Ultimate Northwest

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Ultimate Northwest

Destination

Oregon, Washington

Current Grades

9th, 10th, 11th

length

24 Days

view dates and prices
Meeting Place

​Arrive and depart:
Portland, OR (PDX)

Embark on a 24-day journey through an untamed and diverse landscape that embodies true adventure. Hike with crashing waves on one side and soaring cliffs on the other on Olympic National Park’s coastline. Rock climb and mountain bike near Bend, OR—one of the world’s premier destinations for both sports! Explore the untouched Goat Rocks Wilderness, shaped by extinct volcanoes, laden with vibrant wildflowers, and surrounded by 360-degree views of neighboring volcanoes. Master whitewater kayaking on the Klickitat River before attempting a summit on the famous Mt. St. Helens volcano. Conclude your epic adventure with a whitewater rafting trip down the world-renowned White Salmon River. This is the ULTIMATE Pacific Northwest experience!

The California adventure camp is perfect for teens of all levels of outdoor experience. With expert guidance, we ensure a supportive and fun environment where everyone will thrive.

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Ultimate Northwest Itinerary

Hike in Olympic National Park

Explore miles of stunning coastline in Olympic National Park, home to one of the country’s wildest and most beautiful beach hikes. Over four days, you’ll spot bald eagles, otters, sea lions, and seals while hiking with the Pacific Ocean on one side and sheer cliffs on the other. Camp on secluded beaches, surrounded by your best new friends, impressive sea stacks, and starry skies. This unforgettable hike promises breathtaking scenery and amazing wildlife encounters—you won’t want to miss this one!

Mountain bike in Bend

Strap on your helmet and hit some of the country’s best singletrack trails for two days of epic mountain biking. Start by learning tips and tricks on flat, beginner-friendly terrain beneath the towering 9,068-foot Mt. Bachelor. With options for every level of experience, choose your challenge as your group winds through pine forests and descends breathlessly downhill.

Rock climb in Smith Rock State Park

Discover why Smith Rock attracts climbers from all over the world. Spend two days testing your grit on the park’s impressive spires made of welded volcanic tuff. We’ll set up ropes for every ability level, so you can progress at your own pace. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you advance through the grades. After a satisfying day at the crag, visit a nearby river for an afternoon of swimming and cliff-jumping!

Hike in the Goat Rocks Wilderness

Named for the mountain goats you’re likely to spot, spend four days exploring the immeasurably spectacular alpine terrain of the Goat Rocks Wilderness! Vibrant wildflowers fill the valleys, while snow-capped volcanoes rise in all directions. Hike above tree line for views that can stretch up to 100 miles away! This is one of the most extraordinarily beautiful areas we’ve ever visited, and you and your friends will make memories to last a lifetime. This is an absolutely iconic hike and an Adventure Treks favorite.

Whitewater kayak on the Klickitat River

Set down your backpack and pick up a paddle for three days of kayaking on this scenic tributary of the Columbia River. Start by mastering basic paddling strokes and safety techniques on flat water, then progress to class I and II rapids. On day three, you can refine your skills on mellower runs or challenge yourself with roll clinics and fun class III waves! No experience necessary—just an enthusiastic attitude to have a ton of fun on the river!

Summit hike on Mt. St. Helens

Climb Mt. St. Helens and stand on the edge of the ever-growing crater and its surrounding glacier, literally watching geology in the making. The summit rewards you with stunning 360-degree views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood. Plus, explore the world-famous Ape Caves beneath this iconic volcano. This is a life-changing summit hike that often ends up on college essays!

Whitewater raft the White Salmon River

Ranked as a top place to visit worldwide by the New York Times, the White Salmon River is a must-experience adventure! This Wild and Scenic River is federally protected, ensuring pristine water and forestry. Get ready for an exhilarating ride as you and your friends tackle fun, sustained rapids—teamwork is a must, and laughter is guaranteed.

Dates and Prices

Departure 1
  • Departure Day
    06/23/25
  • Return Day
    07/16/25
  • Price
    $6,595
Departure 2
  • Departure Day
    07/17/25
  • Return Day
    08/09/25
  • Price
    $6,595
Departure Day Return Day Price
06/23/25
07/16/25
$6,595
07/17/25
08/09/25
$6,595

Tuition and dates will be finalized in October 2024.

Included in tuition:
  • All meals
  • Tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backpack, and all group gear
  • Guided activities
Not included in tuition:
  • Airfare to and from Portland, OR (PDX)
  • Trip insurance (more info here)
  • Personal clothing and items (packing lists available for enrolled families)
Camping

About two-thirds of our nights are spent at “frontcountry” campsites, where we’ll generally have a more developed campsite with running water, toilets, and sometimes cell phone service. This may be a public or private campground. We often stay at the same frontcountry site a few days in a row.

The other third will be spent “backcountry” camping, referring to wilderness locations where we are most likely out of cell phone service and away from our vehicles, electricity, and other amenities. Many multi-day activities like backpacking take place in the backcountry.

Challenge/fitness level

Fitness and physical challenge are subjective, so Adventure Treks does not “rate” its trips based on challenge. However, because we’ll be engaged in different outdoor activities throughout each trip, our students have the responsibility to be physically fit. We know physical fitness looks different for everyone, but it’s important to come prepared so that you and your fellow students can succeed. One student not coming prepared with physical fitness will negatively impact the entire group. In the months leading up to their trip, students should develop a routine that emphasizes stamina and sustaining a moderate level of exertion for many hours, several days in a row. Running, swimming, bicycling, aerobics classes, and team sports are all beneficial and will help improve cardiovascular fitness in preparation for a student’s trip.

Activities

Backpacking

Mountain Biking

Mountaineering

Rock Climbing

Whitewater Kayaking

Whitewater Rafting

Reviews

Lori Shapiro, parent from Northbrook, IL

Abby just loved her trip to Oregon and Washington. It was beyond just the beauty. She formed lifelong friendships, she learned new skills, she had fun, and she pushed herself to try new things. All the students got to know each other, and AT did a great job of mixing up the kids. She learned new skills and participated in hikes and other activities that she may never have done before. She loved camping and learned new skills with that as well. The instructors were amazing, including all the staff that ran this trip and Adventure Treks. She didn’t even want to come home; this trip made her summer and beyond.

Meredith Rose, parent from Pasadena, CA

Our daughter had many wonderful opportunities to meet new people from all over the country, take on physically challenging activities, and immerse herself in the communal effort needed to successfully navigate a three-week outdoor adventure. My daughter had so much fun the first time around. She was really looking forward to going on a longer outing this summer.

Diana Selig, parent from Pasadena, CA

AT provides challenging experiences, a wonderful and supportive community, and valuable life skills! Especially after a year in quarantine, it was valuable for our teen to be outdoors, with peers, making new friends, and having exciting adventures in beautiful settings. Anya said that she liked everyone on the trip and that they all got along, supported each other, and had fun together. She made friends from all over the country. We send our warmest thanks to the instructors for leading this trip! The circumstances sound challenging (with the heat wave, the mosquitoes, the long backpack route) and we so appreciate their creating a positive group experience, which was especially important for the kids after this difficult pandemic year.

Katie Scruggs, parent from Huntersville, NC

AT provides your child a mixed bag of things that allows them to grow. They are challenged physically, they learn to be an important part of a community as well as making others feel the same, they have time removed from technology and realize they LOVE that part, and they are supported by a group of instructors that want to know them and want this experience to be all it can be for them by always going the extra mile. This particular trip allowed Lu to know that she can do really hard things. She was proud of her accomplishments. AT has been a part of our family for five years now, and it has been an amazing experience for all four of our children. It has provided our girls opportunities to learn to love the outdoors, make friends all around the country, realize they can do challenging things, see the value in the differences we all have, be a part of a tight knit community, and even learn some cooking skills along the way!

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2025 enrollment is now open for returning families! Click here to re-enroll for next summer.