Is there anything better than northeast Iowa in the fall? Nope! Go leaf peeping with us in Iowa’s prettiest town, Decorah. We’ll stay in beautiful cabins 25 minutes from town, high on the bluffs of the Upper Iowa River. We’ll head in to Decorah for a day of nature and exploration, hitting the area’s beautiful parks, a trout hatchery and more, and grabbing a happy hour drink at the town’s stellar breweries. This trip is reserved for our Wanderers age 55+, and is bound to be one to remember! 

You’ve asked for years and we’re finally making it happen! Like our other Sprouts trips, but designed for boys and their female adults. Level up your and your child’s outdoor skills with two full days and nights in camp! Activities often include: nature hikes, outdoor scavenger hunts, frog catching, creek stomping, fire starting and s’mores building. 

Wander Women backpacking trips are designed for folks who are new to backpacking, looking for others to backpack with, or looking to explore Iowa from a different point of view. You’ll learn basic backpacking skills while on the trail, building confidence and knowledge as the weekend progresses. Our expert guides will help you with any questions or worries you have to ensure you feel confident after the weekend!

Embark into the ruggedness of South Dakota with us as we visit TWO National Parks in one week! We’ll homebase in Custer State Park, where we’ll hike and explore South Dakota’s park system’s crowning jewel before traveling to Wind Cave National Park, home of one of the world’s longest cave systems. Park rangers will guide us through a tour of the cave system’s most awe-inspiring formations and features (the tour is upright and lit, no spleunking involved). We’ll stop at the Mammoth Research Site to see a live mammoth colony excavation before going to Badlands National Park for two days & nights where towering spires and dramatic canyons paint a mesmerizing prairie landscape. 

Discover all the delicacies you can create around camp with Chef Katie Porter as she treats us to a weekend full of delicious food, good hiking and cozy vibes. Chef Katie specializes in locally-grown, farm-to-table style food, many ingredients coming from her own garden. This weekend will be full of camping luxury and mouthwatering meals — could it get any better? 

Wander Women backpacking trips are designed for folks who are new to backpacking, looking for others to backpack with, or looking to explore Iowa from a different point of view. You’ll learn basic backpacking skills while on the trail, building confidence and knowledge as the weekend progresses. Our expert guides will help you with any questions or worries you have to ensure you feel confident after the weekend!

You don’t have to venture far to visit a National Park site! Spend the weekend with us in one of Iowa’s most scenic regions, the Driftless. On this trip, we’ll do a deep dive tour of Effigy Mounds National Monument, a stunning park (especially in the fall) on the bluffs of the Mississippi River. Home to the largest concentration of Native American animal mounds in the country, Effigy Mounds is full of natural and cultural history, reverence for Iowa’s indigenous peoples past and present, and the beautiful flora and fauna that dot the northeast Iowa landscape. We’ll stay in a cabin minutes away from Yellow River State Forest and enjoy a weekend of hiking, history and fall beauty! 

Wander Women backpacking trips are designed for folks who are new to backpacking, looking for others to backpack with, or looking to explore Iowa from a different point of view. You’ll learn basic backpacking skills while on the trail, building confidence and knowledge as the weekend progresses. Our expert guides will help you with any questions or worries you have to ensure you feel confident after the weekend!

Join us in Wisconsin, the hub of thriving supper club culture, for a culinary tour-de-force as we trail our way through the center of the state, experiencing all the delicious vibes these charming, old school establishments have to offer. Our carefully curated itinerary takes you on a tour of the some of the state’s most beloved supper clubs, offering an authentic taste of the Midwest’s culinary heritage.

Level up your and your child’s outdoor skills with two full days and nights in camp! Activities often include: nature hikes, outdoor scavenger hunts, frog catching, creek stomping, fire starting and s’mores building. Price includes registration for one child and one adult. 

Spend 2.5 days on one of Wisconsin’s best river stretches with us as we paddle with our gear on the beautiful and remote Lower Wisconsin River! We’ll experience the wildness of the wide river as we camp on sandbars and scout for wildlife, before coming to the Mighty Mississippi and working our way through backwaters to Wyalusing State Park. This trip will be rugged and beautiful, and is the perfect multi-day paddle adventure! 

A perfect bonding experience and a great chance to experience the great outdoors together, our Sprouts trips are a perfect balance of education, relaxation and just plain fun. In our 12-14 trips, we provide the opportunity for middle/high school kids and their caregiver to learn outdoor skills and challenge themselves in nature. Price includes registration for one child and one adult. 

Backpacking can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you’re equipped with the basic knowledge of backpacking, venturing out with nothing but your pack gets easier than you’d ever think! If you’ve been backpacking curious and looking to get experience before investing in gear or heading out on your own, you’re in the right place! Our 1-Night Beginner Backpacking trips give you a great, hands-on introduction and basic backpacking knowledge to get you started on your journey! 

Relax and unwind as you connect with nature through yoga and meditation! Join WW guide and instructor Michelle from Radiant Wellness Solutions for a weekend perfect for any level of yoga-doer. If you’ve never done yoga with Michelle before, you’re in for an amazing experience — we’ll engage in several yoga and meditation flows throughout the weekend (include a yoga hike!), and have plenty of time for deep rest and relaxation. 

You don’t have to travel far outside the city to have an amazing outdoor adventure! Come with us to Minneapolis, the city of parks and nature, as we run wild in the Twin Cities! We’ll tour the largest wildflower garden in the country (with a bonus bird sanctuary attached!), paddle the Mississippi River right into the heart of downtown, hike and chase waterfalls at the city’s famous parks, enjoy dinner at a woman-owned local restaurant, and more! We’ll be camping at Willow River State Park just 30 minutes from Minneapolis the whole weekend (for a little taste of rugged adventure), a park famous for its scenic gorge, massive waterfalls, hiking trails and remnant prairie. 

On this trip, we’ll traverse 45+ miles across the entire island, north to south, from Rock Harbor Visitor’s Center on the Michigan side to Windigo on the Minnesota side. This trek will follow part of the Minong Ridge, the hardest hiking on the island, but with the absolute best views of Lake Superior. This trip includes a long ferry ride to the northern side of the island from Minnesota, giving you an almost complete view of the entire island from the water.

The perfect beginner camping night for our youngest Wanderers! You’ll spend one overnight in a tent, keeping the afternoon and morning busy with crafts, mini-fire starting, relaxing around camp, interactive games and nature-filled hikes! Price includes registration for one child and one adult. 

Level up your and your child’s outdoor skills with two full days and nights in camp! Activities often include: nature hikes, outdoor scavenger hunts, frog catching, creek stomping, fire starting and s’mores building. Price includes registration for one child and one adult. 

The perfect beginner paddle, the Kickapoo River in Wisconsin is one of the region’s most popular, mainly for its gorgeous scenery and dramatic sandstone cliffs and outcroppings. We’ll spend 3 days boatpacking through the beautiful Kickapoo Valley on the river (our stretch is famous for its meandering turns), camping along the way in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, before a celebratory dinner back on land! 

Get down and dirty inside the earth! There’s a reason this is one of our most popular trips every year! Explore two different cave systems in eastern Iowa — Maquoketa Caves State Park and a private cave close by in Clinton County! We’ll hike the trails and see Maquoketa’s famous caves before getting down and dirty spelunking in a (short) cave system! There’s no better way to beat the heat of summer! 

You’ve asked for years and we’re finally making it happen! Like our other Sprouts trips, but designed for boys and their female adults. The perfect beginner camping night for our youngest Wanderers! You’ll spend one overnight in a tent, keeping the afternoon and morning busy with crafts, mini-fire starting, relaxing around camp, interactive games and nature-filled hikes! Price includes registration for one child and one adult. 

Widely considered the most beautiful paddle in the whole state, the Upper Iowa River is a wild gem that runs through Decorah and creates the backdrop for the Drifless region. Enjoy an all-day paddle along its most scenic section while camping in the heart of Decorah. If you want to fall in love with Iowa, this is the trip for you! 

If you’ve never seen the dunes of Lake Michigan, you’re missing one of the Midwest’s most stunning natural wonders. On this trip, immerse yourself in this Great Lakes haven at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. We’ll spend three days hiking and paddling along 100-ft dunes, huge sand cliffs and through northwoods forest, explore Michigan’s lower peninsula full of local farms, historic fish towns and artisan shops, learn about the famed nautical history of the region and relax on the surprisingly warm beaches of Lake Michigan. 

If you like a little taste of everything outdoors, this is the trip for you! Join us as we explore one of Wisconsin’s premier parks, Devil’s Lake State Park, during this long-weekend adventure. We’ll spend the first day hiking the many beautiful trails of the park, including part of the Ice Age Trail, a backpacking trail running 1200 miles across the state. The hiking at Devil’s Lake rewards you with breathtaking vistas of the crystal clear lake and surrounding mountains and valleys — some of Wisconsin’s best scenery! Then, we’ll spend a day on the lake, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing its beautiful waters. 

Wander Women backpacking trips are designed for folks who are new to backpacking, looking for others to backpack with, or looking to explore Iowa from a different point of view. You’ll learn basic backpacking skills while on the trail, building confidence and knowledge as the weekend progresses. Our expert guides will help you with any questions or worries you have to ensure you feel confident after the weekend!

A step up from our 101 trip, this camping intensive will throw you in the thick of all things outdoors — perfect for beginners and those looking to brush up on camping skills! Wander Women guides and state & county naturalists will lead you through a super interactive weekend that includes instruction on: Comfort while camping; camp cooking & food preparation; hiking; the ethics of Leave No Trace; Iowa plant & animal ID; beginner kayaking skills; fishing; foraging; fire starting; and planning a camping trip of your own! This trip is jam-packed! 

Explore the beauty of Whiterock Conservancy during this weekend designed for adventure, community and relaxation. We’ll stroll some of the conservancy’s 40 miles of trails, learn about the unique landscapes and amazing conservation work being done on Whiterock’s 5,500+ acres, and marvel at the park’s famous night sky. This trip is reserved for our Wanderers age 55+ and we’ll be staying in a comfortable cabin all weekend long! 

Join in community with other queer campers in this jam-packed weekend at one of our favorite places in Iowa, Whiterock Conservancy! Explore 40+ miles of hiking trails, paddle the Middle Raccoon River, and stargaze and constellation spot Iowa’s darkest skies! This trip is specifically designated for Wanderers who identify as queer and feel most comfortable in spaces designed for women. It will be led by two queer guides. 

Trek to one of the most remote National Parks in the country on this 8-day backpacking adventure to Isle Royale National Park, an island situated in Lake Superior. Known for its ruggedness and tricky logistics, Isle Royale is beloved by backpackers for its amazing views, fantastic wildlife, hard hikes and wild weather. On this trip, we’ll backpack 41+ miles over 5 days along the Feldtmann Loop and ending in Malone Bay. After the hike, we’ll catch a ferry back to the mainland and enjoy a luxurious celebration dinner in Grand Marais and a peaceful hotel stay, perfect for basking in your accomplishment and bad-assery.