Back 2024 Trek 12-6 Forward


Challenging; Approximately 56 miles; Maps required: south


Trek History: New as 12-7 in 2023; 12-6 in 2024

Hop off the bus with your Ranger at the Zastrow Trailhead and hike to Rimrock Park where you will learn backcountry camping skills from your Ranger. Spend some time with the Abreu family and learn about New Mexico homesteading. From there you will hike to Crags through massive geologic strata representing ancient landscapes from oceans to volcanoes. Crags Camp is a unique spot off the beaten path, and the hike to Agua Fria follows the path of a river that has spent countless eons cutting the entire valley you see before you today. Pull over at Fish Camp to visit Waite Phillips’ historic Rayado Lodge. From Agua Fria to Apache Springs, you will be traversing Philmont’s southern boundary. Enjoy 3D Archery, and the history and lore of the Jicarilla Apache before you leave Apache and make your way to Crooked Creek, where you will learn how early homesteaders lived off of land and cared for their animals. The next day’s climb of Mt. Phillips is steep and an early start is needed to avoid afternoon weather. After summitting Philmont’s second highest peak, you will get a break as you bed down at Red Hills for the night. Next, make a side trip to Big Red, and head to Phillips Junction and Beaubien and take a load off when you get there - you earned it! Sit in a saddle for a horse ride, pass the time with western lore, enjoy a chuckwagon dinner as big as the West, and get ready for wild evening performances. As you leave Beaubien, take advantage of the rare opportunity to see the wreckage of the WWII B24 Liberator that crashed on Trail Peak. Stop by Crater Lake to work with the loggers, then it's off to Miners Park and try your hand at rock climbing. Finally, hike from Miners Park to your final camp at Stockade Ridge. Get up early and maximize your opportunity for your hike up to the iconic Tooth of Time summit. Enjoy the views and reflect on your amazing experience before heading to Base Camp; either hiking in on the Tooth Ridge Trail or heading to the Lovers Leap Trailhead for your bus ride.

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."

Dry Camps: Rimrock Park;
- 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;  
2Rimrock Park Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersTrail Camp (Usually dry); (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound)


Ranger Training  


Bus to Zastrow Trailhead


Water @ Rayado Creek
3Crags Cantina @ AbreuTrail Camp; (Showers; at Abreu)


Cabin Tour @ Abreu 


New Mexican Homestead @ Abreu 


Search & Rescue / Wilderness Medicine @ Carson Meadows
4Agua Fria Fishing Opportunities @ Fish CampTrail Camp; 


Rayado Lodge Tour @ Fish Camp 


Fly Tying @ Fish Camp 
5Apache Springs Jicarilla Apache Life Commissary;  


3D Archery  


Food Pickup  
6Crooked Creek Animal Care  


Homesteading  


Cabin Tour  
7Red Hills Tomahawks @ MirandaTrail Camp; 


Rocky Mountain Fur Company @ Miranda 


Climb Mount Phillips  
8Beaubien Climb Big Red Showers (wood stoked);  


Western Lore / Branding  


Chuck Wagon Dinner  


Campfire  


Food Pickup @ Phillips JunctionCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
9Beaubien Conservation Project Showers (wood stoked);  


Horse Rides  


Campfire  
10Miner's Park Climb Trail Peak @ BeaubienShowers;  (Showers (wood stoked); at Beaubien)


Tie making / Crosscut Saws @ Crater LakeShowers;


Food Pickup  
11Stockade Ridge Rock Climbing & Rappelling @ Miner's ParkTrail Camp; (Showers; at Miner's Park)


Water @ Stockade
12Camping Headquarters Hike in via Tooth Ridge Trail Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  


Climb Tooth of Time  


Hike to Lovers Leap 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
2Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
3AbreuHomesteadingShowers;
Ride out from Cattle Headquarters
5Apache SpringsSweat LodgeCommissary;
Corn Grinding
Sporting Arrows
Tipi Tour
Flintknapping
7MirandaMuzzle Loading Rifles
Mountain Man Rendezvous
Climb Baldy Mountain
8Phillips JunctionFishing OpportunitiesCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
10BeaubienWestern Lore / BrandingShowers (wood stoked);
Climb Lookout Peak
Cowboy Campfire
Crater LakeContinental Tie & LumberShowers;
Hike over Fowler Mesa
spar pole climbing
Logging Skills
11Miner's ParkTraverse WallShowers;
Crate Stacking
StockadeCOPE
12Camping 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.