This adventure packed itinerary provides a variety of opportunities for mileage, adventure, and traversing breathtaking vistas. Enjoy a variety of side hikes, participate in unique programs and try your skills with Leave No Trace camping in the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest. The trip will begin with a bus drop off at Six-Mile Trailhead and a hike to the first confirmed T-Rex track in the world, and a quick hike to House Canyon Camp where your Ranger will continue your training. Day 2 will take you up and over the ridge to Philmont's newest rock-climbing camp at Chase Cow Camp. Enjoy the views as you make your way out of Chase Canyon and hike the ridgeline above the North Ponil before dropping down into Indian Writings for a Petroglyph tour. Enjoy the evening at secluded Cottonwood Canyon Camp before getting up the next morning ready to join the railroaders of the Cimarron & Northwestern in building a new line up the canyon and see what life was like at a railroad camp. Work quickly, as you still have to climb up and over to Dan Beard, where the Challenge Course and initiative games will help to build teamwork that your crew will utilize the rest of your trek. Leave Philmont Property and enter the beautiful Valle Vidal and head through Seally Canyon on your way to Ring Place camp to learn about weather and astronomy, surrounded by a blanket of stars in their open meadows. Head on over to Iris Park for more Leave No Trace camping, then drop in on the Rich Family and help them with their animals and see their historic cabin. Head over Wilson Mesa and check in on the loggers of the Continental Tie and Lumber Co. and help them make a tie for Metcalf Station. Your layover waits you at Ewells Park, which will give you plenty of time to summit Philmont's highest peak, Baldy Mountain, and visit the historic mining areas of Baldy Town and French Henry. Your next adventure is at the Fur Trapper Rendezvous at Miranda where you can compete with your crew at tomahawk throwing and muzzle loading rifle shooting. Stay the night at one of Philmonts newest trail camps at Touch-Me-Not Creek. Alas, your journey is coming to an end as you make your way to the Maxwell Trailhead and load your bus for the ride back to base camp | ||||
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." |
Unique Campsite: Cottonwood; |
Day | Camp | Program Features | Campsite Features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CHQ Trailbound | Opening Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
2 | House Canyon![]() | Bus to Six Mile Gate | Trail Camp;  | |
Food Pickup @ CHQ Trailbound | Trail Camp; (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound) | |||
Ranger Training ![]() | Trail Camp;  | |||
3 | Chase Cow![]() | Rock Climbing & Rappelling ![]() |   | |
Bouldering ![]() |   | |||
4 | Cottonwood | Trail Camp;  | ||
5 | Dan Beard | Blacksmithing @ Metcalf Station | Low Impact Camp;   | |
Railroading @ Metcalf Station | Low Impact Camp;   | |||
6 | Ring Place | Challenge Events @ Dan Beard | Commissary; Low Impact Camp;  (Low Impact Camp; at Dan Beard) | |
Food Pickup | Commissary; Low Impact Camp;   | |||
Folk Weather Forecasting | Commissary; Low Impact Camp;   | |||
Astronomy | Commissary; Low Impact Camp;   | |||
7 | Iris Park | Low Impact Camping | Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp;  | |
Conservation Project ![]() | Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp;  | |||
8 | Rich Cabins | Homesteading | Commissary; Low Impact Camp;   | |
Low Impact Camping ![]() | Commissary; Low Impact Camp;   | |||
Animal Care ![]() | Commissary; Low Impact Camp;   | |||
Campfire | Commissary; Low Impact Camp;   | |||
9 | Ewells Park | Hike over Wilson Mesa ![]() | Trail Camp;  | |
Crosscut Saws / Tie making @ Pueblano | Trail Camp;  | |||
10 | Ewells Park | Mining History @ Baldy Town![]() | Trail Camp; (Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; at Baldy Town) | |
Food Pickup @ Baldy Town | Trail Camp;  | |||
Climb Baldy Mountain | Trail Camp;  | |||
11 | Touch-Me-Not Creek![]() | Muzzle Loading Rifles @ Miranda | Trail Camp;  | |
Mountain Man Rendezvous @ Miranda | Trail Camp;  | |||
Tomahawks @ Miranda | Trail Camp;  | |||
12 | CHQ Homebound | Muzzle Loading Rifles @ Miranda | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
Awards Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |||
Hike to Maxwell Trailhead![]() | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |||
Day | Camp | Potential Additional Program Features | Campsite Features |
---|---|---|---|
2 | Six Mile Gate | Tyrannosaurus Rex Track | |
CHQ Trailbound | Visit the Villa Philmonte | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; | |
National Scouting Museum | |||
5 | Metcalf Station | Morse Code | |
6 | Dan Beard | Leave No Trace Training | Low Impact Camp; |
Ring Place | Historic Homestead | Commissary; Low Impact Camp; | |
Side Hike to McCrystal Creek Ruins | |||
7 | Iris Park | Hike via Iris Park & Beatty Lakes | Low Impact Camp; Trail Camp; |
8 | Rich Cabins | Evening music | Commissary; Low Impact Camp; |
Cabin Tour | |||
9 | Pueblano | Continental Tie & Lumber | |
spar pole climbing | |||
10 | Baldy Town | Climb Baldy Mountain | Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; |
Tour Historic Baldy Town | |||
Assaying | |||
12 | Miranda | Muzzle Loading Rifles | |
Mountain Man Rendezvous | |||
Climb Baldy Mountain | |||
Tomahawks | |||
CHQ Homebound | Visit the Villa Philmonte | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; | |
National Scouting Museum | |||