What We Offer: Courses, Hikes & Trips

Hiking Basics, Gear, & Safety

Open for registration

8 hrs

An all-day, 5-mile educational hike with about 1,000 ft of gain. We pass around every item on our search-and-rescue-tested gear list and cover wildlife, lightning, water crossings, trip planning, and self-rescue.

Winter Hiking & Snowshoeing Workshop

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Waitlist

Next: Nov 14 · Full, join the waitlist

Bear Workshop

3 hrs

What to do if you meet a black bear, a snake, or an aggressive dog on the trail, plus poison ivy and other common hazards. A short taste of what we teach in Hiking Basics, Gear, & Safety.

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Typically offered: Spring

2 hrs

Get ready for the cold season: winter layering, traction like microspikes and snowshoes, and the extra gear we carry on winter hikes. Proceeds go to local Search & Rescue.

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Next: Dec 19

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Hiking Skills

The core skills behind the Hiker rocker. Each course is hands-on: we teach a skill, practice it, then build on it.

Next: Nov 14

Map & Compass Navigation

8 hrs

Read a topo map, take and follow a bearing, and know where you are when the blazes disappear. We practice each skill in the field until it clicks, so you can trust your compass over your phone.

CPR & AED for Adult, Child & Infant

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Typically offered: April through October

Digital App Hike Planning 1

3 hrs · Virtual

A live Zoom class on planning hikes in CalTopo: routes, elevation profiles, and maps you can print or carry on your phone. Optional weekly exercises afterward help the skills stick.

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Typically offered: Four times a year: January, April, July, October

Digital App Hike Planning 2

3 hrs · Virtual

Plan a 5-day backpacking trip from start to finish: trailheads, parking, daily mileage, water sources, campsites, and bailout routes, using CalTopo alongside other apps for what each does best.

Prerequisite: Digital App Hike Planning 1

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Waitlist

Next: Nov 11 · Full, join the waitlist

Knots

4 hrs

The handful of knots that actually matter on the trail, for tarps, bear hangs, and gear repairs. We tie each one until you can do it without thinking, even with cold hands.

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Typically offered: Late summer

Tarp Shelters

4 hrs

Pitch a tarp in multiple configurations, like canopy, lean-to, A-frame, and pyramid, and learn which one fits which conditions and why.

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Typically offered: Late summer

Fire

4.5 hrs

This isn't hours of bushcraft fire by friction. Get a fire going and keep it going in harsh, emergency conditions, aiming for a few minutes in driving wind and rain using the tools in your pack.

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Typically offered: June and September

Drinking Water Treatment

2 hrs

Every treatment method, from filters, pumps, and purifier bottles to SteriPEN, bleach, iodine, and chlorine dioxide. Learn which to use (or skip), when, and why.

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Typically offered: June and September

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First Aid & Safety

Taught by search-and-rescue and EMS professionals, so you can help yourself or anyone you meet on the trail.

Next: Nov 14

2.5 hrs

Certification course in CPR and AED use for adults, children, and infants. Some sessions include short online modules to complete beforehand.

WFA – Wilderness First Aid

If already current, just provide CPR cert from the recognized organization.

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Typically offered: Several times a year, on weeknights

2 days

Two full days of hands-on scenarios: assessing patients, splinting, bleeding control, and making evacuation decisions when help is hours away.

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Next: Dec 19

Dog CPR, First Aid, & Hiking

6 hrs

CPR, first aid, and trail tips for the four-legged TrailBounders in your life. Learn to spot trouble early, handle common injuries, and keep your dog safe and comfortable on the trail.

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Next: Nov 15 · 4 spots left

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Backpacking

Our backpacking season runs May through early October. Backpacking Trip – Intro kicks things off in late spring, and Challenging wraps the season in early October. Take them in order; each trip builds on the last.

Next: Nov 14

Backpacking Trip – Intro

Overnight · Harriman

Your first overnight. Rent any gear you don't have yet, then learn about packs, sleep systems, and shelter systems so you can choose your own before the next trip.

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Typically offered: May through July

Backpacking Trip – Easy

Overnight · Harriman

Build on the Intro trip with cook systems, water filtering, and bear hangs, and put in more miles on trail. By the end you'll be setting up and breaking down camp on your own.

Prerequisite: Backpacking Trip – Intro

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Typically offered: July and August

Backpacking Trip – Moderate

Multi-night · Harriman

Practice everything you've learned over more nights on tougher terrain, with footwork and scrambling technique to move confidently over rocky ground with a full pack.

Prerequisite: Backpacking Trip – Easy

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Typically offered: August and September

Backpacking Trip – Challenging

Multi-night · Catskills

Put it all together on rugged terrain: tough scrambles, lowering and raising packs, and handlines. No climbing, just a little help when needed.

Prerequisite: Backpacking Trip – Moderate

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Typically offered: Early October

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Bushwhacking (Off-Trail Navigation)

Bushwhacking takes your map and compass off the trail entirely. The series runs summer through fall, with BW-4 closing it out in November.

Next: Nov 14

Bushwhacking 1 – Intro

9 hrs

Your first time off trail. We refresh map and compass skills, then navigate short legs through the woods from point to point, learning to trust your bearing when there's no trail to follow.

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Typically offered: June and August

Bushwhacking 2 – Distance

8 hrs

Longer off-trail legs through the woods, adding distance estimation and pace counting so you know not just which way to go, but how far you've traveled.

Prerequisite: Bushwhacking 1 – Intro

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Typically offered: September

Bushwhacking 3 – Backpacking Trip

Overnight · Catskills

Leapfrog on azimuth with pace counts between control points, then find a spot to camp off trail with a campfire in the middle of the woods, and leave it exactly as we found it.

Prerequisite: Bushwhacking 2 – Distance

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Typically offered: Mid-October

Bushwhacking 4 – Night Navigation

5 hrs

Everything you've learned, after dark. Navigate off trail by headlamp, where landmarks disappear and your compass, pace count, and map become everything.

Prerequisite: Bushwhacking 2 – Distance

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Next: Nov 7

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Winter

Winter season runs January through March, and the Winter rocker builds from easy snowshoe hikes to multi-day winter trips. Microspikes, snowshoes, and other gear are available on our Rentals page or as add-ons at checkout.

Next: Nov 14

Snowshoe Hike – Easy

5 hrs

An introduction to snowshoeing and winter layering on gentle terrain. Learn how to dress, stay warm and dry, and move comfortably on snowshoes before stepping up to longer winter hikes.

Any one Snowshoe Easy hike counts.

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Typically offered: January and February

Snowshoe Hike – Moderate

5 hrs · Catskills

More distance and elevation in winter conditions. Build on Snowshoe Easy with steeper climbs and longer days, while practicing layering and pacing to stay comfortable in the cold.

Snowshoe Hike – Challenging

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Typically offered: Late January to February

7 hrs · Catskills

A demanding winter day with steep climbs and real winter conditions, for hikers ready for a full day on snowshoes or microspikes.

Snowshoe Hike – Challenging+

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Typically offered: February

7 hrs · Catskills

Our toughest winter day hikes, often on Catskill high peaks. Long days, steep terrain, and deep snow, for strong winter hikers comfortable on challenging snowshoe hikes.

Winter Backpacking Trip – Intro

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Typically offered: January and February

Overnight · Harriman

Your first winter overnight: staying warm, dry, and fed in the cold. Learn winter sleep systems, camp setup on snow, and how to keep water from freezing.

Winter Backpacking Trip – Easy

Prerequisite: Backpacking Trip – Intro or Easy

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Typically offered: January through March

Overnight

A step up from Intro for winter backpackers ready for more, with more miles and colder camps, putting your winter sleep, cooking, and layering systems to the test.

Prerequisite: Winter Backpacking Trip – Intro

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Typically offered: Late February

Adirondack Winter 5-Day/4-Night Trip

5 days / 4 nights · Adirondacks

Basecamp at the Adirondak Loj near Lake Placid, with easy, moderate, or challenging high-peak hiking groups. Includes some mountaineering skills practice on the Olympic ski jump slope.

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Microspike & Snowshoe Hikes

Next: Mar 3, 2027

4 hrs

Guided winter hikes on microspikes or snowshoes, depending on conditions. A great way to get out in winter with a guide, whether you're new to the season or just want company.

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Typically offered: January through March

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Guided Hikes

Hikes run year-round across New Jersey and New York, from sunset hikes to Catskill high peaks. Check the Schedule for this month's lineup.

Next: Nov 14

Guided Hikes

4 hrs

3–4 mile hikes on local favorites like Sterling Forest Fire Tower and Wildcat Ridge. The best way to find your pace, meet other TrailBounders, and ask your guide what's next.

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Next: Nov 15 · Registration opens soon

Sunset & Night Hikes

4 hrs

Watch the sun go down from a viewpoint, then hike out by headlamp. A fun, low-key way to get comfortable on the trail after dark.

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Typically offered: Year-round

Catskill 3500 Guided Hikes

Full day · Catskills

Full-day hikes up the Catskill 3500 peaks, the 33 summits above 3,500 feet on the Catskill 3500 Club's list. Count them toward your Catskill 3500 patch with a guide who knows the routes.

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Next: Nov 22

Catskill 3500 Bushwhacks

Full day · Catskills

The trailless Catskill 3500 peaks, for hikers ready to go off trail. We navigate by map and compass to summits with no marked path.

Prerequisite: Bushwhacking 1 & 2 (recommended)

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Typically offered: May and September

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Women's Chapter

Led by our women instructors and guides, for women who want to learn and hike together.

Next: Nov 14

Women in the Wilderness

9 hrs

A full-day workshop on outdoor skills and confidence for women, led by our women instructors. Learn, practice, and connect with other women who share a love for the outdoors.

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Next: Nov 14

Women's Guided Hikes

4–5 hrs

Women-only hikes, including sunrise and sunset hikes, led by our women guides. A relaxed pace and a great way to meet hiking partners.

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Typically offered: Year-round

Women's Backpacking Trip – Intro

Overnight · Harriman

A women-only first overnight. Rent any gear you don't have yet, then learn about packs, sleep systems, and shelters so you can choose your own before your next trip.

Counts as Backpacking Trip – Intro.

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Typically offered: June through August

Women's Multi-Night Backpacking Trips

Multi-night

Women-only backpacking trips for those ready for more nights on trail, with longer miles and more remote camps.

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Typically offered: Summer and early fall

Women's Snowshoe Hike – Easy

5 hrs · Catskills

A women-only introduction to snowshoeing and winter layering on gentle terrain, so you can stay warm, dry, and comfortable on your first winter hikes.

Counts as Snowshoe Hike – Easy.

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Typically offered: February

Women's Snowshoe Hike – Challenging

7 hrs · Catskills

A women-only winter challenge: a long day with steep climbs in real winter conditions, for women ready to push their winter hiking further.

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Typically offered: February

Women's Webinars

2 hrs · Virtual

Evening sessions for women, such as Hiking Safety & Prep in the spring and Winter Layering & Traction in December.

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Next: Dec 9

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Destination Trips

Multi-day trips to the places on your list. TrailBounders hear about new trips first in our newsletter.

Next: Nov 14

ADK Summer Trip

4 days / 3 nights · Adirondacks

Based at The Mountain House in Keene, with day hikes each day in half-day and full-day groups, so you can hike as much or as little as you like.

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Trip: Jul 26–29, 2027 · Registration opens Mar 18, 2027

ADK Autumn Trip

4 days / 3 nights · Adirondacks

Just past peak color, without the crowds. Based at The Mountain House in Keene, with day hikes each day in half-day and full-day groups, so you can hike as much or as little as you like.

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Trip: Oct 23–26, 2027 · Registration opens Aug 12, 2027

Zion & Bryce

6 days / 5 nights · Utah

Six days hiking the canyons, slot canyons, and hoodoos of Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks, with guided day hikes for every pace.

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Trip: Apr 24–29, 2027 · Registration opens Nov 19

Great Smoky Mountains

6 days / 5 nights · Tennessee

Six days of guided day hikes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park: waterfalls, old-growth forest, and long ridge views.

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Trip: Jul 10–15, 2027 · Registration opens Mar 18, 2027

Grand Canyon

7 days / 6 nights · Arizona

A December trip into the Grand Canyon, hiking below the rim when the summer heat and crowds are gone, with guided day hikes and views you can only get from inside the canyon.

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Waitlist

Next: Dec 6 · Full, join the waitlist

Women's-Only New River Gorge

6 days · West Virginia

Six women-only days in West Virginia's New River Gorge, hiking among sandstone cliffs, overlooks, and the river below.

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