Back 2024 Trek 12-21 Forward


Strenuous; Approximately 70 miles; Maps required: south


Trek History: New as 12-21 in 2024;

This itinerary highlights much of the South, including high peaks and frequent opportunities for wildlife viewing. Take the short bus ride to the Webster Trailhead and hike to Arrowhead trail camp in the shadow of the iconic Tooth of Time. Your Ranger will train you on skills you will need for the rest of your adventure before taking you through Clarks Fork and up to Cimarroncito, where you can try out some climbing on natural rock formations. Cyphers Mine is up next, where you can tour the Contention Mine, practice blacksmithing, gold panning and enjoy the famous Stomp. Begin your tour of Philmont's peaks with a hike to Comanche Peak. Get your rest, enjoy the sunrise, and then tackle the highest peak in Philmont's South Country, Mount Phillips. On the way down, visit the fur trappers at Clear Creek for a tomahawk throwing competition before following the Rayado River to visit the Crooked Creek homestead. Your next day will take you through Apache Springs for 3D archery and a tipi tour before continuing to Lost Cabins trail camp. Hit the trail early to allow plenty of time to learn the history of Rayado Lodge at Fish Camp and try to catch a trout in the Rayado and Agua Fria Rivers. After traversing the ridge trail high above the Rayado, you'll drop into the New Mexican Homestead at Abreu. Tend to the chickens and goats and reward yourselves with a cold root beer at the cantina before heading to Bear Caves trail camp the next morning. Visit with the loggers of the Continental Tie & Lumber Co. and try out their crosscut saws and broad-axes and enjoy their Company Meeting Campfire if you get the chance. Look for the Tooth of Time as you make your way to Miners Park, where you can check out their amazing climbing programs, under the guidance of Philmont's trained staff. Tooth Ridge is your next destination for the breathtaking view from atop the Tooth of Time. Take a few minutes to look back over how far your crew has come in the past 10 days before heading down the ridgeline to Base Camp on your last day to end this amazing adventure

Per the Guidebook to Itineraries: "Due to potential emergencies, such as catastrophic fires, Crews must not deviate from their assigned itinerary. Changes are only permitted for bona fide medical emergencies and must be approved in advance by the Logistics Department."

Dry Camps: Tooth Ridge;
- No photo available for this campsite or this program at this location. Click icon for specific needs.

DayCampProgram FeaturesCampsite Features
1Camping Headquarters Opening Campfire Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  
2Arrowhead Food Pickup @ Camping HeadquartersTrail Camp; (Commissary; Showers; Trading Post; at CHQ Trailbound)


Bus to Webster Trailhead


Ranger Training  
3Cimarroncito Rock Climbing & Rappelling Showers;  


Food Pickup  


Western Lore / Branding @ Clarks ForkShowers;


Visiting Forester @ Demonstration Forest
4Cyphers Mine Mine Tour Showers (wood stoked);  


Campfire  
5Comanche Creek Gold Mining & Panning @ Cyphers MineTrail Camp; (Showers (wood stoked); at Cyphers Mine)


Water @ Cyphers Mine 


Blacksmithing @ Cyphers Mine 
6Crooked Creek Climb Comanche Peak @ Clear Creek 


Climb Mount Phillips @ Clear Creek 


Rocky Mountain Fur Company @ Clear Creek 


Tomahawks @ Clear Creek 
7Lost Cabin Jicarilla Apache Life @ Apache SpringsTrail Camp; (Commissary; at Apache Springs)


3D Archery @ Apache Springs 


Food Pickup @ Apache Springs 


Homesteading @ Apache Springs 
8Abreu Rayado Lodge Tour @ Fish CampShowers;  


Fishing Opportunities @ Fish Camp 


New Mexican Homestead  


Cantina  


Cabin Tour  


Mexican Dinner  
9Bear Caves Tie making / Crosscut Saws @ Crater LakeTrail Camp; (Showers; at Crater Lake)


Campfire @ Crater Lake 
10Miner's Park Rock Climbing & Rappelling Showers;  


Crate Stacking  


Food Pickup  


Traverse Wall  
11Tooth Ridge Conservation Project @ North Fork UrracaTrail Camp (Always dry); 


Water @ North Fork Urraca 
12Camping Headquarters Climb Tooth of Time Commissary; Showers; Trading Post;  


Hike in via Tooth Ridge Trail  


Closing Campfire  
Warning: Itinerary details provided by PhilSearch are for planning purposes only.  Only the current year's "Treks" book and the addendums to it, if any, should be used for final trek selection.

Crews passing through staff camps are not scheduled for program. If time and space allow, some crews may be able to participate in some of the programs offered.

DayCampPotential Additional Program FeaturesCampsite Features
2Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
3CimarroncitoHike via Hidden Valley / Window RockShowers;
Climbing Gym
Traverse Wall
Clarks ForkCowboy CampfireShowers;
Ride out from Cattle Headquarters
Ride over Schaefers Pass
Demonstration ForestObsolete
5Cyphers MineStompShowers (wood stoked);
Mine Tour
6Clear CreekMuzzle Loading Rifles
7Apache SpringsSweat LodgeCommissary;
Corn Grinding
Sporting Arrows
Tipi Tour
Flintknapping
8Fish CampFly Tying
AbreuHomesteadingShowers;
Ride out from Cattle Headquarters
9Crater LakeContinental Tie & LumberShowers;
Hike over Fowler Mesa
spar pole climbing
Logging Skills
11North Fork UrracaHike via North Fork Urraca
12Camping HeadquartersVisit the Villa PhilmonteCommissary; Showers; Trading Post;
National Scouting Museum
Ride into Cattle Headquarters
This list is not complete and is dependent on the route you take each day.