Each list below is the packing checklist we verified against that destination's managing agency — fire pans, toilet systems, PFD classes and bear-resistant storage are requirements on some of these rivers, not suggestions. Confirm current rules with the agency before you launch; links are on every card.
Yukon River: Eagle to Circle
Interior Alaska
Boat and safety
- Full flotation in the canoe
- Throw bag and spare paddle
- Dry suit or immersion-rated layers
- Satellite communicator
- Repair kit for hull and spray cover
Camp
- Bear-resistant food containers
- Silt-settling bucket plus filter
- Four-season-capable sleep system
- Bug shirt and headnet
Agency rules: Camp on gravel bars and durable open ground, use a fire pan or existing driftwood fire scars below the high-water line, and pack out everything including fish waste near camps and cabins.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
Middle Fork Salmon River
Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, Idaho
River safety
- Type III/V PFD
- Whitewater helmet
- Spare paddle
- Throw bag
- Boat repair kit
Required by the forest
- Metal fire pan (min. 12"×12")
- Portable toilet (groover)
- Kitchen tarp / floor
- Gray-water strainer
Personal
- Dry suit or splash top (spring)
- Sun protection
- Bear-resistant food storage
Agency rules: USFS corridor rules require a metal fire pan for every fire, a portable toilet system (groover) for all human waste, and a strainer for gray water. Everything packs out.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
Green River: Desolation and Gray Canyons
BLM Price Field Office, Utah
Required by BLM
- Fire pan
- Portable toilet (groover)
- Kitchen tarp
- Gray-water strainer
- Extra PFD
Desert gear
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Sand stakes
- Sun awning or bimini
- Bug head nets
Safety
- Signal mirror
- First aid kit
- Spare oar or paddle
- Patch kit
Agency rules: BLM stipulations require a fire pan, a portable toilet (groover), a kitchen tarp under food prep areas, and strained gray water. All trash and waste pack out.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
Apostle Islands Sea Caves Crossing
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin
Immersion & paddling
- Dry suit or wetsuit
- Spray skirt
- Bilge pump
- Spare paddle
- PFD with whistle
Navigation
- NOAA chart 14973
- Compass
- GPS
- VHF marine radio
Camp
- Bear-resistant food canister
- Water filter
- Insect head net
- Synthetic layers
Agency rules: Camp only at designated sites, store all food and scented items in the provided bear lockers or a bear canister, and leave glass containers at home.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
Sylvania Wilderness in November
Ottawa National Forest, Michigan
Paddling
- Canoe or kayak with a portage yoke
- PFD worn, not stowed
- Spare paddle
- Dry bags for sleep system and clothing
- Bailer and sponge
- 50 ft of throw line
Camp
- Freestanding tent (campsite pads are uneven)
- Sleeping bag rated well below the forecast low
- Sleeping pad
- Stove and fuel
- Water filter plus backup treatment
- Bear canister or hang kit with 50 ft of cord
Clothing
- Rain shell and rain pants
- Insulating midlayer
- Quick-dry paddling clothes
- Camp shoes plus wet-footed portage shoes
- Warm hat and gloves outside midsummer
- Head net in May and June
Navigation & safety
- Waterproof Sylvania lake map and compass
- Satellite messenger
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- First aid kit
- Printed campsite reservation
- Repair kit — duct tape, cord, multi-tool
Fishing
- Light spinning or fly setup
- Barbless hooks for catch-and-release
- Current Michigan fishing license
- Landing net
Agency rules: This is designated wilderness: no motors, no wheeled carts on the portages, and camping only at the numbered designated sites. Use existing fire rings where they exist, pack out every scrap including fish remains where required, and keep group sizes small. Special catch-and-release and size regulations apply to Sylvania's fishery — read the current Michigan DNR rules and the posted Sylvania-specific regulations before you keep anything.
Buying guides: Canoe and portage equipment buyer's guide, Tents and tarps buyer's guide, Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Camp stoves and cook systems buyer's guide, Water filters and treatment buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
Boundary Waters Border Lakes Traverse
Superior National Forest, Minnesota
Paddling & portaging
- PFD per person
- Lightweight canoe with yoke
- Spare paddle
- Portage packs
- Map and compass
Camp & safety
- Water filter
- Bear hang kit or canister
- First aid kit
- Rain gear
Personal
- Synthetic layers
- Sturdy boots for portages
- Insect repellent and head net
- Sun protection
Agency rules: Group size is capped at 9 people and 4 watercraft. Cans and glass bottles are banned in the wilderness — repackage food before you drive up. Camp only at designated sites with fire grates.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
Everglades Wilderness Waterway
Everglades National Park, Florida
Hydration & food
- 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Electrolytes
- High-calorie non-perishable food
Protection
- Bug head net
- Long-sleeve sun clothing
- Wide-brimmed hat
- High-SPF sunscreen
Navigation
- Tide tables
- NOAA nautical charts
- GPS with spare batteries
Agency rules: Camp only at designated chickees, ground sites and beach sites named on your permit. Pack out all trash; use the chickee toilets or a self-contained waste system.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
San Juan Islands Circumnavigation
San Juan Islands, Washington
Immersion & safety
- Dry suit or 5mm wetsuit
- PFD with whistle and strobe
- Bilge pump
- Spare paddle
Navigation
- NOAA chart 18421
- Compass
- GPS
- Waterproof watch for tide timing
Camp
- Full water bladders
- Raccoon-proof food bags
- Multi-tool
Agency rules: Use designated Cascadia Marine Trail sites, pack out all trash, use the composting toilets where provided, and give seal haul-outs a wide berth.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
Northern Maine
River gear
- PFD per person
- River-rated canoe
- Waterproof dry bags
- Spare paddle
Camp & tools
- Bug head nets or mesh shelter
- Water purifier
- Topographic river maps
- Fire starter
Safety
- First aid kit
- Satellite communicator
- Sturdy footwear for portages and lining
Agency rules: Group size is limited to 12 (larger groups need a special permit). Camp only at designated sites with authorized fire rings; carry in, carry out is strictly enforced.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
Upper Missouri River Breaks
BLM Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument, Montana
River gear
- Extra-long bow and stern lines (for mud)
- Heavy-duty sand stakes
- Alum settling kit with buckets
Sun & mud
- High-SPF sunblock
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Long-sleeve sun shirts
- Slip-on 'gumbo' shoes
Required sanitation
- Portable toilet system or WAG bags
- Fire pan
- Mesh gear-drying bags
Agency rules: Fire pans and portable toilet systems are required for all overnight trips, and all human waste and trash pack out — the riverbank ecosystem is fragile desert.
Buying guides: Sleeping bags buyer's guide, Backpacks buyer's guide
Verified September 2026
