This Central Country loop brings you deep into the Philmont backcountry, and near the Ute Park Fire burn scar. Begin your trek by camping at the new Arrowhead Trail Camp as your Ranger gives you important guidance. On the following day, make your way through Hunting Lodge and visit Waite Phillips hunting cabin, then hike upstream to Cyphers Mine. Enjoy the immersion in history and the hands on opportunities to pan for gold, blacksmith, and tour an actual gold mine; all of these build up the anticipation for The Stomp evening campfire program. Wake up early and journey on towards Sawmill, where along the way you will stop for your conservation project. Be one of the crews that blazes a trail to the top of Cito Peak! After your conservation project, head to Sawmill for an opportunity to participate in metallic cartridge reloading and rifle shooting. It will be an experience you won't forget! Moving deeper into the backcountry brings you up and over two of Philmont's South Country peaks. First you will climb Comanche Peak, then make your way to Mount Phillips camp for the night. The next morning will bring your crew over Mount Phillips, which is Philmont's second highest peak. Make your way to Clear Creek from there, where you will work with the trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Co. for a tomahawk throwing competition. Camp that night on the CS Ranch's Tolby Headwaters Camp before making your way down the Tolby Road Trail the next morning. Though long, this trail brings to you some of the most glorious views of Wheeler Peak and Eagle Nest Lake, so have your cameras ready as you make your way to the trailhead and back to base. | ||||
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: Mt Phillips; Unique Campsite: Arrowhead; Cimarroncito; Cyphers Mine; Mt Phillips; Tolby Headwaters; |
Day | Camp | Program Features | Campsite Features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CHQ Trailbound | Opening Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
2 | Arrowhead![]() | Food Pickup @ CHQ Trailbound | Trail Camp; (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound) | |
Bus to Webster Trailhead![]() | Trail Camp;  | |||
Ranger Training ![]() | Trail Camp;  | |||
3 | Cimarroncito | Hunting Lodge Tour @ Hunting Lodge | Showers;   | |
4 | Cyphers Mine | Food Pickup @ Cimarroncito![]() | Showers (wood stoked);  (Showers; at Cimarroncito) | |
Campfire | Showers (wood stoked);   | |||
Gold Mining & Panning | Showers (wood stoked);   | |||
Conservation Project @ Webster Trailhead![]() | Showers (wood stoked);   | |||
5 | Mt Phillips | Water @ Cyphers Mine | Trail Camp (Usually dry); (Showers (wood stoked); at Cyphers Mine) | |
Mine Tour @ Cyphers Mine | Trail Camp (Usually dry);  | |||
Blacksmithing @ Cyphers Mine | Trail Camp (Usually dry);  | |||
Climb Comanche Peak ![]() | Trail Camp (Usually dry);  | |||
6 | Tolby Headwaters![]() | Climb Mount Phillips @ Clear Creek | Trail Camp;  | |
Rocky Mountain Fur Company @ Clear Creek | Trail Camp;  | |||
Tomahawks @ Clear Creek | Trail Camp;  | |||
7 | CHQ Homebound | Awards Campfire | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |
Hike to Tolby Trailhead![]() | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;   | |||
Day | Camp | Potential Additional Program Features | Campsite Features |
---|---|---|---|
2 | CHQ Trailbound | Visit the Villa Philmonte | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; |
National Scouting Museum | |||
3 | Hunting Lodge | Fishing Opportunities | |
Hike via Hidden Valley / Window Rock | |||
Cabin Tour | |||
4 | Cimarroncito | Rock Climbing & Rappelling | Showers; |
Hike via Hidden Valley / Window Rock | |||
Climbing Gym | |||
Traverse Wall | |||
5 | Cyphers Mine | Gold Mining & Panning | Showers (wood stoked); |
Stomp | |||
6 | Clear Creek | Muzzle Loading Rifles | |
7 | CHQ Homebound | Visit the Villa Philmonte | Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; |
National Scouting Museum | |||