Guided backpacking spots open

Some summer backpacking trips in the Santa Cruz Mountains are still not full, which is unusual for a California State Parks program that has been marketed for years as guided, naturalist-led, and open to different experience levels. The 2026 season opened for registration on January 1 at 9 a.m., and the state’s trip page still says the hikes run in the Santa Cruz Mountains with staff guides. (parks.ca.gov) This is not a “show up with a map and figure it out” trip. California State Parks says each outing comes with two naturalists, a pre-trip meeting, and support like water filters and hot water for meals, while hikers bring their own food and sleeping gear. (parks.ca.gov) The tradeoff is that these are still real backpacking trips, not campground overnights. The state says participants need to move at 2 to 3 miles per hour with a 20-pound pack and be ready for days that can reach 10 to 11 miles. (parks.ca.gov) That makes the open spots useful for a very specific kind of person: someone who wants a first serious backcountry trip with guardrails. The program page says the trips vary in length and difficulty, and the frequently asked questions page says teenagers ages 13 to 17 can join with a parent or guardian, while adults can join on their own. (parks.ca.gov 1) (parks.ca.gov 2) The setting is part of the appeal. California State Parks says the Santa Cruz Mountains trail camp system links ridge-top forests to the Pacific and connects camps across Butano, Castle Rock, and Portola Redwoods state parks. (parks.ca.gov) That terrain is close to cities but still demanding. Castle Rock State Park alone has 34 miles of rugged trails on one of the highest ridges in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the broader backcountry network runs through redwood forest and coastal mountain country rather than flat front-country camp loops. (parks.ca.gov 1) (parks.ca.gov 2) There is also a local nonprofit behind the push to get more people out there. Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, founded in 1976, funds projects and programs with California State Parks and supports park operations across the region. (web.santacruzchamber.org) (hilltromper.com) So the remaining openings are less like a last-minute travel deal and more like an entry point into backpacking with training wheels still attached. The state calls this the only guided backpacking program led by California State Park staff, which is a rare setup for people who want to practice route-finding, camp routines, and carrying a full pack before a bigger trip later in the year. (parks.ca.gov)