National Parks Road Trips
At various times of the year such as spring and fall breaks, winter term and summer term, FPU Wilderness hosts four to eight road trips exploring five to seven 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:
$450-$850 depending on the trip
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
Arches * Canyonlands * Capitol Reef * Bryce Canyon * Zion National Parks
- October 16-19, 2025—Fall Break
- Cost: $450
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 four days, you’ll 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 for Arches; sunset and stars views; camp
- Day Two: morning Arches hike; drive to Canyonlands for hike; camp at Capitol Reef
- Day Three: morning explore; drive to Bryce Canyon for hike; camp at Zion
- Day Four: hike Zion until 2:00 p.m.; drive home
ADVENTURE: Biodiversity West—California
Yosemite * Kings Canyon * Sequoia * Pinnacles * Lassen Volcanic * Redwoods * Crater Lake
- March 7-14, 2026—Spring Break
- Cost: $850
During Spring Break ’26, 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: 5:00-8:00 a.m. to Yosemite NP; hike all day; fancy lodge stay
- Day Two: 9:00 a.m. arrive Kings Canyon NP; hike all day; camp
- Day Three: 6:00 a.m. drive to Sequoia NP; hike all day; camp back in Kings Canyon
- Day Four: 9:30 a.m. arrive Pinnacles NP; hike all day; camp
- Day Five: 6:00 a.m. drive to Lassen Volcanic NP; hike all day; camp
- Day Six: 6:00 a.m. drive to Redwoods NP; hike all day; beach sunset; camp
- Day Seven: 6:00 a.m. Crater Lake NP drive; explore and hike; drive back to Redwoods to camp
- Day Eight: Redwoods morning hike; depart to Fresno by 10:00 a.m.; arrive 6:00 p.m.
ADVENTURE: Desert Beauty—Utah
Death Valley * Zion * Grand Canyon * Bryce Canyon * Capitol Reef * Canyonlands * Arches
- May 18-25, 2026
- Cost: $850 (scholarships available)
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 5:00-10:00 a.m. to Death Valley NP; 8 hours to explore; sunset view; camp
- Day Two: 5:00-10:00 a.m. 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: 6:00 a.m. sunrise; drive to Arches NP; hike all day; stargaze; camp
- Day Eight: 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. drive to FPU
Contact
Email: ray.winter@fresno.edu
Phone: 559-453-2260
