What to Bring on a Canoe Trip: Your Complete Packing Guide for the Hocking River

Figuring out what to bring on a canoe trip can feel overwhelming the first time around. Do you need special shoes? Will your phone survive? Is there somewhere to stash your car keys? These are the questions that run through every first-timer’s head, and they’re all worth asking. The good news is that a day paddle on the Hocking River doesn’t require a trunk full of gear. A few smart choices before you leave the house can make the difference between a fantastic afternoon and a frustrating one.

At Hocking Hills Canoe Livery, we’ve helped thousands of paddlers gear up and push off from our launch point on the Hocking River. We provide the canoe, the paddles, and the life jackets. Your job is to show up ready to enjoy one of the most scenic stretches of calm water in southeast Ohio. This guide covers everything you need to pack, what to leave behind, and a few insider tips that will make your trip feel effortless.

Your Canoe Trip Packing Checklist

Water and plenty of it. The Hocking River is calm and shaded in stretches, but Ohio summers can push into the 90s. Bring at least one water bottle per person, and consider freezing one the night before so it stays cold through the trip. Dehydration sneaks up on you when you’re having fun on the water.

Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher). Even on partly cloudy days, the sun reflects off the river surface and multiplies your exposure. Apply before you arrive and toss the bottle in a dry bag for a midtrip reapplication. Your shoulders, the tops of your ears, and the backs of your hands take the worst of it when you’re paddling.

Sunglasses with a strap. Polarized lenses cut the glare off the water and make it easier to spot turtles, herons, and fish in the shallows. Add a croakie or floating strap so one bad reach doesn’t send your favorite pair to the river bottom.

A dry bag or waterproof pouch. This is the single most useful item you can bring. A small dry bag keeps your phone, keys, wallet, and snacks safe from splashes and the occasional bump against a rock. You can find inexpensive ones at any outdoor retailer, and they’re worth every dollar.

Your phone in a waterproof case. You’re going to want photos of the scenery, the wildlife, and the look on your friend’s face when a great blue heron takes off right next to the canoe. A waterproof phone pouch lets you snap pictures without worrying about water damage.

What to Wear Canoeing on the Hocking River

Wear quick-dry fabrics. Athletic shorts, a moisture-wicking shirt, or a swimsuit with a light cover-up are all solid options. Avoid cotton — it absorbs water, stays wet, and gets heavy. Synthetic or nylon materials dry out in minutes if they get splashed.

Water shoes or sport sandals with a strap. This is non-negotiable. You’ll step into shallow water when you launch and when you land, and the riverbed is a mix of smooth stones, sand, and the occasional stick. Flip-flops slip off, bare feet find every sharp edge, and hiking boots turn into anchors. Keens, Chacos, or any sandal with a secure heel strap will do the job.

Bring a hat with a brim. A baseball cap or wide-brim hat keeps the sun off your face during the exposed stretches of the Hocking River. If it’s windy, use a chin strap or choose one that fits snugly.

Pack a light layer. This one surprises people, especially in midsummer. If you’re paddling in the morning or late afternoon, the tree canopy over the river can drop the temperature noticeably. A lightweight long-sleeve shirt takes up almost no space and can save you from getting chilly on a cloudy stretch.

Snacks, Coolers, and Keeping It Simple

A canoe trip on the Hocking River typically runs two to four hours depending on your pace and the water level. That’s long enough to get hungry, short enough that you don’t need to pack a full picnic.

Trail mix, granola bars, and fruit are the easiest options. They don’t need refrigeration, they won’t melt into a mess, and they give you a quick energy boost when your arms start feeling the paddle strokes. Grapes, apple slices, or orange sections in a sealed container work great and won’t leave sticky residue on your hands.

A small soft-sided cooler fits neatly in the center of a canoe if your group wants cold drinks or sandwiches. Hard coolers can work, but they take up more space and shift around on the water. Toss in a few ice packs, your waters, and maybe a couple of cold sports drinks.

Skip the glass. Leave glass bottles and containers at home. If something breaks on the riverbank or in the water, it creates a hazard for every paddler and wader who comes after you. Cans, plastic bottles, and reusable containers are all fair game.

Whatever you bring in, bring back out. The river is beautiful because the people who paddle it take care of it. Pack a small trash bag, toss your wrappers and empties in it, and drop it in a bin when you’re done. The herons and turtles will thank you.

Bringing Kids on the Hocking River: Extra Gear Worth Packing

The Hocking River is one of the best spots in Ohio for a family canoe trip. The water is calm, shallow, and free of rapids, which means kids can relax and actually enjoy the paddle instead of white-knuckling the sides. A few extra items make the experience smoother for everyone.

Extra towels and a change of clothes. Kids get wet. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident, and sometimes both within the first five minutes. Stash a dry outfit and a towel in a plastic bag in your car so they have something warm to change into afterward.

Waterproof bags for their stuff. Kids bring treasures — a favorite toy, a snack pouch, a sketchbook. Give them their own small dry bag so they feel in charge of their gear and nothing gets ruined if the canoe takes on a splash.

Bug spray (kid-friendly, applied before launch). The river corridor has shaded stretches where mosquitoes can be active, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Apply repellent before you get on the water so you’re not fumbling with a spray can in a rocking canoe.

A sense of adventure. This one’s free. Point out the turtles lined up on a log. Challenge them to spot a kingfisher. Let them trail their fingers in the water. The Hocking River has a way of turning a regular Saturday into a story they’ll retell at school for months.

What NOT to Bring on Your Canoe Trip

Packing light is just as important as packing smart. Here’s what to leave in the car or at home.

Valuables you can’t afford to lose. Expensive jewelry, your best watch, or anything irreplaceable should stay on dry land. Even in calm water, things get splashed, dropped, and occasionally dunked.

Bulky bags and heavy gear. A canoe has a lot of space, but overloading it makes it harder to paddle, harder to steer, and more likely to take on water over the sides. One dry bag and a small cooler per two people is plenty for a day trip.

Speakers blasting music. This is a personal call, but the Hocking River is a place where most paddlers come for the quiet — the sound of the paddle dipping into the water, birds calling from the treeline, and the occasional splash of a fish. Keep the volume reasonable and let the river do the talking.

Stress. Seriously. The Hocking River moves at about two miles an hour. Match its energy. There’s no schedule to keep, no rapids to navigate, and no wrong turns. The river takes you where you need to go, and the crew at Hocking Hills Canoe Livery handles the shuttle back. All you have to do is paddle, float, and look around.

Quick-Reference Packing List

• Water bottles (1+ per person, freeze one overnight)
• Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
• Sunglasses with a strap
• Dry bag or waterproof pouch
• Waterproof phone case
• Quick-dry clothing or swimsuit
• Water shoes or strapped sandals
• Hat with a brim
• Light layer (long-sleeve shirt)
• Snacks (trail mix, granola bars, fruit)
• Small soft cooler with ice packs (optional)
• Trash bag
• Towel
• Bug spray
• Change of clothes (especially for kids)
• Car key only (leave the rest locked in your vehicle)

Book Your Hocking River Canoe Trip

Now that you know what to bring on a canoe trip, the only thing left is to pick your day. Hocking Hills Canoe Livery is open seven days a week during the summer season and offers canoe, kayak, tandem kayak, and tube rentals on the Hocking River. The standard five-mile trip takes about two to four hours and winds through some of the most peaceful scenery in southeast Ohio — sandstone bluffs, overhanging trees, and wildlife around every bend.

The livery provides your canoe, paddles, life jackets, and shuttle service. You show up with your gear, and the team handles the rest. If you’re making a weekend of it, ask about the cabins right on the property so you can wake up, walk down to the river, and do it all over again.

Ready to get on the water? Visit hockingriver.com to check availability and reserve your trip, or call (740) 385-0523 to talk to the crew directly. They’ve been putting paddlers on the Hocking River for years, and they’ll make sure your first trip — or your fiftieth — is one worth remembering.