Adventure, Leadership, and Unforgettable Memories Await
Excursion Trips are for our oldest and most seasoned campers. These trips are tailored for campers ages 14-17 and have a variety of intensity levels. Our experienced staff act as guides; facilitating high adventure with an emphasis on leadership and teamwork. These camps are one to two weeks in duration and offer a unique opportunity for campers to engage the wilderness like never before. These camps are specialized adventure programs that fill up fast! You will want to register as early as possible to secure your spot.
*NEW* Western Boundary Waters Canoe Trips, Ages 14-17
Ready for the next adventure in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area? The classic trip “The Nor’Wester” has traditionally explored the Eastern Side of the Boundary Waters. This trip will take campers on a new experience on the Western Side (Ely). New lakes, new portages, and new challenges await! Intensity Level 4/5.
Trip Distance: 50-60 miles of waterway, 20-25 portages depending on route
Time on Trail: 10 nights, 11 days (7-8 nights backcountry, 2 nights car camping)
Scheduled: Week 2-3 | June 15-27, 2025
Cost: Tier A: $1,800 | Tier B: $1,620 | Tier C: $1,530
Isle Royale Backpacking Trip, Ages 14-17
Back by popular demand! The Isle Royale Backpacking Trip is the ultimate island wilderness backpacking adventure. Situated 10 miles off the Canadian shore on an isolated island in Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park is the most remote and infrequently visited National Park in America. Famous for is population of wild wolves (nothing to worry about) and moose, the island wilderness is only accessible by boat and offers over 165 miles of trail exploration. Our campers begin their journey by traveling to Houghton, MI and boarding the famous Ranger III passenger ferry. After a 3-hour voyage, the ferry lands in Rock Harbor on Isle Royale. For the next 8 days and 7 nights, our trippers will explore over 50 miles of trail. They will encounter lakes, mountain tops, streams, and beaches where they’ll put their camping and outdoor skills to the test. Intensity Level 4/5.
Trip Distance: 50 miles backpacking
Time on Trail: 9 nights, 10 days (2 nights car camping, 7 nights backcountry camping)
Scheduled: Week 2-3 | June 15-27, 2025
Cost: Tier A: $2,000 | Tier B: $1,850 | Tier C: $1,700
Rocky Mountain Adventure Trip,
Ages 15-17
Join one of our two Colorado adventures for the perfect blend of car camping and backcountry exploration! With a series of “base camps”, participants will enjoy a range of activities from leisurely town days to challenging 14,000ft summits in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. This custom-build experience not only acclimatizes Midwestern campers to higher altitudes, but also pushes them to new heights with a whitewater trip to Buena Vista. Don’t miss this chance to cover 22-26 miles of rugged mountainous hiking and create lasting memories and breathtaking landscapes of Colorado. Intensity Level 5/5.
Trip Distance: 22-26 miles of rugged mountainous hiking (14 miles on a 3 night, 4 day backpacking trip, 8 miles on a 14’er ascent, 2-4 miles on day hikes)
Time on Trail: 10 nights, 11 days (7 nights car camping, 3 nights backcountry camping)
Scheduled: Week 5-6 | July 6-18, 2025
Cost: Tier A: $2,250 | Tier B: $2,081 | Tier C: $1,912
Nor’Wester Canoe Trip, Ages 15-17
The quintessential trip of YMCA Camp U-Nah-Li-Ya. Nine days of paddling the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, deeply rooted and celebrated traditions, and lifelong bonds only begin to describe the experience this trip brings to campers. Family and friends are invited to honor them upon return to camp. Intensity Level 4/5.
Trip Distance: 60-85 miles of waterway, 20-30 portages
Time on Trail: 8 nights, 9 days backcountry
Scheduled: Week 7-8 | July 20-August 1, 2025
Cost: Tier A: $1,800 | Tier B: $1,620 | Tier C: $1,530
Rocks & Rapids Combo, Ages 15-17
Experience the ultimate adventure with our Rocks and Rapids trip, a unique hybrid of backpacking and canoeing in the stunning Upper Peninsula! Traverse the breathtaking Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore for 5 days, explore the Grand Island Wilderness by boat for 3 days, and paddle down the Indian River for 3 days, discovering the mysterious Kitch-iti-Kipi spring. The grand finale includes a half-day whitewater rafting trip down the Menominee River in Niagara. Novice and experienced campers alike will be thrilled by the constant adventure and camaraderie. Intensity Level 3/5.
Trip Distance: 30 miles backpacking, 39 miles river canoeing
Time on Trail: 7 days backpacking, 2 nights and 3 days canoeing, 2 nights and 3 days car camping
Scheduled: Week 9-10 |August 3-15, 2025
Cost: Tier A: $1,800 | Tier B: $1,620 | Tier C: $1,530
*Available only by special request* Rocky Mountain Ultra Packer, Ages 15-17
This year, we are not offering this trip for general registration. If you have an interest from a group of teens doing this trip (or similar itinerary) please contact the camp office, we would be happy in putting something together for you. We ran this trip in 2024 and it was described as “the most amazing trip ever.” However, it does take significantly more planning to pull off.
This trip is more focused on maximizing time in the high-country with a week-long backpacking trek through the breathtaking scenery of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. Just like the “Rocky Mountain Adventure Trip”, this trip has been personally designed by our Executive Director, Max Clark, based on his personal experience growing up in southern Colorado and years of guiding trips for the YMCA.
This is a physical trip, there’s no doubt about that, but our trip design ensures that each day is broken into challenging but achievable distances with plenty of time to rest and enjoy the high country. It is strongly recommended that your camper participates in the “Rocky Mountain Adventure Trip” first or have prior experience hiking at altitude.
Trip Distance: 40-44 miles of backcountry backpacking
Time on Trail: 5 nights, 6 days backcountry backpacking
Scheduled: Not officially on our calendar. Please contact our office if you have interest in this itinerary.
Cost: Tier A: $2,065 | Tier B: $1,910 | Tier C: $1,754
