Sample Itineraries Only.
Your child’s trip will be similar to one of the following:
Olympic 6 Day Coastal Adventure
Day 1: Meet your guides and fellow campers at 12:00 PM at Fairholme Boat Launch beside the beautiful and famous Lake Crescent. Meeting at this location allows us to cut 1 to 2 hours off the driving time for parents, and gives us the opportunity to camp at an established campground, complete with bathrooms! This evening, we’ll get to know each other around a fire.
Day 2: After morning circle time (stretches, map review, goal setting, etc.) our professional drivers transport campers and guides from Fairholme Campground to Rialto Beach (~1 hour by staff or shuttle service). Upon arriving at the coast, we will then hike 3.8 to the Chilean Memorial Campsite.
Day 3: Today we hike 6.3 miles on relatively flat terrain to our first primitive campsite at Norwegian Memorial. will be a layover day, with an easier day of hiking while carrying lighter day packs. Upon arriving at camp, we will return to camp and spend the evening learning new skills and activities.
Day 4: This morning we rise and circle up to stretch before having breakfast and setting out for the ~5.5 miles to our next camp at Yellow Banks.
Day 5: Another ~5.5-mile day! After a hardy breakfast, we pack up camp and make our way north on a spectacular trail that weaves on and off the beach, with views of the ocean the whole time! We make camp at Cape Alava and soak in the ocean breeze.
Day 6: Our last day! Today we hike an easy 3.4 miles from camp to our exit point at Ozette Campground, where we’ll meet our transport to the Fairholme Boat Launch for pickup with the parents.
Other: On all of our summer camps, we have a daily circle time in the morning where youth engage in group games, share highlights, offer encouragement and support to each other, stretch, review maps and day itineraries, and set individual and group goals for the day. Also, whether breaking on the trail or in the afternoon or evening in the campsite, our Guides facilitate additional opportunities for youth to develop a personal connection with nature. Problem-solving and initiative games are common as are smiles. Additional outdoor skills are gained as we practice Leave No Trace principles and promote environmental stewardship throughout the length of the program.
Please remember this is only a sample itinerary and actual itineraries are subject to change. If we are unable to obtain the permits for the Sol Duc Loop, or if various conditions make this itinerary unfeasible, we will provide an alternative trailhead and itinerary in Olympic National Park.
Olympic 6 Day Mountain Adventure
Day 1: You will meet your Guides/Counselors at 12:00 PM. You will have time to become acquainted with your group as well as your backpacking gear. We will then facilitate a group orientation, answering any last parent or participant questions before hitting the trail. We will hike 2.5 miles to picturesque Mink Lake high in the mountains and surrounded by fir trees. We will settle in for our first night in the backcountry with dinner and the promise of incredible views and memories over the coming days.
Day 2: After morning circle time (stretches, map review, goal setting, etc.) we will embark on one of our more strenuous days of uphill as we travel to Deer Lake. We will play plenty of trail games and tell stories keeping spirits high as we pass through forests draped in mosses and slime molds. After we arrive at camp, we will have the chance to enjoy the cool alpine lake water and relax as we watch the alpenglow of the mountains reflected in the water.
Day 3: Today will be our longest day, hiking over 6 miles to CB Flats Campground. Although strenuous, we will be rewarded with abundant wildflowers as we hike out of the thick forests and into the subalpine, where the views open up to the majestic Olympic mountains. Looking back on the valleys and lakes below, we will be able to see just how far we have come already. We will finish our day with a descent past beautiful Hoh Lake and camp in a more secluded area near meadows of wildflowers.
Day 4: Today we will hike about 5 miles to Sol Duc Park. Our trail today takes us across the High Divide and provides unparalleled views of the Olympic and Bailey mountain ranges. We will break for lunch at one of the passes and relax near alpine lakes, mountain creeks, and fields of wildflowers. We might even have the opportunity for sledding and snowball fights! Hiking through the Seven Lakes Basin is an unforgettable experience and our sleep tonight will be well deserved.
Day 5: On our second to last day, we will continue about 2 miles to Seven Mile Group Site. Because of our low mileage today, we can have a relaxed morning and take our time identifying all of the flora and fauna of the forest. We will spend the afternoon learning about the geological, cultural, and human history of the park as we relax in the shade of giant trees near the river.
Day 6: On our final day we will pass by the famous Sol Duc Falls as we descend to the pick-up location by noon for pickup.
Other: On all of our summer camps, we have a daily circle time in the morning where youth engage in group games, share highlights, offer encouragement and support to each other, stretch, review maps and day itineraries, and set individual and group goals for the day. Also, whether breaking on the trail or in the afternoon or evening in the campsite, our Guides facilitate additional opportunities for youth to develop a personal connection with nature. Problem-solving and initiative games are common as are smiles. Additional outdoor skills are gained as we practice Leave No Trace principles and promote environmental stewardship throughout the length of the program.
Please remember this is only a sample itinerary and actual itineraries are subject to change. If we are unable to obtain the permits for the Sol Duc Loop, or if various conditions make this itinerary unfeasible, we will provide an alternative trailhead and itinerary in Olympic National Park.
