This Valle Vidal itinerary will enable your crew to see an incredible assortment of wildlife, enormous grass filled vegas, gorgeous ponderosa pine stands, and rugged mountains to the north of Philmont. Start your trek by hiking up Horse Canyon to Horse Canyon Camp. Next, take part in thought provoking initiative games and challenge course events that will encourage your crew to work together at Dan Beard. Your crew will then have the opportunity to work on your navigation skills as you locate Beatty Lakes. Enjoy the view of Little Costilla and continue north to Ring Place on the following day as you bushwhack through tall ponderosa pine stands and enormous meadows. Side hike to Whiteman Vega to ride some of northern New Mexico's best mountain biking trails and work with the Philmont Conservation Department on a new bike trail! Return to Ring Place for folk weather forecasting and astronomy, where the night skies are great because there is no light for miles! Wake up early and head south until you hear the pinging of hammers driving rail spikes echo off the canyon walls at Metcalf Station. Railroading, morse code, and blacksmithing will come to life before your crew experiences a great campfire. Be sure to check out the Ancestral Puebloan petroglyphs from 1300 CE before exploring Chase Canyon and the historic Chase Ranch. Next stop… Base Camp! |
Trek Day | Camp | Program Features | Campsite Features | |
1 | Camping Headquarters TB | Opening Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
2 | Lover's Leap | Bus to Lovers Leap Trailhead | Trail Camp;  | |
Ranger Training | Trail Camp;  | |||
3 | Crater Lake | Continental Tie & Lumber | Showers;   | |
spar pole climbing | Showers;   | |||
Evening Campfire | Showers;   | |||
4 | Lookout Meadow | Conservation @ Trail Canyon![]() | Trail Camp; (Trail Camp (Always dry); at Trail Canyon) | |
5 | Beaubien | Fishing Lodge Tour @ Fish Camp | Showers (wood stoked);   | |
Western Lore / Branding | Showers (wood stoked);   | |||
Chuck Wagon Dinner | Showers (wood stoked);   | |||
Food Pickup @ Phillips Junction | Showers (wood stoked);  (Commissary; Trading Post; Showers; at Phillips Junction) | |||
6 | North Fork Urraca | Muzzle Loading Rifles @ Black Mountain | Trail Camp;  | |
7 | Camping Headquarters HB | Climb Shaefer's Peak ![]() | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
Tooth of Time | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |||
Hike in via Tooth Ridge Trail | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |||
Awards Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |||
Program opportunities not included on the official itinerary |
This list is not complete and is dependent on the route you take each day. |
Visit the Villa Philmonte at Camping Headquarters TB on day 1 |
Seton Memorial Library and Philmont Museum at Camping Headquarters TB on day 1 |
Hike over Trail Peak at Beaubien on day 5 |
Fishing Opportunities at Fish Camp on day 5 |
Fly Tying at Fish Camp on day 5 |
Fishing Opportunities at Phillips Junction on day 5 |
Blacksmithing at Black Mountain on day 6 |
Post Civil War Settlers at Black Mountain on day 6 |
Visit the Villa Philmonte at Camping Headquarters HB on day 7 |
Seton Memorial Library and Philmont Museum at Camping Headquarters HB on day 7 |