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Adults
Joshua Tree – Backpack
Recharge and renew as you disconnect from daily life and backpack through the famous Joshua Tree wilderness.
Scholarships
Open 
California
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About This Course
Activity
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Backpacking -
Rock Climbing
Setting & Location
- Desert
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Course Start Location: Palm Springs Airport -
Course End Location: Palm Springs Airport
Session Details
2 sessions are available for this course
What You'll Learn
There’s so much to discover in the silence between footsteps; the quiet between paddle strokes; the space between stars. Circle up with your crew and recapture the joy of trying something new – whether that’s an activity, a location, or a perspective.
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What You'll Do
Few places compare to the beauty of desert backpacking. You'll carry all essentials and explore remote areas. Trails, when present, are usually well maintained and sandy. Off-trail routes can be tough, taking you through boulder-filled canyons and vast desert plains.
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Where You'll Be
Joshua Tree’s rugged canyons, unique plants, and surreal rock formations create a one-of-a-kind desert landscape. As an International Dark Sky Park, enjoy incredible stargazing while exploring remote backcountry areas rarely visited by others.
Why It Matters
So often, we find ourselves moving at the pace of the world around us. Reconnect with the world within you and rediscover your strengths, what inspires you, and set some new goals. Outward Bound courses for adults are an investment in yourself: a time to reset your bearings and look ahead with fresh perspective.
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Connection.
Disconnect to reconnect – with your environment, your crew, and yourself. Return home with a renewed sense of possibility.
Leave your comfort zone.
With a supportive crew, you’ll meet challenges that help you unlock confidence, curiosity, and energy to thrive with purpose.
Get ready for growth.
Meeting new people and trying new things together builds confidence and community. At any experience level, everyone has the opportunity to discover something new.
Life on Course
Backpack Joshua Tree’s wild terrain, explore its rich desert life, push limits, build leadership, and recharge under vast, star-filled skies.
Backpack through the vast Mojave Desert and enjoy starry night skies. Joshua Tree National Park sees over a million visitors yearly, but few go far from the road. Venture deep into its rugged beauty, exploring a rich ecosystem of birds, wildlife, Joshua Trees, cholla cactus, and palms. This demanding yet stunning landscape offers a chance to push your limits, refresh leadership skills, and find time to reflect, recharge, and reconnect with nature and yourself.
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Sample Itineraries
Here’s an example of what your course itinerary might look like. The actual plan will depend on permits, weather, group skills, and instructor evaluation.
Swipe on table below to view more.
4-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course Start, Duffle Shuffle, Hike into Backcountry, Intro to Campcraft |
| Day 2 | Continue Backpacking |
| Day 3 | Backpacking, Peak Attempt, Solo Time |
| Day 4 | Hike Out, De-Issue, Graduation, Depart |
5-Day Course
| Day 1 | Course Start, Duffle Shuffle, Hike into Backcountry, Intro to Campcraft |
| Day 2-3 | Main Backpacking expedition, peak attempt |
| Day 4 | Backpacking, Solo Time |
| Day 5 | Hike Out, De-Issue, Graduation, Depart |
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FAQs
Do I need any prior backpacking or climbing experience?
No experience is necessary. Instructors will teach you everything you need to know—from setting up camp to reading maps to climbing safely. Just come ready to learn and be challenged.
What kind of gear will I need to bring?
We provide most technical gear, including backpacks, sleeping bags, and climbing equipment. You’ll bring your own clothing and personal items. A detailed packing list is sent after enrollment.
At what altitude does the course take place?
Joshua Tree is a lower elevation course area for OBCA. The highest peaks are just under 6,000 feet, making this a great destination for anyone with altitude concerns.
If there’s no water source in Joshua Tree, how do I stay hydrated?
Travel in the desert takes careful planning to ensure an ample water supply. Logistics staff place water and food caches around the park to enable extended backcountry travel in this unique wilderness.
What will the weather be like in Joshua Tree?
The Mojave Desert’s sunny fall, winter and spring weather is perfect for a week on the trail or basecamping below the next climb. Temperatures can vary, averaging 50-70 degrees during the day to a cool 30 or lower at night. Weather in the park is generally dry and rainfall is sparse, though unpredictable, and sometimes windy conditions or thunderstorms do occur. Rare winter snow is possible and it is a unique experience to see this commonly dry environment blanketed in white.
Joshua Tree is an International Dark Sky Park — are there any special solar events coming up?
The night sky is always amazing in Joshua Tree, but our March 2026 course will have a special experience of a total lunar eclipse. As the Earth’s shadow slowly covers the moon, it shifts from bright silver to a deep, rusty red—the blood moon. With the desert landscape as your backdrop and minimal clouds or light pollution, the view is crystal clear. The air cools, the rocks glow faintly, and for a few intense minutes, everything feels sharper, more alive. It’s a rare and unforgettable night.
I’m between 26-29 years old, what course is for me?
If you’re in this age range, you’ve got a couple of paths to choose from. You may be eligible for a 30+ course, or you may find that an 18-25 course feels like the better fit. The best way to sort it out is to chat or call our Customer Success Team – they’ll talk through your goals and help you figure out which course makes the most sense for you.
