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12-Day, 9-Day and 7-Day Treks

Philmont’s core and renowned backpacking treks provide an unforgettable adventure in backpacking across miles of rugged, rocky trails. Programs feature the best of the old west—horseback riding, burro packing, gold panning, chuckwagon dinners, and interpretive history—with exciting challenges for today such as rock climbing, mountain biking, and sport shooting. It’s an unbeatable recipe for fast-paced fun in the outdoors. 

Choose from 12-day, 9-day, and 7-day backpacking treks.

Register for a Trek – 2025

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12-Day Treks

As the traditional backpacking trek at Philmont, 12-day treks give crews the opportunity to hike for 10 days in the backcountry, with an arrival/departure day in Base Camp on each end of the journey. Crews will be welcomed and accompanied by a Philmont Ranger for their first 3 days and will participate in program activities throughout their trek. 12-day crews cover 50-120 miles over the course of their trek, and also complete the 3 hours of conservation work necessary to earn the Philmont Arrowhead Patch.

9-Day Treks

9-day treks are an opportunity for crews to spend a couple more days in the backcountry than they would on a 7-day trek. With a couple more days to acclimate and hike, 9-day crews will have the chance to fit in more hiking and more  program. Crews will be welcomed and accompanied by a Philmont Ranger for their first 3 days and will participate in program activities throughout their trek. 9-day crews will complete the 3 hours of conservation work necessary to earn the Philmont Arrowhead Patch. 

7-Day Treks

These treks are shorter, but no less adventurous. Crews on 7-day treks will hike for 5 days in the backcountry, with an arrival/departure day in Base Camp on each end of the journey. Crews will be welcomed and accompanied by a Philmont Ranger for their first 3 days and will participate in program activities throughout their trek. 7-day treks include the 3 hours of conservation work necessary to earn the Philmont Arrowhead Patch.

2026 REGISTRATION INFORMATION
2025 ADVISOR'S GUIDE
2024 ITINERARY GUIDEBOOK
2024 GUIDEBOOK TO ADVENTURE
2024 Financial Aid Application

Trek Match System

Do you need another crew member or advisor for an upcoming trek? The new Trek Match feature on Camping Gateway will provide you with information about crews currently seeking members and sign you up for updates as future spots in crews become available.

Watch this video to learn more about how the Trek Match works.

You may also be interested in looking over all of Philmont’s Individual Program Opportunities.

Trek Match System