park and take astrophotography photos-I was able to use trail signs to steady my phone enough in order to get decent astrophotography photos on my phone without a tripod.
Important Documents
- Paperwork for travel insurance, vouchers for G adventures, etc
- Take photos of all IDs and Passports (hubby couldn’t find his wallet to fly home, so luckily I had photos of important documents and he was able to show that and then be detained and interrogated for a while but allowed to fly home; luckily his wallet reappeared when we got home)
- Cash (For emergencies and tip for CEO)
- Passport (if traveling from out of US)
Technology
- Solar battery pack (check with your airline to see what size you are allowed to carry-these can be a fire hazard on the plane and they must be carried in your carry on bag)
- Power banks (I packed 3) (These can be a fire hazard on the plane and they must be carried in your carry on bag)
- Charging cables for phone, watch, earbuds, and power banks and camera battery charger
- Charging cable for van (USB to your phone/device) – there is one USB port on each row of the van so on the road you will want to charge phones and power banks since power at camp sites is so limited.
Pack that suitcase and head to the airport, the Utah Mighty 5 is waiting!
-S&E
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