Back 2024 Trek 12-16 Forward


Rugged; Approximately 65 miles; Maps required: south


Trek History: New as 2 in 2019; 12-2 in 2020-22; 12-19 in 2023; 12-16 in 2024

This program packed itinerary loops through the Philmont North Country and combines high peaks and beautiful vistas with southwest history. The adventure begins with a bus from Base Camp to the Six-Mile Gate Trailhead and a short hike to the first confirmed T-Rex footprint in the world. You’ll make your way to Horse Canyon trail camp where your Ranger will pass on important skills. Head up the North Ponil Canyon to Indian Writings where you will see ancestral Puebloan petroglyphs and archeology sites. Listen for the echo of the mauls striking spikes as you make your way to Metcalf Station to learn what life was like on the railroad and enjoy great music and stories at the evening campfire. Your next day at Dan Beard will put your crew to the test on their challenge course. With your teamwork solidified, you’ll head into the Valle Vidal the next morning and make your way to Ring Place Camp. Here you will get to enjoy the excitement of Mountain Biking during the day and the splendor of the night sky during their astronomy program. Put your Leave No Trace skills to use at Iris Park the next night and again at Upper Greenwood camp where you'll stage for your ascent of Baldy. Climbing to the top of the 12,441 ft. Baldy Mountain is sure to be the highlight of your Philmont adventure! You’ll also enjoy the loop through Copper Park and on to the Aztec Mine at French Henry, eventually ending up back at the old mining town at Baldy Town for a mining history lesson. Your next day is just a short hike to Miranda where you will have plenty of time for muzzle loading rifles, tomahawks and the Fur Trapper rendezvous. You’ll be assigned your burro the next morning and learn how to care for it and pack it properly before you head up to Baldy Skyline. Your crew and your beast of burden will then head over to the Continental Tie and Lumber Co. at Pueblano where your crew can learn the history of the logging operation and try your hands at cutting and forming a rail tie or other project. Ultimately, you will head to Ponil, where you drop off your burro and reward yourself with a cold root beer at the cantina. Chow down on a delicious chuckwagon dinner and prepare to be entertained at the evening show. The next morning you can try your hand at Cowboy Action Shooting before hiking to the trailhead for the bus ride back to base camp. What a trek!

Per the Guidebook to Itineraries: "Due to potential emergencies, such as catastrophic fires, Crews must not deviate from their assigned itinerary. Changes are only permitted for bona fide medical emergencies and must be approved in advance by the Logistics Department."


- No photo available for this campsite or this program at this location. Click icon for specific needs.

DayCampProgram FeaturesCampsite Features
1Camping Headquarters Opening Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  
2Horse Canyon Bus to Six Mile GateTrail Camp; 


Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;


Ranger Training  


Tyrannosaurus Rex Track  
3Metcalf Station Petroglyphs Tour @ Indian Writings (Showers; at Indian Writings)


Blacksmithing  


Campfire  


Railroading  
4Dan Beard Challenge Events Low Impact Camp;  
5Ring Place Mountain Biking Commissary; Low Impact Camp;  


Astronomy  


Food Pickup  
6Iris Park Low Impact Camping Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp; 


Conservation Project @ Ring PlaceCommissary; Low Impact Camp;
7Upper Greenwood Low Impact Camping Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp; 


Water @ Middle Ponil Creek
8Baldy Town Climb Baldy Mountain Commissary; Trading Post; Showers;  


Food Pickup  


Mine Tour @ French Henry


Gold Mining & Panning @ French Henry 
9Miranda Tomahawks  


Mountain Man Rendezvous  


Muzzle Loading Rifles  
10Baldy Skyline Pick Up Burros @ MirandaTrail Camp; 
11Ponil Return Burros Commissary; Trading Post; Showers;  


Western Lore / Branding  


Chuck Wagon Dinner  


Cantina Show  


Tie making / Crosscut Saws @ Pueblano
12Camping Headquarters Cowboy Action Shooting @ PonilCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;  (Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; at Ponil)


Closing Campfire  


Hike to Ponil Trailhead
Warning: Itinerary details provided by PhilSearch are for planning purposes only.  Only the current year's "Treks" book and the addendums to it, if any, should be used for final trek selection.

Crews passing through staff camps are not scheduled for program. If time and space allow, some crews may be able to participate in some of the programs offered.

DayCampPotential Additional Program FeaturesCampsite Features
2Six Mile GateTyrannosaurus Rex Track
Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
3Indian WritingsArchaeologyShowers;
Atl Atl Darts
Metcalf StationMorse Code
4Dan BeardLeave No Trace TrainingLow Impact Camp;
6Iris ParkHike via Iris Park & Beatty LakesLow Impact Camp; Trail Camp;
Ring PlaceAstronomyCommissary; Low Impact Camp;
Folk Weather Forecasting
Historic Homestead
Side Hike to McCrystal Creek Ruins
8Baldy TownTour Historic Baldy TownCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
Mining History
Assaying
French HenryBlacksmithing
10MirandaMuzzle Loading Rifles
Mountain Man Rendezvous
Climb Baldy Mountain
Tomahawks
11PueblanoContinental Tie & Lumber
spar pole climbing
12PonilCantinaCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
Western Lore / Branding
Cantina Show
Climb Hart Peak
Gymkhana
Cavalcade
Circle Ride
Wrangler Training
Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
Ride into Cattle Headquarters
This list is not complete and is dependent on the route you take each day.