Hiking and Exploring Death Valley National Park in California – December 7-14, 2024
The largest national park in the Lower 48; The lowest elevation in the U.S.; The highest recorded temperatures on Earth; Death Valley National Park has so much to offer! Spend days hiking and visiting various areas of the park, from desert views to rock formations to night sky viewing.
Activity Level: Easygoing*
Rock Climbing at Joshua Tree National Park in California – December 7-14, 2024
Days will be filled with top-rope climbing, bouldering, and possible day hikes at this premier climbing location! Group will be car camping at a group site in the park.
Activity Level: Easy-to-Moderate*
Hiking & Exploring at Joshua Tree National Park in California – December 7-14, 2024
Explore the desert, trails, mountains, and boulders of Joshua Tree National Park through day hikes and exploration. Group will be car camping at a group site in the park. You may get an opportunity to boulder and/or top-rope climb for one of the days of the trip.
Activity Level: Easygoing*
*Guide to Activity Levels
Easygoing: Relaxed style of travel. May include day hikes of 2-8 miles on varying terrain carrying a light day pack. You’ll be on your feet for much of the day and will also have opportunities to rest. You’ll be cooking your meals as a group and stay at one campsite for most of the trip. Great for folks who are new to camping or the outdoors!
Easy-to-Moderate: Active trips that are still welcoming to people of all sorts of experience levels (no experience to advanced). You don’t need previous camping, climbing, hiking, or other experience, but should be in generally good shape. Trips may include some moving between campsites during the trip. Trips will include short hikes with some elevation change, paddling in protected waters and/or top-rope rock climbing.
Moderate-to-Challenging: These trips are still welcome to folks without camping and/or outdoor experience! Trips typically include 3-8 hours of physical activity per day, such as paddling, hiking with overnight packs, and/or wilderness camping. For paddling trips, this may include a mix of protected and some open-water paddling. You will be moving camp every 1-2 nights.
Challenging: These trips are for folks seeking full days of activity and a higher level of physical challenge. You will be moving camp every 1-2 nights. Hiking/backpacking may be up to 12 miles in one day and/or with greater elevation changes. Paddling trips will be primarily open-water paddling. These trips require participants to be in fit condition. Participants do not need prior experience backpacking or camping, but it is recommended to participate in some Outdoor Programs events during the term prior to the trip if you’re new to the outdoors to get a feel for our trips and events.
Additional information:
Trip Cost: $80, due by 5pm the business day after notification of being on a trip, by cash, check, or credit.
Once the trip starts, all transportation, camping fees, permits, food, group gear, and personal equipment will be covered by the program.
You will be responsible for transportation to Las Vegas, NV (these costs are not included in the trip cost).
Students flying to the meeting locations are required to meet with the Outdoor Programs Directors prior to purchasing tickets in order to purchase flights to the correct airport and during a time and day where drivers can pick you up. Further information and guidelines will be provided for students who are registered for the trips.
The program will provide all group equipment, including activity equipment (climbing shoes/harness/helmets, PFDs/boats/paddles, et cetera), tents, stoves, and cooking equipment. Personal items including a backpack, sleeping pad, sleeping bag and clothing items (such as rain gear, warm layers, and hiking boots) can be checked out from the Gear Room at no additional cost.
Trip itineraries below are subject to change.
Registration Information
Registration will open on Wednesday, October 16th at 8 pm. It is first come, first serve.
You will receive confirmation from the Outdoor Programs office of what trip you are signed up for or your position on a waiting list within a day of submitting the registration form. Please note that due to high interest, you may not end up on your first choice trip and you may end up on a waiting list for a trip.
Because you fill out the registration form does not guarantee you a spot on a trip. You will receive confirmation if you are on a trip or on a waiting list.
If you receive confirmation that you are on a trip, you will have until 5 pm the next day to complete the $80 payment in order to confirm your spot on the trip.
If a spot opens on a trip, it will be offered to people on the waiting list in the order that they have registered.
Trip Itinerary: Hiking & Camping Death Valley National Park, CA
December 7-14
12/7: Meet at Las Vegas airport, Drive to campsite for the night
12/8: Drive to Death Valley National Park, set up camp
12/9 – 12/12: A mix of day hikes and exploration through the surrounding desert area
12/13: Drive to campsite near Las Vegas
12/14: Depart from Las Vegas airport
Trip Itineraries: Rock Climbing/Hike & Explore at Joshua Tree
December 7-14
12/7: Meet at Las Vegas airport, Drive to campsite for the night
12/8: Drive to Joshua Tree National Park, set up camp
12/9 – 12/12: For rock climbing trip days will be a mix of top-rope rock climbing, bouldering, day-hikes, and exploring the surrounding area, For hike & explore trip days will be a mix of day hikes and exploration through the surrounding desert area
