Trinity Alps Wilderness: High-Altitude Backpacking Trek

***Special Promotion*** All trip participants will receive a Fjällräven Kånken R backpack (not suitable for overnight backpacking) (valued at $100) generously donated by our good friends at Fjällräven. Made from recycled materials and ready for adventure!

Join American Hiking and Ascend Wilderness Experience for a guided stewardship backpacking trip in the Trinity Alps Wilderness!

A true backcountry experience but all communal gear in terms of bathroom, cooking, and tools are provided by the hosts. Hike 3.5 miles in to base camp at Lilypad Lake surrounded by granite, forests, and water where you’ll spend the week working on the surrounding forested and rocky Poison Canyon Trail System at 4,500-7,000 ft. elevation.

The Trinity Alps are a rural area with ample lakes, reservoirs and Wild and Scenic Rivers, such as the Trinity and Salmon Rivers. You’ll experience over a million acres of Wilderness Areas in one of the most conifer diverse areas in the world. The Bigfoot Trail (National Recreation Trail status pending) goes right through the heart of our land that is also incredibly rich in indigenous history.

There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.

Avg. Temperature:

Typical weather for Weaverville, CA during this season has highs of about 85–92°F and lows of 60–65°F. This trip will occur between 4,000-7,000 ft. with cold average temperatures at night that can be 19-25 degrees below the average above.

Land Acknowledgement:

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Northern Wintu, Nor Rel Muk Wintu, Tsnungwe, Nom Sus Wintu, Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla people past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded these islands and mountain landscapes for countless generations, and those who continue this stewardship today. This acknowledgement is one step in our ongoing commitment to uplift Indigenous voices. We invite the American Hiking Society community to learn about, support, and stand in solidarity with the Indigenous peoples whose lands we live, work, and recreate on.