SANTA FE HIKING FIELD GUIDE
Around the Hearth and up Shaggy Peak: A Santa Fe Family Escape into Forest Skills and Night Skies
A 44-hour Wilderness Family Camp in the Santa Fe woods (ages 5+), where families climb, shoot, build fires and sleep under the stars; this guide explains what to expect and which activities shape the experience.
Around the Hearth and up Shaggy Peak: A Santa Fe Family Escape into Forest Skills and Night Skies.
As the sun paints Shaggy Peak pink and pine shadows lengthen, Wilderness Family Camp turns the forest into a classroom and a playground—trading screens for handmade flames and city hum for the call of a Great Horned Owl. Families move between a Rock Climbing Wall and a Nature Ninja Forest Gym, test focus with Archery, Tomahawks and Spears, learn Fire Building and gather for Dutch Oven dessert and S’mores, then set out on a Night Hike beneath broad Celestial Wonders. The program is designed to reconnect families, build practical outdoor skills and create community in the woods.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Hands-on skills from the climbing wall to archery lines
Daytime at camp centers on active, skill-based play: ascending the Rock Climbing Wall, moving through the Nature Ninja Forest Gym, and testing aim with Archery, Tomahawks and Spears—activities that push focus, coordination and confidence for the whole family.
Stargazing and the hush of a forest night hike
After dark the program quiets into a Night Hike beneath wide, celestial skies; the camp’s evenings are shaped by the calls of owls and the communal rhythm of a fire-built hearth.
Fire craft, Dutch Oven desserts and shared stories
Fire Building is a central evening ritual—families learn to build a hearth, bake a Dutch Oven dessert and share S’mores and stories around the flames, turning daily effort into collective memory.
What the day feels like
What the 44-hour camp feels like
The rhythm is hands-on and communal: a morning orientation gives way to activity rotations—climbing, forest gym drills and target sports—afternoons fold into craft and skill sessions, and evenings are given over to fire craft, dessert from a Dutch Oven and a Night Hike under the stars. Over roughly 44 hours families sleep and live in the forest setting, trading everyday routines for a paced sequence of shared outdoor tasks and small achievements.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this camp suits—and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The program is a roughly 44-hour camp format—plan for an overnight family stay in the forest.
Pack for an overnight family camp and the activities described (daytime active rotations and evening camp skills); consult the operator’s packing guidance for specifics.
The Wilderness Institute runs the Wilderness Family Camp in the Santa Fe, New Mexico area.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is Wilderness Family Camp?
The program runs for approximately 44 hours.
What ages can participate?
The camp is suitable for participants ages 5 and up.
Who operates the camp?
The Wilderness Institute operates Wilderness Family Camp.
What activities are included?
Activities include a Rock Climbing Wall, the Nature Ninja Forest Gym, Archery, Tomahawks and Spears, Fire Building, Dutch Oven desserts, and a Night Hike under the stars.
Is this an overnight camp?
Yes—the program spans roughly 44 hours and includes evening and overnight elements such as campfire, dessert and a Night Hike.
What does the price structure look like?
Pricing is presented as $250 for the first two people and $100 thereafter.