TRAVEL CAMPS
PIONEER, SMOKY, AND SAWTOOTH MOUNTAINS
Sawtooth and Challis National Forest
Five Day Pack Trip with Llamas
These guided hiking pack trips travel to the remote Idaho mountain backcountry in the 4 mountain ranges near Sun Valley. Our trailheads start close to the interior of these magnificent mountain ranges then hike with llamas to base camps. From there we can day hike to different alpine lakes. Each morning after a delicious breakfast, we'll pack our lunch and day hike through spectacular canyons and to hidden lakes. Our routes offer spectacular scenery of the surrounding mountains and canyons. There are excellent opportunities for fishing, photography, wildlife and wildflower viewing. Wildlife common to this mountain range are: Rocky Mountain Goats, White Tailed Deer, Elk, Silver and Gray Fox, Black and Cinnamon Bear, Marmot, Rock Chuck, Pica, Gray Squirrel, Big Horn Sheep, Porcupine, Wolverine, Grey Wolf, Beaver, Badger, Golden Eagle, Hawks, Falcons, Owls, Humming Birds, as well as many other birds too numerous to list.
Day 1. Meet at the trailhead. Our guides will give you an orientation and llama handling session. Lunch is provided, then hiking with packed llamas to our first camp. Eat a delicious dinner. That evening, tuck away into a cozy tent, crawl into your warm Sierra Design sleeping bag, with a fleece liner and pillow, then snuggle on to your full length cushy air/foam pad.
Day 2 through 5: Wake Up each morning in the wilderness backcountry of Idaho with a hardy breakfast. Then fish, photograph, hang out at base camp, or participate in hikes with our experienced naturalist guides. Hike through canyons, over ridges and passes, exploring the crystal clear lakes and streams.
All meals provided from lunch the first day to lunch the last, including trail food and water bottles. Hot showers available daily with our fire heated hotwater system.
Our trek will take us up to altitudes over 8,000 ft. For this reason we recommend that you come a day or two early to acclimatize. Our pace is geared to the group, normally a moderate one, with plenty of time to rest, have a drink of water, take some photos, or just sit and relax or read, and soak up the scenery.
What you should bring: Hiking shoes adequate for multi-day backcountry travel (should have a shank in the sole, be broken-in, and treated to repel water), comfortable camp shoes, rain gear; warm clothing, as well as hiking shorts and T-shirts, bathing suit and towel (for showers), sun hat, sun screen, sun glasses, personal items, and a day pack to carry camera, trail food, water bottle, etc. Part of our registration packet will include an equipment list of required and recommended equipment.
HIGH ALPINE LAKES
3 to 5 Day Llama Trek
This hiking pack trip travels through a wild lake's region in the Smoky Mountain range, where we will spend four nights at or near beautiful crystal clear high mountain lakes, camping at two different locations. Each morning after a delicious breakfast, we'll pack our lunch and hike through spectacular canyons with lakes, carved out during the last glacial period, and over passes with spectacular views of several mountain ranges. There are opportunities for wildlife and wildflower viewing, photography, and fishing. Common wildlife to this Southern Idaho mountain range are: Rocky Mountain Goats, White Tailed Deer, Elk, Silver and Gray Fox, Black and Cinnamon Bear, Marmot, Rock Chuck, Pica, Gray Squirrel, Big Horn Sheep, Porcupine, Wolverine, Grey Wolf, Beaver, Badger, Golden Eagle, Hawks, Falcons, Owls, Humming Birds, as well as many other birds too numerous to list.
Day 1. Meet at the trailhead for a trip orientation and llama handling session. Lunch provided, then hiking with packed llamas to our first camp, eat a delicious dinner. That evening, tuck away into your cozy tent, crawl into your warm sleeping bag, with a cotton liner and pillow, and snuggle on to your full length cushy air/foam pad.
Day 2 through 5: Wake Up and enjoy life in the wilderness backcountry of Idaho with a hardy breakfast. Then fish, take pictures, hang out at base camp, or participate in nature hikes with guides. Hike through canyons, over ridges and passes, exploring the crystal clear lakes and streams. Day 3: We pack up all of our gear and relocate to a new camp in a different part of the range. Our new camp will give us access to additional lakes and trails.
All meals are provided from lunch the first day to lunch the last, including trail food and water bottles. Hot showers available daily.
Some of our llama treks will take us over 8000', some of our day hikes can take us over 9,000 ft. Our hiking pace is normally a moderate one and geared to the group, with plenty of time to rest, have a drink of water, take photos, or just sit and relax, and soak up the scenery. To maximize enjoyment and appreciation of the trip, we recommend that you come a day or two early to acclimatize.
What you should bring: Hiking shoes adequate for multi-day backcountry travel (should have a shank in the sole and be broken in, and treated to repel water), comfortable camp shoes, rain gear; warm clothing, as well as hiking shorts and T-shirts, bathing suit and towel, sun hat, sun screen, sun glasses, personal items, and a day pack to carry camera, trail food, water bottle, etc. Part of our registration packet will include an equipment list of required and recommended equipment.
3 to 4 DAY BASE CAMP
Pre-trip orientation and packing the night before the trip. Meet the guides, they will assist with llama pannier packing techniques and guidelines, and answer questions.
Day 1: Meet at the trailhead for a low impact backcountry orientation, and a training session with llamas. Our seasoned pack llamas are easy to handle and we'll teach you the basic language required for handling them. A delicious lunch is served, then hike with pack llamas to our base camp, approximately 3.5 miles, with an elevation gain of 1200'. Our route initially follows Norton Creek through pine forest. Then as high mountains appear, we break off the main trail to a secondary trail through some old growth forest, and eventually follow a hidden trail over the moraine of ancient glaciers to our base camp in an amphitheater, among three high alpine crystal clear lakes. Our camp is set up, tents, kitchen, (hot) shower and bathroom areas, then relax and sit down to a delicious healthy dinner while enjoying spectacular scenery, campfire, star gazing.
Day 2 - 3: Wake up to a hearty breakfast, prepare to participate in the day's activities, hiking to the different lakes in the area with your guide, fishing(license required), climbing to ridge tops, wildlife viewing. Wildlife that live in this region include: Great Northern Goats, White Tailed Deer, Elk, Pica, Grey Wolf, Beaver, Fox, Coyote, a variety of squirrel, and birds, including Golden Eagle, Osprey, Owls and many more. Lunch will be carried with us to be enjoyed on our travels. Each evening we'll return to our base camp to enjoy a great dinner and conversation around the campfire.
Day 4: After breakfast a short hike will be available, the guides will pack up our camp, then we'll start leading the llamas down to the trailhead, picnic lunch along the way, then return to Sun Valley.
DROP CAMP
Day 1: Night prior to departure, pick up llama packs in Bellevue to pack your gear. A short orientation on how to put gear into the packs will be given at this time.
Day 2: You will be met at the trailhead for a low impact, backcountry travel orientation. There will be a packing and training session with llamas. We will teach participants the basic language required for handling these gentle creatures. We'll hike into your base camp. Llamas can be lead by participants or guide/handler can pack the gear to camp in a string. Once your camp is reached, we'll unpack the llama packs and leave your gear then return to the trailhead.
Day 3-4 or beyond: We will meet you at your designated campsite, all gear is packed into llama panniers, loaded onto the llamas, then the return trip to the trailhead.
Please call us for availability and charges. Close to Sun Valley please call our local phone 788-5049.
These drop camps are usually set up to pack your gear into the camp site then return on the designated day to carry it out. One-way backpack carries are also available.
MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURS
HOT SPRINGS/GHOST TOWN
Ride backcountry roads and trails on this guided multi-day mountain bike camping trip from Sun Valley through remote mountain country and townsites of backcountry Idaho. Traverse through some of the most beautiful country in the West at your own pace, on dirt roads and trails. Visit natural hot springs each evening, tour the remains of historic old West mining towns and learn about their history and lore. Camp near the streams, rivers and natural hot springs. Eat delicious food, hosted by experienced informative licensed chef/guides. Trout fishing available (licensed required). Optional afternoon hiking trips available.
Day 1: This special program starts in Sun Valley. We'll ride with a following support truck, out Warm Springs Creek past Mt Baldy Ski Area to Frenchman's Bend natural hot springs, relax in the hot pools awhile, splash in the cold Warmsprings creek running right next to it, then continue riding out this canyon, surrounded by the beautiful Smoky Mountains, to our first bike camp, riding up and over Dollarhide Pass (1500') with views of three mountain ranges, descending first to an 1860's mining ghost town (Carrie Town), then on to our campsite among forested peaks near Worswick Hot Springs. After settling in, you'll be served a delicious, tasty dinner, then soak in Worswick hot springs under the stars.
Day 2: After a nutritious breakfast, you'll ride down Little Smoky Creek, past Indianhead Rock to Five Points, at the confluence of Carrie Creek and Little Smoky Creeks. From here riding downstream, through spectacular mountain scenery to our next campsite close to Baumgardner hot springs. Fishing and day hiking also available into the beautiful Smoky Mountains of the Sawtooth National Forest.
Day 3: The ride continues down the South Fork of the Boise River, through a stand of old growth Ponderosa Pine to the the town of Featherville. Our pace changes to uphill, riding to the historic ghost town of Rocky Bar, mining boom town of the 1860's. After a visit, you'll continue to ride up and over the spectacular James Creek summit with views of a good portion of Southcentral Idaho including the Sawtooth Wilderness. After a steep descent we're off to Atlanta and your campsite just outside town. Another great dinner, then soaking in one of the famous hot springs of this "Old West" historic district.
Day 4: This day you'll have choices of biking, fishing, hiking or just relaxing around camp and enjoying the rich scenery of the surrounding mountain ranges.
Day 5: On the last day you'll wake up to a hearty breakfast, soak in the hot springs one more time, then head back to Ketchum on the van shuttle, picnic Anderson Resevoir, Dinner is on your own this evening.
Hot Springs Program is a 3 to 5 day itinerary, accommodations are catered camping. We can also add custom dates with 6 or more participants.
Cost Includes: support vehicle, all meals, the guides. Camping, and biking equipment rentals available.
Camping, and biking equipment consist of: Sierra Deisgn 2 and 3 person tents, and sleeping bags with a liner and pillow, and self inflating, full length, air foam pads.(Package is $15 per day) Our bikes are Rocky Mountain Fanatik full suspension with 24 speeds. ($25 per day).
3 to 5 DAY HOT SPRINGS
SINGLE TRACK MOUNTAIN BIKE TOURS
Catered camping trip traveling from Ketchum to remote sites of backcountry Idaho.
Day 1 to 5: Following the Wood and Boise River watersheds, this special catered camping program provides some of the best mountain bike riding that the West has to offer. Each day starts with a nutritious breakfast and a shuttle to one of the exceptional trails that has made Sun Valley famous, and ends with a dip in a natural hot springs and another famous dinner from Venture Outdoors. Veteran guides, all meals from the first to the last days lunch, and base camps are provided. Camping gear and top quality full suspension bike rentals available.
This program is available as a custom trip for small groups, and can be designed for 5, 6 or 7 days.
NORTHWEST OREGON ADVENTURES
LEWIS & CLARK'S FAR WEST DESTINATION
Astoria and the Columbia River
Bed and Breakfast with Multi Sport Activities
Each night stay in Astoria's historic district at Clementine's Bed and Breakfast. Wake up to a sumptuous breakfast, then participate in the days activity. Every day a different destination, including sea kayaking the historic water routes of the Lewis and Clark expedition, biking the back country roads along one of Oregon's famous scenic rivers, and hiking the trails of coastal range mountains with stunning ocean vistas. All trips are expertly guided and catered by Venture Outdoors.
Sunday arrival day: Orientation 8 PM at Clementine's
Monday, Day 1: Sea Kayaking: Wildlife Refuge. Pick up at 8:30am, transport to the John Day River boat launch. After a kayak orientation and training session we'll paddle out to the Columbia River and into the 35,000 acre Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge Area at Cathlamet Bay, very rich with marine and bird wildlife. We'll explore the shorelines of the islands closest to the Oregon shore with hundreds of plant and animal species, and thousands of waterfowl. Rated easy paddling.
Tuesday, Day 2: Biking: Bike the Nehalem River: Pick up 8:AM Travel coastal highway South to 26, then East into the Pacific Coastal Mountain range to the Lower Nehalem river. Our guides will fit you with suspension mountain bikes, give a short orientation for the ride, then we'll ride this classic Oregon river to the (campground) for our delicious lunch break along the Nehalem River. After lunch break we'll continue our ride on to the tiny coastal town of Nehalem and end at the Pacific coast. Here our transport will pick you up and return to Astoria. Wild river, wildlife, excellent photography, *ocean beach. cross-country, easy to moderate riding with some short hill climbs. Rated easy to moderate.
Wednesday, Day 3: Hiking: Saddle Mountain State Park. Pick up at 8:30am. Transport south of Astoria to Saddle Mountain State Park. The many switch backs on the hike make it a relatively easy trek considering the altitude gain and that it provides some of the most spectacular scenery in NW Oregon at 3,283 ft. with views of many of the Cascade volcanic peaks including Mt. Rainier, Adams, St. Helens, Hood, and Jefferson. Our trail hikes through stands of old growth Sitka Spruce, habitat for many species of birds including Great Horned Owls, Nuthatches, and Rufous Hummingbirds. Unique also to Saddle Mountain are some rare and endangered plant species of Ice Age Flora. 5 miles, 1,633 ft. elevation gain, rated easy/moderate with some steep sections.
Thursday, Day 4: Hiking: Hike through Astoria's historic district to the trailhead for Cathedral Tree, and on to the Astoria Tower for best panoramic view of the surrounding area. Rated easy to moderate.
Please Note: We will follow the itineraries as close as possible, however we may be required to change schedules and locations for reasons that are beyond our control, examples will include but are not limited to, availability of camp sites, land management closures, extreme weather, and tidal changes.
NORTHWEST OREGON ADVENTURES
LEWIS & CLARK'S FAR WEST DESTINATION
Sea Kayaking on the lower Columbia River to Astoria
5 day Lower Columbia Lewis & Clark Water Trail
This camping trip will follow very close to the actual route that Lewis and Clark followed during their last push to the Pacific coast. Although we'll pass several small river towns, some abandoned fishing villages, cannaries, and private islands, our route will take us through several wildlife protected areas, giving excellent opportunity for wildlife viewing, including the rare Columbia White Tailed Deer, and possibilities for views of the 2 near-by volcanic peaks, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood. Each night we'll stay on one of the uninhabited islands, in designated campsites of this world class historic passage. Every morning, you'll wake up to a sumptuous breakfast, then we'll pack our boats, and paddle past the same river islands, sandy beaches, overgrown and forested banks and mountains that the "Corps of Discovery" passed 200 years earlier. Lunches and dinners are carefully prepared by our chef/guides. All trips are expertly guided, sheltered, and catered by Venture Outdoors.
Day 1: Shuttle to launch site down river from Longview, Wa.
Arrive 9 AM Dibblee Point
Equipment and trip orientation, kayak and paddling instructional session. Paddle to our first lunch site on Walker Island, historic return campsite of Lewis & Clark (March 26, 1806). Camping on Gull Island at an official Lewis & Clark water trail site for the night. Opportunities for beach hiking, estuary exploration with great birding.
Day 2: After a delicious breakfast, we'll pack up and paddle down river past Port Westward, under Eagle Cliff and several waterfalls, to a small Island north of Wallace Island and our next campsite, directly across from the Nov. 6, 1805 Lewis & Clark camp site. Optional touring is available through the Wallace Island Sloughs, particularly noted for accommodating a wide variety of wildlife species, passing the mouth of the Clatskanie River, and site of the Lewis & Clark historic return trip campsite of March 25, 1806.
Day 3: After a nutritious breakfast, we'll paddle westward to Puget Island and the Cathlamet channel, entering Bernie Slough, between Little Island and Puget Island, giving an interesting perspective of Colombia River island living as we pass by several residential farms and boat houses. Excellent opportunity for observing bird wildlife. At the northwest end of Puget Island we'll cross the shipping channel to the White Island camp, just outside the Lewis & Clark wild life refuge. Outstanding views of mountains, islands, channels, wildlife, and large ships passing in the night!
Day 4: Using our White Island campsite as a base, we are off for a day sea kayaking to Elochoman Slough and Steamboat Slough traversing the Julia Butler Hansen National Wildlife Refuge, offering sanctury for much wildlife including Columbia White tail deer
Day 5: Enjoying our last breakfast on the river, we'll head west on Clifton channel along Tenasillahe Island's southern shore, entering Red Slough, paddling though the Lewis & Clark National Wildlife Refuge to Aldrich Point Lewis & Clark's Campsite for March 24, 1806, and on to Knappa Landing, passing by several wildlife islands within the sheltered refuge including Quinn's Island, Tronson Island, Horseshoe Island, Marsh Island, and Karlson Island following the historic routes of Lewis & Clark for Nov.,1805 and March,1806.
Our shuttle will pick you up and take you on to Clementine's Bed and Breakfast in Astoria. Dinner is in town on your own at one of the many excellent restruants!
Please Note: We will follow the itineraries as close as possible, however we may be required to change schedules, and travel to different locations for reasons that are beyond our control, examples will include but are not limited to, availability of camp sites, land management closures, extreme weather, and tidal changes. Occasionally we will change our routing to take better advantage of wildlife viewing.
NORTHWEST OREGON ADVENTURES
LEWIS & CLARK'S FAR WEST DESTINATION
Astoria and the Columbia River
Kayaking for 3 days, Base camp on the Lower Columbia's Lewis & Clark Water Trail
Each night stay on an island. Wake up to a sumptuous breakfast, then participate in the days activity. Every day sea kayak part of the Lewis and Clark historic lower Columbia River water route among islands within a wildlife refuge, All trips are expertly guided and catered by Venture Outdoors.
Day 1: Shuttle to Alderidge Point, Lewis & Clark Camp site (March 24, 1806). Before launching we will provide a kayak equipment orientation and instructional clinic.
We will then paddle though Clifton Channel to Red Slough between Welch and Tenasillahe Island, then south to White Island just outside of the Lewis & Clark Wildlife Refuge to establish our base camp for the 3 day program
Day 2: After breakfast, we begin our second day paddling east across the shipping lane to the quaint historic town of Cathlamet, with a stop at the Wahkiakum Museum. After the visit we will paddle our kayaks through the Elochoman and the Steamboat sloughs within the "Julia Butler Hansen" National Wildlife refuge exploring these protected wilderness channels noted for their unique wildlife including the endangered Columbia white tail deer. Returning to our campsite for dinner and campfire community.
Day 3: After breaking camp, the days paddle will travel through the core of the Lewis & Clark Wildlife Refuge, passing numerous protected islands including Quinn's, Goose, Grassy, Woody, Tronson, Horseshoe, Marsh, and Karlson islands, then on to Nappa Landing and shuttle back to Clementine's Bed And Breakfast in Astoria. Watch for Geese, Bald Eagles, Beavers, River Otters, Seals, Sea Lions, and many birds on this section.
Please Note: We will follow the itineraries as close as possible, however we may be required to change schedules, and travel to different locations for reasons that are beyond our control, examples will include but are not limited to, availability of camp sites, land management closures, extreme weather, and tidal changes. Occasionally we will change our routing to take better advantage of wildlife viewing.
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