About us
Destination Backcountry is a wilderness guide service founded in 2011 and operated by outdoor professionals who have dedicated their lives to sharing their passion for wild places with others. We all love the woods in different ways, from thru-hikers to canoe experts and deep wilderness explorers, but what we love most is teaching and helping everyone find the same joy in the outdoors that we have.
If you see a trip you'd like to join, please follow the link listed in that trip's description and sign up on our website. You will then receive an email with all of the trip details.
Follow along with our adventures on Instagram @destinationbackcountry and sign up for our email newsletter to receive updates on upcoming adventures and discounts.
Upcoming events
22
Enchanted Forest Paddle (4/24-26)
Location not specified yet### Step into a fantasy forest on this enchanting canoe camping trip
Our first overnight canoe trip of the year is also one of our most spectacular. The rush of fresh water in early spring means we can canoe on brooks and rivers that are often unaccessible by boat in the Catskills. Our first day of paddling will take us through meadows filled with wildflowers and unfurling fiddlehead ferns. We'll make a luxurious overnight camp in a tributary brook in the forest to enjoy a cozy night of great food and warm campfires. On our second day, we’ll explore ponds and rivers that become marshes and brooks by mid-summer. This special route is one few people know about and one of our favorite adventures of the spring.
### Trip stats
🛶 1-2 miles of canoeing each day + less than 1/4 mile hike to the river and to camp over backcountry (trail-less) terrain
⛰️ No elevation gain during this trip
🧭 Difficulty: Moderate. This is a take-your-time canoe trip in shallow water with no rapids, falls, etc. Hiking is minimal with no elevation gain but we will be walking over backcountry terrain with no trail.### The Destination Backcountry Difference
Why hike with us? Expert guides. Founded in 2011, our NY State-licensed guides are not merely hike leaders, they are ambassadors for the outdoors, dedicated to sharing their passion for nature with others.
A FULL weekend of adventure: Our all-inclusive day escapes include transportation, meals, and a full day of canoeing and adventure. Make your escape upstate worth every minute!
On this trip, our guides will share:
✨ One-of-a-kind destination: this trip is the definition of a hidden gem. In fact, we've never seen another person in this forest before!
🐸 Our route along this incredible backcountry brook will give us the opportunity to see herons, frogs, toads, fish, freshwater mussels, and more!
🛶 No canoe experience needed! Our guides will offer instruction and helpful tips throughout our trip.
🔥 An incredible camping experience: redefine your idea of cozy camping and imagine a roaring campfire, a gourmet meal shared with your fellow adventurers, and a peaceful night sleep with a warm cup of coffee waiting for you in the morning.### What's Included?
🚐 Transportation to and from NYC
☕ Breakfast: Your adventure includes a breakfast of fresh fruit and donuts and a selection of coffee and tea for the drive to the trailhead
🧀 Lunch + Dinner + Breakfast in the Woods: We will provide a healthy, gourmet lunch and snacks during our adventure. We offer vegetarian and vegan options, and we’re happy to accommodate any dietary and allergy needs.
🌄 On trail guidance from an expert NYS licensed guide### Schedule
Day One
5:00pm Brooklyn Pickup near Barclays
5:30pm Manhattan Pickup at Grand Central
~6:30pm Rest Stop
~8:00 Arrival at Trailhead , less than 0.25 mi hike to camp, dinner & campfire
Day Two
7:00 Coffee, tea, hot cocoa, fruit & oatmeal available
8:00 "River" Breakfast (eggs, bacon, sausage, veggies, potatoes, etc) available
9:00 Pack camp
10:00-5:00 Paddle with a break for lunch on shore
5:00 Arrive at and set camp
~6:00 Campfire + Dinner + Smore's + Stargazing until BedtimeDay Three
8:00-10:00 Breakfast + Coffee + Break Camp
10:00-12:00 Canoe + River Exploration
12:00 Light Lunch + Hike to Van
~2:00-3:00 Van heads back to NYC
~4:30 Rest stop
~7:00 Manhattan Drop Off
~7:30 Brooklyn Drop Off*All times are estimates. We adjust every adventure to the pace and needs of the group. Our overnight trips are much more flexibile! Travel time are subject to many factors, including weather and traffic.
### What Do I Need to Bring With Me?
Must have
🎒 Backpack (45L minimum, with hip belt
💤 Sleeping bag
🛏️ Sleeping pad
🍽️ Mess kit (fork, spoon, bowl and cup)
💧 2, 1-liter water bottles
🔦 Headlamp
🎽 Wear: Comfortable, breathable clothes. Standard workout clothes are great for hiking
🥾 Footwear: sneakers or boots are perfect for this trip
🧣 Clothes: extra layers, top and bottom, 3 pairs of socks
🌧️ Rain shell
⛺ Tent: We have a limited number of tents available to borrow. Please let us know if you would like to borrow a tent. There is also the option to sleep under a tarp shelter, which your guide can help build, or to sleep under the stars if conditions permit. If you are NOT planning on bringing a tent, please let us know your preferences from above.Good to have:
🩴 Water shoes are great for while we're in the canoe!
🕶️ Sunglasses
🧢 Hat### FAQs
What happens after I book my adventure? You will receive a confirmation email for your adventure within 24 hours of booking. Your guide will reach out 7-10 days before your adventure with an update on trail conditions, weather, a final packing list, our adventure waiver, and more.
More questions? Visit our FAQ page here.1 attendee
Urban Reset - Immersive Meditation with Herb (5/3)
Location not specified yet### A holistic day retreat with Herb Brooks
Engage with the forest on a deep, powerful level during this immersive sensory hiking experience with NYS licensed guide Herb Brooks. This full day retreat combines a gentle hike with intention setting, breathwork, deep listening, sensory work, and a sound meditation journey. Expect to leave the forest feeling connected to yourself and nature in a new, profound way.
Bonus - our destination is appx 1 hr from our grand Central pick-up - a much shorter ride than our Catskill trips!### Hike stats
🥾 2-3 mile easy hike along a beautiful and historic trail in the Hudson Valley
⛰️ Minimal elevation change
🧭 Difficulty: Easy. On-trail hiking### The Destination Backcountry Difference
Why hike with us? Expert guides. Founded in 2011, our NY State-licensed guides are not merely hike leaders, they are ambassadors for the outdoors, dedicated to sharing their passion for nature with others.
About Herb Brooks: In addition to his experience as an outdoor hiking and backpacking guide, Herb has completed coursework in Nature Connected Coaching with the EarthBased Institute in Colorado. This trip combines his mindfulness practice with the healing and reflective power of nature.
A FULL day of adventure: Our all-inclusive day escapes include transportation, meals, and a full day of hiking and adventure. Make your escape upstate worth every minute!### What's Included?
🚐 Transportation to and from NYC
☕ Breakfast: Your adventure includes a breakfast of fresh fruit and donuts and a selection of coffee and tea for the drive to the trailhead
🧀 Lunch: We will provide a healthy, gourmet lunch and snacks during our adventure. We offer vegetarian and vegan options, and we’re happy to accommodate any dietary and allergy needs.
🌄 On trail guidance from an expert NYS licensed guide### Schedule
7:30 Brooklyn Pickup near Barclays
8:00 Manhattan Pickup at Grand Central
~9:00 Arrival at Trailhead
~9:00-3:00- Sage, Palo smudging and intention setting to bless the experience
- Counted Breathwork
- Sensory Walk
- Silent Walk
- Lunch
- Sound meditation with hand and wind instruments
- Return ceremony
- Journaling session
- Reflections and gratitude Lunch along a gorgeous stream bank
~3:30 Van returns to the city
~4:45 Manhattan Drop Off (expected traffic factored into drop off times)
~5:30 Brooklyn Drop Off (expected traffic factored into drop off times*All times are estimates. We adjust every adventure to the pace and needs of the group. Travel time are subject to many factors, including weather and traffic.
### What Do I Need to Bring With Me?
Must have
💧 2, 1-liter water bottles
🎽 Wear: Comfortable, breathable clothes. Standard workout clothes are great for hiking
🥾 Footwear: Sturdy sneakers, trail runners, or hiking boots. We’ll let you know well in advance if conditions call for special footwear.
🧣A few extra layers of clothes for breaks
Good to have
🌧️ Rain shell
🕶️ Sunglasses
🧢 Hat### FAQs
What happens after I book my adventure? You will receive a confirmation email for your adventure within 24 hours of booking. Your guide will reach out 7-10 days before your adventure with an update on trail conditions, weather, a final packing list, our adventure waiver, and more.
More questions? Visit our FAQ page here.1 attendee
Wild Edibles (5/3) - NEW!
Location not specified yet**Rescheduled from 4/18 - nothing was ready to harvest!**
Learn to see the wilderness in a whole new way as we explore the edible plants of the Catskills.
### Adventure Snapshot
🌿 Activity: Guided foraging hike and edible plant identification
⏱️ Duration: Full-day adventure (~12–13 hours including travel)
🥾 Distance: Moderate hiking with frequent stops for plant identification
⛰️ Elevation: Moderate
🧭 Difficulty: Beginner-friendly to moderate
📍 Location: Catskill Mountains, NY
👥 Group Size: Small group experience### Join us for a walk through the wilderness and discover the hidden delicacies that surround you.
On this guided adventure through the Catskills, we’ll explore the incredible variety of edible plants growing throughout the forest as it comes alive in spring.
This relaxed and exploratory hike invites participants to slow down and look closely at the landscape, learning to identify wild greens, berries, roots, and other edible plants that have nourished people for generations.
Most hikers pass right by these plants without ever noticing them. Once you learn how to recognize them, the forest begins to reveal itself as an abundant natural pantry.
Along the way, your guide will introduce the fundamentals of safe and responsible foraging, including plant identification, dangerous look-alikes to avoid, seasonal harvesting practices, and the ecological relationships that shape the forest ecosystem.
This experience is hands-on and interactive. We’ll stop frequently to examine plants up close, discuss traditional uses, and when appropriate, sample a few seasonal wild foods.### What You'll Learn
🌿 How to identify common edible plants of the Catskills
🍃 Key plant families that make plant identification easier
⚠️ How to recognize and avoid dangerous look-alikes
🌱 Sustainable and ethical harvesting practices
🧭 How to “read” landscapes to find edible plants in the wild
🍓 The seasonal rhythm of wild foods that appear throughout the year### The Destination Backcountry Difference
Why forage with us? Our NY State licensed wilderness guides are not just hike leaders, they are passionate educators dedicated to helping people build a deeper connection with the natural world.
This is more than a hike. It’s a new way of seeing the forest.
By the end of the adventure, you’ll leave with a foundational understanding of wild edible plants and a new appreciation for the abundance that surrounds us on every trail.### What's Included?
🚐 Transportation to and from NYC
☕ Breakfast: Fresh fruit, donuts, and a selection of coffee and tea for the drive to the trailhead
🧀 Lunch: A healthy gourmet lunch and snacks during the adventure. Vegetarian and vegan options are available, and we’re happy to accommodate dietary needs and allergies.
🌄 On-trail guidance from an expert NYS licensed wilderness guide### Schedule
6:30 Brooklyn pickup near Barclays
7:00 Manhattan pickup at Grand Central
~8:30 Rest stop
~9:45 Arrival at trailhead
~12:30 Lunch at the summit with the potential option to summit additional nearby peaks
~1:00 Hike out
~3:30 Van begins return to the city
~4:30 Rest stop
~7:00 Manhattan drop-off
~7:30 Brooklyn drop-off
All times are estimates. We adjust every adventure to the pace and needs of the group. Travel times are subject to many factors including weather and traffic.### What Do I Need to Bring With Me?
Must have
💧 2, 1-liter water bottles
🎽 Wear: Comfortable, breathable clothes. Standard workout clothes are great for hiking
🥾 Footwear: Sturdy sneakers, trail runners, or hiking boots. We’ll let you know well in advance if conditions call for special footwear
🧣 A few extra layers of clothes for breaks
Good to have
🌧️ Rain shell
🕶️ Sunglasses
🧢 Hat### FAQs
What happens after I book my adventure? You will receive a confirmation email for your adventure within 24 hours of booking. Your guide will reach out 7-10 days before your adventure with an update on trail conditions, weather, a final packing list, our adventure waiver, and more.
More questions? Visit our FAQ page here.1 attendee
First Wildflowers of Spring (5/9)
Location not specified yet### A restorative and chill day hike in the Catskills
Enjoy a gentle ramble through open meadows filled with fiddleheads and the first wildflowers of the season. Explore the cascades and pools of the Batavia Kill mountain book on this gentle hike through a vast, beautiful forest. We'll have plenty of time to take pictures, dip our feet in the stream, and listen to the peaceful chorus of spring peeper frogs on this mellow day in the wood spent connecting with nature. This day hike is perfect for first-time hikers and anyone looking to enjoy the forest at their own pace.
### Hike stats
🥾 3-5 mile easy hike along the Batavia Kill spring in the northeastern Catskills
⛰️ Minimal elevation change
🧭 Difficulty: Easy. On-trail hiking on gentle### The Destination Backcountry Difference
Why hike with us? Expert guides. Founded in 2011, our NY State-licensed guides are not merely hike leaders, they are ambassadors for the outdoors, dedicated to sharing their passion for nature with others.
A FULL day of adventure: Our all-inclusive day escapes include transportation, meals, and a full day of hiking and adventure. Make your escape upstate worth every minute!### The perfect day for
🌼 Fields of wildflowers! Including spring beauties, trillium, dutchman's breeches and more
🥾 Perfect pacing: your lead and apprentice guide will offer multiple paces so everyone can hike at a pace they feel comfortable with, plus, they'll offer tips and guidance along the route.
🌲 Incredible observations about the forest and wildlife we may encounter.### What's Included?
🚐 Transportation to and from NYC
☕ Breakfast: Your adventure includes a breakfast of fresh fruit and donuts and a selection of coffee and tea for the drive to the trailhead
🧀 Lunch: We will provide a healthy, gourmet lunch and snacks during our adventure. We offer vegetarian and vegan options, and we’re happy to accommodate any dietary and allergy needs.
🌄 On trail guidance from an expert NYS licensed guide### Schedule
6:30 Brooklyn Pickup near Barclays
7:00 Manhattan Pickup at Grand Central
~8:30 Rest Stop
~9:45 Arrival at Trailhead
~12:30 Lunch along a gorgeous stream bank
~1:00 Hike out
~3:30 Van returns to the city
~4:30 Rest stop
~7:00 Manhattan Drop Off
~7:30 Brooklyn Drop Off*All times are estimates. We adjust every adventure to the pace and needs of the group. Travel time are subject to many factors, including weather and traffic.
### What Do I Need to Bring With Me?
Must have
💧 2, 1-liter water bottles
🎽 Wear: Comfortable, breathable clothes. Standard workout clothes are great for hiking
🥾 Footwear: Sturdy sneakers, trail runners, or hiking boots. We’ll let you know well in advance if conditions call for special footwear.
🧣A few extra layers of clothes for breaks
Good to have
🌧️ Rain shell
🕶️ Sunglasses
🧢 Hat### FAQs
What happens after I book my adventure? You will receive a confirmation email for your adventure within 24 hours of booking. Your guide will reach out 7-10 days before your adventure with an update on trail conditions, weather, a final packing list, our adventure waiver, and more.
More questions? Visit our FAQ page here.2 attendees
Past events
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