do you have to wear closed toe shoes?

I had water shoes and they broke by the toes..so they don't work to good

It's up to you , but I strongly agree you wear water shoes or cheap flip flops. Even if you stay on your tube the entire trip where you unload at the end its rocky . I've done it with and without much more comfortable with a pair of water shoes from 5 below.

Its walking through the rocks at the end where shoes are needed.

Nope. I wore flip flops.