Getting Started

You’ve decided you want to go to Philmont. There are several ways you can go on a trek. There are two main ways to trek, as an individual and with a crew.

Crew Treks

• 12 day trek – The oldest and most popular way to trek at Philmont. You arrive on day 1 and depart on day 12. In the middle you spend 10 days on the trail hiking in the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
• 9 day trek – Arrive on day 1 and depart on day 9, spending 7 days on the trail.
• 7 day trek – Arrive on Day 1 and depart on day 7, spending 5 days on the trail.
• Cavalcade – This 8 day trek is for the horse lover. Day 1 is spent in base camp focusing on training with wranglers. Participants then spend 6 days horseback in the backcountry arriving back to basecamp on day 8

Individual Treks

• Order of the Arrow Trail Crew (OATC) – Historically the least expensive way to trek at Philmont, participants must be a member of the Order of the Arrow (OA). This 14 day trek spends the first week in cheerful service focusing on trail construction and conservation overseen by a Philmont Conservation foreman. The second week is spent on a 7 day trek designed by the participants. Participants arrive on day 1 and depart on the morning of day 15.
• Ranch Hands – This 16 day program is co-ed for Scouts and Venture Scouts who are interested in and have knowledge of horsemanship. Ranch Hands crews spend 8 days assisting the ranch department completing daily chores and other horse program tasks. After 8 days of service, the participants design their own 8 day special Cavalcade itinerary. Participants will depart on the morning of the 17th day.
• Rayado – This 20 day program is for Scouts and Venture Scouts (not co-ed crews) who want a challenging outdoor experience. Participants will experience a unique trek and be able to take advantage of opportunities not available to other treks. This trek encourages self reliance, personal growth, and instills a participant with mastery of the outdoors. Participants will depart on the morning of the 21st day.
• Roving Outdoor Conservation School (ROCS) – During this 22 day program Scouts and Venture Scouts interested in conservation, environmental science, and natural resource management. Participants experience different forest types and activities in Forestry, Fire Ecology, Insects, Fishery Management, Wildlife Management, Geology, Plant Identification, Dendrology, Watershed Management, and Range Management. Part of the trek will also practice Leave No Trace principles. Participants will depart on the morning of the 22nd day.
• STEM Trek – This 7 or 14 day trek exposes participants to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) while hiking through the Philmont Wilderness. Participants will hike alongside Philmont staff with academic backgrounds in Forestry, Wildlife Management, Geology, Botany, Watershed Management, Physics, Chemistry, Astronomy, Stream Ecology, and Range Management to name a few. Participants depart on the morning of the 8th day or 14th day.
• Trail Crew Trek –