Want a memorable wilderness experience with your child? Let’s do this!
Unique Parent-Child time is an opportunity to build unique, lifelong memories. Have an adventurous child who would like to carry their own backpack? Would you like to experience an outdoor journey together? Do you love nature, beauty and a healthy lifestyle?
We do more than just guide: We teach you how to backpack.
We also provide all of the major gear you will need on trail. We use only the best gear so that you are comfortable while carrying a lighter pack.
We also provide all food you will need on the trail and can accommodate most dietary restrictions.
Spend your days backpacking the stunning Superior Hiking Trail and your nights on the shores of a pristine lake, next to a rushing river, or in the quiet woods, all while starting to learn the basic skills of backpacking using high-end, lightweight gear. You will learn how to set up a tent, use a backcountry stove and water filter, protect your food, and more.
A 1:1 Parent-Child ratio is preferred. Age is not the restriction; torso size is the restriction. Children’s backpacks accommodate a 12"-16” torso. We will post a video soon about determining pack size.
Your on-trail instructor is an experienced backpacker and a NOLS-Certified Wilderness First Responder. Your instructors always carry a beacon locator device in case of an emergency. The beacon locator can also be pre-programmed to send “check-in” messages to your loved ones by text or email so that they know where you are and that everything is going well.
Our goal is to create peers on the trail and to help you leap-frog the hard lessons, all while creating lifelong memories.
Trip Rating: 2 - Beginning Backpacker (Click here for Ratings Descriptions)
- $595/person*
*Friendly note: Backpacking 101 - Classroom Orientation (free) is highly recommended prior to any Parent-Child backpacking trip (see "Upcoming Trips" for orientation schedule. This separate classroom orientation provides hands-on instruction to familiarize you with gear, clothing and lists prior to hitting the trail. Learn key essentials such as how to pack a backpack, use a water filter and stove, set up a tent, run through your gear list, and more. If you live outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, we can discuss alternatives to the Classroom Orientation.
Itinerary:
Wednesday, August 14th
9-11:30 am - Backpack Shakedown at a State Park community use location (to be determined)
11:45 - Lunch
1:00 - Start our 1st hike (~3 miles) at a Superior Hiking Trail trailhead by Cascade River State Park
Familiarize yourself with your feet, your gear, and the outdoors
Spend the first night sleeping in the lush wilderness
~3 miles, includes lunch, afternoon snacks and dinner (breakfast is on your own)
Thursday, August 15th
Continue backpacking through beautiful terrain
Spend a second night in the wilderness
4-5 miles, includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all trail snacks
Friday, August 16th
Backpack more beautiful trail, returning to our vehicles by NOON
3-4 miles, includes breakfast, morning snacks, and transportation to vehicles parked at starting trailhead
Maximum of 6 Participants.
POLICIES FOR A SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL - A 1ST-TIME BACKPACKING TRIP
REGISTRATION:
Once you have signed up for an On-Trail Trip, you will receive a receipt by email with a link to Waiver and Health Assessments, which need to be signed and returned to us prior to trip departure.
Registration for an On-Trail Trip is not complete until we have had the opportunity to speak with you via telephone about the demands of the trail.
To get the most out of your trip, we suggest that you have a medical physical 90 days prior to departure.
Participants must be 16 or older (unless individual arrangements are made or the specific trip lists otherwise). All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
WHAT WE PROVIDE:
Fees include food as indicated on the itinerary (please advise of any dietary restrictions as we can accommodate most of them).
We use only high-end, lightweight equipment and provide all major gear: solo tent or shared double tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, water filtration equipment, cooking and eating gear, all food, maps, and group first aid kit.
We always carry a beacon locator device in case of an emergency. The beacon locator can be pre-programmed to send “check-in” messages to your loved ones by text or email so that they know where you are and that everything is going well.
We include transportation at trip’s end to vehicles parked at the starting trailhead.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING:
To have a successful trip, you need to have appropriate footwear (backpacking boots or trail shoes that have been broken in) and adequate rain gear, in addition to your clothing and personal items, which will be clearly indicated on the gear list that we provide to you. You must arrive prepared with these or we reserve the right to refuse admission onto the trip in order to keep you and other trip participants safe. If this unlikely event happens, we will unfortunately be unable to refund the cost of your trip.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
Transportation to the starting trailhead and first night’s lodging are not included. Some meals are not included and are indicated as such in the itinerary. State Park entrance or camping fees and personal trip insurance are not included.
CANCELATION AND REFUND POLICY:
If you wish to cancel your registration, please note the following deadlines:
21 days prior to your scheduled trip, we will refund 100% of the trip cost
10 days prior to your scheduled trip, we will refund 50% of the trip cost
Less than 5 days of a scheduled trip, we will be unable to refund any portion of the trip cost
Backpack The Trails LLC reserves the right to cancel a trip without cause. We will do our best to ensure that this never happens. In the unlikely event that this happens, you will be notified as soon as possible, upon which time you can request a full refund or choose a different, similarly-priced trip, if there is still space available.
TRANSFER POLICY:
If you wish to transfer your registration to a different trip, please note the following deadlines:
21 days prior to your originally-scheduled trip, 100% of your trip cost is transferrable
10 days prior to your originally-scheduled trip, 50% of your trip cost is transferrable
Less than 5 days of your originally-scheduled trip, none of the trip cost is transferrable
INSURANCE:
Backpack The Trails LLC carries business insurance and does not provide travel insurance to clients. You may wish to consider purchasing your own travel insurance before heading out on trail.