For many campers, backpacking is one of the most rewarding activities at camp. If you've never backpacked, we highly recommend that you give it a try. We assist campers in preparing for what's ahead. Our backpacking counselors are versed in what to bring and how to pack. They know the best-kept secret of a great backpacking trip: take what's needed and nothing more. Our counselors also guide you in packing essentials like food, tents and raingear.

He who stays in the valley will never experience the view from the mountaintop.

By the time you hit the trail, you're prepared and ready for a fun-filled, outdoor adventure. A pack with everything you need rests comfortably on your back. The high country sun warms your face. Spectacular peaks and meadows of lush wildflowers surround you. Marmots and other critters forage for food among the rocks on the tundra. You pitch your tent, cook dinner on a camp stove and watch as the sun drops behind the range. Your muscles are tired and tingling but you feel completely alive. Billions of stars glow overhead. You're in the mountains with great people. Life is good.

Backpacking was my favorite activity at camp. It taught me how to get out of my comfort zone. It was thrilling and so rewarding to say ‘I did it’!
—Tyler, Cheley camper
Backpackers go out in groups of 10-12 for two to five days. You learn how to take care of your equipment and receive instruction in backcountry survival skills. You experience incredible scenery and invigorating activity from sun-up to sundown. Best of all, you develop an appreciation for what it means to live with just the basics. Spending time in the wilderness is tremendously freeing. Backpackers return to camp feeling an unforgettable sense of accomplishment and a new level of independence.

Backpacking Destinations
Battle Mountain
Boulder Brook
Never Summers Range
Indian Peaks
Sandbeach Lake
Parika Lake
Michigan Lake
Fourth of July
Red Deer Lake
Thunder Lake