Frequently Asked Questions

Our backpacking trips are multi-day hikes where you will be carrying all of your camping gear and supplies, and camping along the hiking route. Our sightseeing tours will involve multiple shorter hikes and scenic viewpoints, driving to and from each location, and camping at a designated campground at each night. The benefits of the sightseeing tour are that you get to see more of an area from multiple locations and the hiking is generally less strenuous. The benefits of a backpacking trip are deeper immersion in the wilderness, visiting beautiful remote locales that are not accessible to vehicles, and a greater sense of adventure!

We provide everything you need, with exception of clothing and hiking shoes. We will pick you up at a convenient location, transport you to the trailhead, secure all applicable entrance fees, camping reservations, and permits, provide all necessary hiking gear: adjustable backpack, tent, sleeping bag and pad, trekking poles, camp stove and fuel, daily meals and snacks, water and filter, headlamp, first aid kit, and waste disposal kit. Each tour is led by a First Aid certified hiking guide who is experienced and knowledgable about the trail. You will also be provided with a comprehensive packing list of weather-appropriate clothing and accessories.

Most of the backpacking trips that we offer are once-in-a-lifetime, epic hikes and as such generally cover challenging terrain. You should be a fairly fit and competent hiker, with experience in strenuous hikes over ten miles with significant elevation gain of 3,000 feet or more. If you are not quite ready for a hike of that difficulty, consider one of our less-challenging but equally beautiful sightseeing tours instead.

A lot of thought is put into which hikes are offered at a given time based on typical weather in that area, and availability of guides. Warmer locales like Big Bend and Death Valley are safer to visit during colder months, while higher altitude and more northern locales, like Yosemite and Mount Whitney, are best visited during warmer months. New hikes will be added to the schedule in the future, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get notified when they are!