Summer Wilderness Programs in New Mexico

Cottonwood Gulch Summer Expeditions:
Based in Albuquerque NM, the Cottonwood Gulch Foundation provides a wide range of educational wilderness expeditions and outdoor summer programs for kids and teens ages 10-18, as well as Family programs and Adult programs. Our wilderness expeditions take place in the heart of the American Southwest, and promote personal growth, scientific, historic, and cultural discovery as well as a knowledgeable environmental ethic among all those who participate.

We have been leading wilderness expeditions in the Southwest since 1926. Our groups visit different ecosystems of the Four Corners states: New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado —  red rock canyons, high desert mesas and alpine ranges — to play and explore. We explore mostly on foot, backpacking and day-hiking into the back-country, but we also sometimes canoe through river canyons.

What to Expect on a Wilderness Exhibition?

The Wilderness of the Southwest
This is a place for those of us who need to get our hands and boots dirty in order to understand this beautiful land.  We take you on world-class backpacking excursions, but the Gulch is much more than that—we also explore Southwestern art, archaeology, reptiles, and dinosaur bones.

The Culture of the Southwest
In addition to hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing, the Gulch will take you through the 1,000-year-old walls of Chaco Canyon, teach you to paint the same landscapes that inspired Georgia O’Keefe, or help rebuild a Hogan or weave a rug with our Navajo neighbors on their farm.

The Ecology of the Southwest
For Trekkers who are inspired to learn even more about the Southwest, we hire naturalists every year who work closely with individual trekkers to develop hands-on projects in geology, herpetology, ornithology, or any other –ology that piques your interest.

Based in New Mexico, our Summer Expeditions range from 2-6 weeks, and are for kids ages 10-19. No expertise is needed to join, just a sense of adventure and a desire to learn about the animals, art, and unique culture of the Southwest.

- Wild Country Trek (21 Days, Ages 13-15)
- Turquoise Trail (36 Days, Girls 13-16)
- Prairie Trek (36 Days, Boys 13-16)
- Sunrise on Mount Taylor Expedition (15 Days, Ages 10-13)
- Mountain Desert Trek (42 Days, Ages 16-18)
- Southwestern Art and Music Trek (21 Days, Ages 15-18)
- Paleontology Trek (13 Days, Ages 14 and up)
- Family Trek (8 Days, All Ages)
- Adult Treks (9-10 Days, 21 and older)