National Parks Road Trips
At various times of the year such as spring and fall breaks, winter term and summer term, FPU Wilderness hosts one-week road trips exploring 5-7 national parks. In a one-week journey, you’ll tent camp your way across the western U.S. exploring the most epic landscapes on the planet. And it’s all-inclusive for all expenses—you just bring your clothes and a spirit of adventure, and everything else including gear, meals and permits are covered. Academic units are also available.
Capacity:
12 students
Cost:
$895
Sign Up:
Confirm availability and claim your spot by contacting Wilderness Studies Program Coordinator Ray Winter ASAP. It is first come, first served for a very limited number of participants. Once you’ve confirmed your spot and enrolled in any related units, pay your program fee here.
ADVENTURE: Desert Beauty—Utah
Death Valley * Zion * Grand Canyon * Bryce Canyon * Capitol Reef * Canyonlands * Arches
- March 8-15, 2025—Spring Break
This spring break, road trip your way across the high desert of Utah to explore the most inspiring and dramatic landscapes imaginable. The otherworldly contours of the American deserts are beyond description. Shaped by wind, water and time, they must be experienced to comprehend. In just one week, you’ll walk through America’s lowest elevation in the salt plains of Death Valley, walk the famous Narrows in Zion, meander through magical box canyons, stargaze through timeless arches in Valley of the Gods, hike ancient Navajo routes and stand in awe on the precipice of the grandest chasm in the world.
- Day One: depart FPU 5-10am to Death Valley NP; 8 hours to explore; sunset view; camp
- Day Two: 5-10am drive to Zion NP; walk the Narrows; evening summit; camp
- Day Three: Zion morning hike; drive 2 hours to Grand Canyon NP; hike; sunset; camp at Zion
- Day Four: Zion am option; drive 1.5 hours to Bryce Canyon NP; hike; Capitol Reef sunset
- Day Five: Capitol Reef NP day hike; sunset hike; camp
- Day Six: Canyonlands NP drive 2.5 hours; hike all day; camp
- Day Seven: 6am sunrise; drive to Arches NP; hike all day; stargaze; camp
- Day Eight: 6am-7pm drive to FPU
ADVENTURE: Biodiversity West—California
Yosemite * Kings Canyon * Sequoia * Pinnacles * Lassen Volcanic * Redwoods * Crater Lake
- October 11-18, 2025—Fall Break
During Fall Break ’25, live out every person’s natural wonders bucket list all in one week. No other place in the world has such extreme biodiversity as California, and this itinerary takes us on a trip seemingly around the world in the time span of a few hours' drive. Starting in the most world-famous glacier valley of Yosemite NP, we then go just south in the Sierra Nevada's to Kings Canyon NP and Sequoia NP to stand in a grove of the largest living organisms in the world. Pushing west, we explore the cathedral-like limestone pinnacled passageways of the Coastal Mountain Range and then north to the otherworldly volcanic landscapes of Lassen Volcanic NP, only to cool off with moss and fern under the shade of coastal redwoods and waters of a bottomless lake-filled crater.
- Day One: 5-8am to Yosemite NP; hike all day; fancy lodge stay
- Day Two: 9am arrive Kings Canyon NP; hike all day; camp
- Day Three: 6am drive to Sequoia NP; hike all day; camp back in Kings Canyon
- Day Four: 9:30am arrive Pinnacles NP; hike all day; camp
- Day Five: 6am drive to Lassen Volcanic NP; hike all day; camp
- Day Six: 6am drive to Redwoods NP; hike all day; beach sunset; camp
- Day Seven: 6am Crater Lake NP drive; explore and hike; drive back to Redwoods to camp
- Day Eight: Redwoods morning hike; depart to Fresno by 10am; arrive 6pm
Contact
Email: ray.winter@fresno.edu
Phone: 559-453-2260
