First Year Adventures

 

Welcome, First Year Huskies!

Join UWILD for an Epic Adventure! Join your fellow first year huskies on the adventure of a lifetime. Our outdoor adventures are here to help you connect with other first year students before your first day of school. Experience the thrill of car camping, kayaking, and backpacking while connecting with 8-10 fellow first-year Huskies. Discover the breathtaking beauty of the Pacific Northwest and make lasting memories in the great outdoors!

This year we are also offering summer overnight trips for our CIRCLE students! We have a Alpine Lake Backpacking trip and Mt.Rainier Car Camping as our CIRCLE offerings this summer. The CIRCLE trips are open to non- first year students.

Summer 2025

Apply Here!

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Hoh Rain Forest Backpacking – $550- Easy-Moderate difficulty- Designed for beginners

• • July 24th -28th  
  • August 21st-25th – Trip is Full- Waitlist Only- No longer accepting new students    
  • September 13th-16th- Trip is Full- Waitlist Only- No longer accepting new students   

Experience the magic of Olympic National Park’s Hoh Rainforest on this peaceful 5-day backpacking trip along the Hoh River Trail. Hike through towering old-growth forests draped in moss, camp near the glacial-fed river, and enjoy the serene beauty of the temperate rainforest. The route follows the trail to end at Olympus Guard Station, offering a relaxed pace with time to explore side trails, spot wildlife (like elk and otters), and soak in the lush surroundings. Perfect for those seeking a tranquil wilderness escape. This trip could hike up to 20 miles.

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Alpine Lake Backpacking- $450- Moderate difficulty

• • July 29th- 31st- CIRCLE
  • August 12th-14th- Waitlist only

Craving high-alpine views and off-the-beaten-path beauty? Join us for a guided trek to Gem Lake—a true hidden gem tucked deep in the Cascades. This 10-mile round-trip hike winds through rugged terrain, alpine meadows, and rocky ridgelines, all leading to the crystal-clear waters of Gem Lake beneath towering peaks. The trail is steep and requires high physical fitness level.

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Mt.Rainier Car Camping- $400- Easy-Moderate

• • August 16th-20th

Discover the wild beauty of Mount Rainier National Park on guided day hikes through alpine meadows, ancient forests, and glacier-fed valleys. Each hike offers jaw-dropping views of the mountain and its surrounding wilderness. Perfect for adventurous day hikers ready to explore one of the most iconic landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Trails per day will vary from 5-8 miles with elevation gain varying per trail.You will camp overnight at the same campsite! * You do not need your own car*

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Waitlist Only- Trips are Full

Enchantments Day Hike Series- $550- Moderate -Difficult

• • September 8th-12th

Join us for unforgettable day hikes to Colchuck Lake, Snow Lake, and Eightmile Lake—three of the Enchantments’ most stunning alpine gems. Each trail offers a unique mix of rugged beauty, crystal-clear waters, and epic mountain views. Perfect for adventurous day hikers looking to explore the magic of the Enchantments without the overnight gear. Each day you will hike 8-10 miles up to alpine lakes with a gain of 2,000 feet each day. You will camp overnight at the same campsite!

Lake Crescent Kayaking- $500- Easy- designed for beginners

• • August 26th-30th

Paddle through crystal-clear waters and towering forested cliffs on a guided kayaking trip to the stunning Lake Crescent. Nestled in the heart of Olympic National Park, this serene lake offers unmatched views, hidden coves, and a sense of peaceful isolation. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or new to the water, this trip promises an unforgettable experience surrounded by Olympic’s wild beauty. Each day will be a relaxed day of kayaking with many opportunities for swimming.You will camp overnight at the same campsite!

Summit Series- $600- Moderate -Difficult

• • September 2nd-6th

Chase summits, earn the views. This series of day hikes is all about rugged trails, rocky scrambles, and the thrill of standing on top of the world—no crowds, just pure mountain stoke. We’ll guide you to peaks that pack a punch, with epic panoramas, and a serious sense of accomplishment. Perfect for hikers ready to level up and conquer something real. You will summiting mountain peaks each day so you will need to have a high physical fitness level. You will hike between 6-10 miles per day. Your hikes will be up Mt.Si, Mt.Pilchuck and Heather Lake. You will be camping each night.

Mt.Rainier Backpacking- $550-Moderate -Difficult

• • August 1st-5th

Immerse yourself in the untamed splendor of Mount Rainier National Park on a multi-day backpacking adventure through rugged alpine terrain, emerald old-growth forests, and glacial river valleys. Each day brings new vistas of the towering peak, wildflower-carpeted meadows, and pristine wilderness. Designed for experienced backpackers seeking a deeper connection with one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic landscapes, this journey covers 6-10 miles per day with steep elevation gain, rewarding you with solitude and breathtaking scenery at every turn.

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FAQs

Are we Camping? What Are Campgrounds Like?

You will be tent camping on all trips! The campgrounds vary in what kind of amenities they have, each campsite will have a toilet but there is no guarantee that they will have showers. On our backpacking trips you will be sleeping in backcountry sites so there will be no amenities.

Who Leads the Trips?

Fellow UW students trained in wilderness education lead UWild’s FYA trips. These instructors will guide you through the development of outdoor skills and provide insights into their experience as a UW student and introduce campus resources.

Where Do Trips Start and End?

Your trip starts and ends at the best spot on campus, the Waterfront Activities Center, the home of UWild Adventures. Located on the shore of Lake Washington and a short walk from the University of Washington Light Rail Station. Post-trip pick-up is easy as there is plenty of parking, and the light rail to the airport.

Which Trip is Right For Me?

We suggest you find trips that fit an honest reflection of your physical abilities, not just the date that fits a busy summer schedule. Once we leave the trailhead the group is committed to completing the trip together, there are not typically easy exits mid-course so please pick a trip that suits your abilities.

What is Included in the Price?
Transportation from the WAC to the trip trailhead/put-in and back to the WAC, meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), and all group gear (backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and cookware, etc.) will be provided. After registration, you’ll receive a packet with detailed information about meeting times and places, preparation suggestions, a packing list, and other important information. You will have to provide your own snacks.

How do I apply for a trip?

1. Please read through all of the trip information (posted above) thoroughly to ensure that the course is a good fit for your desires and abilities!
2. Complete the “Apply Here” form in it’s entirely – there are some courses that are designed for those that identify with a particular affinity group, and we have others where foundational experiences are recommended to ensure all participants are set up for success!

Apply Here!

• • You will hear back about your application within 5 business days

Are there financial awards available?

Yes! We are pleased to partner with the First Year Programs Office to provide partial funding for our courses!

• Simply click the “I would like to apply for the Adventure Fund” option at the bottom of the application form and complete the prompted questions to apply!

Funding is available on a “first come, first served” basis for any incoming first year students that have a demonstrated financial need and / or come from traditionally undeserved populations within higher education broadly and outdoor recreation in particular. Unfortunately, we cannot offer  Adventure Funds to all applicants, but we will try our best to ensure the funds are divided equitably and justly!

How to submit payment and finalize registration

• A member of UWild’s staff will contact you via email and/or text if you have been accepted on a trip.  We may have supplemental questions at that time to ensure the program is a good fit and to answer any questions you may have regarding the course prior to your registration!
• After you have been contacted and accepted into the course we will follow up with a separate payment portal to complete course fees. Course fees can be paid with either Credit Card or billed through tuition.

First Year Adventures Refund Policy:

• Drops made 30 days prior to the activity results in a 100% loss of the registration fee.
• Failure to attend an activity results in a 100% loss of registration fee
• We do not make exceptions for injury, illness, or schedule conflicts

UWild Contact

Alexis Ryan- UWILD Field Program Manager

<a href=”mailto:ahryan@uw.edu”

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Frequently Asked Questions

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