Back 2024 Trek 7-3 Forward


Challenging; Approximately 27 miles; Maps required: North


Trek History: New as 7-9 in 2020; 7-9 in 2021-22; 7-5 in 2023; 7-3 in 2024

This itinerary gets you through the North Country and to the top of Philmont! Begin your trek at the Ponil Trailhead, and swig down a cold root beer before heading up to Flume Canyon for the night. You’ll head up to Elkhorn for your Conservation Project before hiking to Head of Dean. Here the trained facilitators will work with your crew in their challenge course and help everyone grow and learn from the experience and help build a stronger team. Make your way over to Ewells Park for your layover and prepare yourself for the climb to the top of Baldy Mountain. After your summit, be sure to head back to Baldy Town to soak in some of the history, check out some of the artifacts, and learn about the gold assaying process. Your last full day on the trail will bring you to Miranda. It’s a short hike, but that means you will have plenty of time to enjoy the rendezvous, throw tomahawks, and, of course, shoot their booming 50 cal. muzzle loading rifles. It will be a blast! On your last morning on the trail, make your way down to the Maxwell Trailhead to meet your bus for the journey 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: Flume Canyon; Head of Dean; Ewells Park; Ewells 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;  
2Flume Canyon Ranger Training Trail Camp; 


Western Lore / Branding @ PonilCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;


Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
3Head of Dean Conservation Project @ Elkhorn (Trail Camp; at Elkhorn)
4Ewells Park Challenge Events @ Head of DeanTrail Camp; 
5Ewells Park Food Pickup @ Baldy TownTrail Camp; (Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; at Baldy Town)


Assaying @ Baldy Town 


Mining History @ Baldy Town 


Climb Baldy Mountain  
6Miranda Tomahawks  


Muzzle Loading Rifles  


Mountain Livin'  
7Camping Headquarters Closing Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  


Hike to Maxwell 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
2PonilCantinaCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
Cantina Show
Climb Hart Peak
Gymkhana
Cavalcade
Cowboy Action Shooting
Circle Ride
Wrangler Training
Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
4Head of Deanpickup crew based challenge events
5Baldy TownClimb Baldy MountainCommissary; Trading Post; Showers;
Tour Historic Baldy Town
6MirandaMountain Man Rendezvous
Climb Baldy Mountain
7Camping 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.