Backpack - backpacking destinations

Traverse scenic miles of uncrowded wilderness with all you need in your pack. With Backpack Trips designed for everyone from novice to seasoned expert, we can bring you back to your favorite places or introduce you to a sport that is guaranteed to expand your horizons. You're bound to enjoy a trip most if it matches your experience and ability. Use the difficulty ratings (listed below) to help you choose the right trip.

Winter on the Tonto, Grand Canyon Park, Arizona. January 29-February 4. Enjoy the canyon's season of solitude and silence. View snow-dusted cliffs while hiking in shirt sleeves across the rolling Tonto Plateau. Leave winter behind after two snow-covered miles. Travel through shrubs and down sandstone bluffs. See roaring rapids, a 300-foot sandstone pillar, and thousands of stars. Enjoy a shower and a hearty Phantom Ranch supper at the bottom. Mules carry our gear up. (Rated M). Leader: Bob Valentine. Price: $795; Dep: $100. [99410A]

Big Bend Spring Surprise, Big Bend Park, Texas. March 21-27. Late March is the ideal time to enjoy the surprising wonders of Big Bend, as a variety of natural events come together. Blooming wildflowers. Beautiful sunsets. Warm, sunny days and cool, moonlit nights. A dazzling variety of tropical birds. Join us as our backpack route leads us through the diverse terrain of this wonderful park. Small group size. (Rated M). Leader: Kevin Breen. Price: $795; Dep: $100. [99040A]

Big Sur Teen Backpack, Ventana Wilderness, California. March 28-April 3. Spend Spring Break re-creating yourself in the remote, rugged Ventana Wilderness. This is Big Sur country where massive 4,000-foot coastal ridges are often accessed only by steep redwood canyons. Knifed in spring by turbulent streams, this is the fabled retreat of poets, writers, and uncommon mountain folk. Mostly for experienced backpackers, ages 13 to 16. But strong, spirited beginners welcome. (Rated M). Leader: Patrick Colgan. Price: $385; Dep: $50. [99110A]

Rainbow Bridge and Navajo Mountain, Arizona and Utah. March 28-April 3. See what spring is like in the mile-high desert of redrock and Navajo country. We'll walk around Navajo Mountain from the southwest to the east, stopping for dayhikes to Rainbow Bridge and exploring side canyons along the way. Be ready for Anasazi petroglyphs and Moqui steps, beavertail cactus, and glowing sunset photos. (Rated M/S). Leader: Barbara Coon. Price: $680; Dep: $100. [99111A]

To the End of the Rainbow, Navajo Nation, Arizona. April 18-24. A hardy band of gentle desert travelers and lovers of golden sunsets will attempt a cross-country loop through the rugged and seldom-visited heart of the Rainbow Plateau. A maze of narrow canyons, sculptured domes, and high pinnacles, this redrock wilderness rivals the national parks to the north. Come prepared for solitude. After leaving Navajo Canyon, we are unlikely to encounter anyone. (Rated S). Leaders: Richard Fite and Roxanne Layton. Price: $675; Dep: $100 [99041A]

Exploring Cheyava Falls and the Ottoman Amphitheater, Grand Canyon Park, Arizona. April 22-29. Hiking from the South Rim (7,200 feet) to the Colorado River (2,480 feet) and beyond to Clear Creek (3,580 feet) with its magnificent labyrinth of canyons and amphitheaters, we spend three layover days exploring this rich tapestry of form and color. Options include hiking to the highest, most spectacular waterfall in the Grand Canyon, visiting an Anasazi site, or searching for petroglyphs. (Rated M/S). Leader: Les Atkins. Price: $725; Dep: $100. [99042A]

North Rim to Deer Creek and Thunder River, Grand Canyon Park, Arizona. April 25-May 1. Experience some of the most magnificent scenery the canyon has to offer as we hike from the North Rim to the Colorado River. Highlights include Deer Creek and Thunder River, bursting forth from the sheer canyon wall. We'll have a full moon and two layovers to explore caves, Native American sites, and the spectacular waterfall at Deer Creek. (Rated M/S). Leaders: Julia Bircher Dick and Bob Cole. Price: $755; Dep: $100. [99112A]

Grand Canyon Backcountry, Grand Canyon Park, Arizona. May 1-8. Join us on an exciting journey into the backcountry of the Nankoweap Basin of Grand Canyon National Park. We'll likely see peaking wildflowers, visit remote slot canyons, look for shooting stars, and view reminders of the ancient ones. (Rated S). Leader: Bert Fingerhut. Price: $720; Dep: $100. [99043A]

Muddy Creeks and Crystal Pools, San Rafael Swell, Utah., May 1-9. Join us on a canyoneering adventure extraordinaire, combining the best of spectacular scenery and challenging backpacking. Find out why 8.5 million acres of Utah wilderness is worth preserving. Admire sandstone narrows, rejoice in plunge pools, wade, ford, maybe even swim in a creek or two. Two layover days to explore some of the most riveting side canyons you'll find anywhere. (Rated S). Leader: Tom Klein. Price: $615; Dep: $100. [99113A]

San Juan River/Cedar Mesa Rafting and Backpacking, Grand Gulch Primitive Area, Utah. May 8-16. See description in the Raft section on page 87 for more details. Leader: Paul Middleton. Price: $990; Dep: $100. [99061A]