Family Trek 2026
Family Trek explores some of New Mexico's most spectacular landscapes, designed for families and friends of all ages. Trekkers of every generation explore ancient ruins, dramatic lava fields, and the summit of Mount Taylor together, guided by experienced Gulch staff and the same spirit of curiosity and adventure that has defined Cottonwood Gulch for 100 years. No experience required. Just a love of the outdoors and the people you're bringing with you.
Family Trek 2026 Details
Age Range: 4-104 year olds
Gender: All genders
Instructors: 2-4 Gulch staff
6 days on trek
Cost: Adult (18-99): $1,750 / Youth (4-17): $1,250
2026 Dates: August 8-13
Focus: Family time together in the outdoors
Family Trek 2026 Itinerary
Our itineraries are carefully planned and thoughtfully flexible. Routes may shift depending on weather, permits, or other circumstances — your Gulch leader will keep you informed of any changes along the way.
Day 1: Arrivals & El Morro - Families arrive at the Albuquerque Sunport, meet their Gulch leaders, and head west into New Mexico's high desert. The first night is spent camping at the base of El Morro, a towering sandstone mesa that has drawn travelers to its walls for centuries.
Day 2: El Morro - A day to explore El Morro up close, hiking to the mesa top, reading the inscriptions left by Spanish conquistadors, Ancestral Puebloans, and early American settlers, and taking in sweeping views of the surrounding landscape. History has rarely felt this alive.
Day 3: El Malpais - The trek moves into the dramatic lava fields of El Malpais National Monument, where ancient volcanic flows meet towering sandstone bluffs. A day hike through one of New Mexico's most otherworldly landscapes, and a reminder that the Southwest has been surprising people for a very long time.
Day 4: Mount Taylor - Families make camp at the base of Mount Taylor, one of the four sacred mountains of the Navajo Nation and the highest peak in the region. The evening is for preparation, anticipation, and taking in the mountain before the morning ahead.
Day 5: Sunrise on Mount Taylor - The alarm goes off before dawn. Families hike to the summit of Mount Taylor together, arriving in time to watch the sun rise over New Mexico. The rest of the day is spent resting, playing, and savoring the view. Some mornings stay with you for the rest of your life.
Day 6: Departure - The trek closes with the drive back to the Albuquerque Sunport, tired, sun-worn, and full of stories.
Families joining us in 2026 are invited to stay for Cottonwood Gulch's 100th anniversary celebration, taking place August 14–16 at Basecamp. After six days on the road together, there's no better way to mark the milestone than with the whole Gulch community.
Praise for Cottonwood Gulch Summer Treks
What Makes Family Trek Different
Adventure + Connection + New Mexico + Legacy. Not one. All. Family Trek doesn't separate outdoor adventure from family bonding, or new discoveries from shared memories. In six days, everything connects: the ancient inscriptions you read together become the history you carry home; the lava fields you hike become the landscape your kids will describe to their own children someday; the summit you reach before sunrise becomes the moment your family points to and says — that was us. This is what it looks like when the people you love most go outside together.
- New Mexico's Most Spectacular Landscapes: From the inscribed walls of El Morro to the volcanic drama of El Malpais to the sacred summit of Mount Taylor, every stop is chosen for its power to stop people of every age in their tracks.
- The Mount Taylor Sunrise: A highlight of the trek. Families wake before dawn and hike together to the summit of one of New Mexico's most sacred mountains. The kind of morning that becomes a family story.
A Trek for Every Generation: Family Trek is genuinely all-ages, designed to be meaningful and manageable for a four-year-old and a seventy-year-old alike. Experienced Gulch staff handle the logistics so families can focus on what matters: being together, outside, without distraction. Whether this is your family's first encounter with the Gulch or a chance to share a place that shaped you decades ago, Family Trek meets you exactly where you are.
- Guided by the Gulch: 100 years of outdoor education expertise, in service of your family's adventure.
- A Gateway to the Centennial: In 2026, Family Trek leads directly into Cottonwood Gulch's 100th anniversary celebration, the perfect way to see what the Gulch community looks like when everyone comes home.
A group of smart & adventurous young women who learn exactly what they're capable of.
For Prairie Trek, Turquoise Trail Trek, and Mountain Desert Trek there is the option of a trekker to apply to be a Cook’s Assistant or Quarter Master (CA and QM). Click here to apply.
