United States Tours and Trips

The beloved Rockies welcome camping and hiking lovers to six days of tranquil beauty and exhilarating fun. Majestic mountains, peaceful meadows, abundant wildlife and tranquil alpine lakes—Rocky Mountain National Park is a mecca for outdoor adventure and exploration. Our itinerary is designed to make the most of the best by spending six full, exhilarating days exploring the park’s remote beauty. From mountain lakes ringed by granite peaks to vast views in the alpine tundra, each day brings new scenery. Take a whitewater adventure on the Cache la Poudre, Colorado's only designated "Wild and Scenic River," for an invigorating change of pace. Relish a wide variety of awe-inspiring alpine hikes passing through lush forests, over colorful wildflower meadows and past cascading waterfalls, most offering spectacular views of the park's towering peaks. Of course, no trip in the Rocky Mountains is complete without a scenic drive along the Trail Ridge Road, ranked one of the country's top ten most beautiful drives. Each day's adventure unwinds into relaxing nights at our comfortable campsite, where we devour well-earned meals and revel in great memories with new friends. This is a great trip for adults and fit, older teens. If you're traveling with younger children, check out our Rocky Mountain National Park Family Adventure.

Sun-soaked adventures in California’s diverse ecosystems. On this sun-drenched 4-day multisport exploration, we’ll hike, bike and kayak through the splendor of southern California’s unique desert and coastal landscapes. In the shadows of 10,000-foot peaks, dramatic landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park lead us to the convergence of two deserts sprinkled with fascinating geology, flora and fauna. Each evening, we dine on delicious local cuisine and return to a comfortable bed for a well-earned rest. From Palm Springs, we jump on the aerial tramway and ascend thousands of feet to our hike near the base of 10,833’ Mount San Jacinto. Heading west to one of the most beloved stretches of coastline, we’ll kayak through ancient sea caves carved over the millennia by the relentless forces of wind and water. Dip your toes in cool Pacific waters and spend some time taking it all in as we cycle the beachside bike paths of Mission Beach. From cacti to coast, this exhilarating yet easy-going adventure transports us away from winter’s chill and into southern California’s warm and welcoming embrace.

This grand tour of the eastern U.S. and Canada is a sensory overload of everything that makes North America great — skyscrapers, monuments, Niagara Falls, poutine, subways, whales, sunshine, designer boutiques, and natural beauty. On this adventure, pile into our own private vehicle, clocking miles of smiles all over New York, Washington DC, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, and all points in between. Your friends are already jealous.

Six days of epic mountain biking around Grand Canyon National Park on the iconic Rainbow Rim and Arizona trails. Explore one of the most magnificent, awe-inspiring and remote wonders of our National Park System, the “grandest” of parks, Grand Canyon National Park. The less-traveled, north rim is a mountain biker’s paradise. The journey unfolds from Jacob Lake where we will ride the legendary Arizona Trail toward the canyon, camping in the remoteness and taking in the star-filled skies. From there, we head to the North Rim, where we ride the Rainbow Rim Trail—a ribbon of smooth singletrack with views of the canyon’s splendor. Replenish all the calories burned on trail with three fresh, hearty meals and bathe the day’s grime away in solar showers before laying your head down peering up at constellation-covered skies on the rim of the Grand Canyon. On the final day of our journey, we ride and watch for wildlife in the Kaibab National Forest before returning to civilization with an awesome experience under our belts.

Beautiful red rock formations, lush creeks and forested slopes serve as our backdrop on this 4-day adventure in Sedona. Sedona is renowned for being both a destination for outdoor recreation and a powerfully spiritual place. This adventure explores it all—from daily hikes amid beautiful sandstone formations to 1000-year-old pueblo ruins, we cover an exceptional combination of breathtaking scenery and fascinating ancient history. While each day includes an opportunity for active exploration, there is ample time devoted to cultural interpretation as well as free time for discovering Sedona on your own, at your own pace. As the trip unfolds, expect to encounter something new each day: trails winding through manzanita and juniper, striking red rocks which lead to magnificent vantage points of the surrounding landscape, and hummingbirds feeding at a blooming Ocotillo. Hike among the spectacular red rock canyons, explore ruins from the native Sinagua Culture, discover the revitalized ghost town of Jerome, and visit three national monuments. Follow our experienced local guides as they lead us down the trail and enlighten us about the scenic, geological, and historical wonders of this colorful and unique destination.

Immerse yourself in Sedona’s red-rock splendor and Native American heritage on this 4-day women’s hiking adventure. Join like-minded women for four days of spectacular hiking, sightseeing and cultural learning in a sandstone wonderland. At night, snooze soundly at a Sedona hotel. From pueblos to bustling markets, cactus forests to towering cliffs, we seek the treasures of the American Southwest. Expert female guides share insights and take us beyond the tourist hotspots. Thoughtful moments enhance our experience. We picnic under pinyon pines and indulge in private yoga sessions with a high-desert backdrop. Each day, we explore extraordinary places. You’ll watch hummingbirds sip chuparosa nectar in a Sonoran Desert sanctuary. Hike ocotillo-lined trails amongst otherworldly canyons and mesas. Wander a ghost town turned art community once labeled “the wickedest town in the West.” Follow a murmuring desert creek to a mysterious ancient city. Get lost in time in labyrinth-like ruins a thousand years old. Use ample free time to explore at your own pace. Whether Sedona is on your wanderlust list or you’re simply craving sunshine, this trip is a spirit-nourishing, inspiring escape.

Enjoy a warm 4-day winter getaway in one of southern Arizona’s most dramatic landscapes: the Sonoran Desert. There is something magical about the way the scenery unfolds in the Sonoran Desert. Giant Saguaro cacti are framed against a blue, cloudless backdrop. The sky is dotted with birds of prey soaring in search of their next meal. Bright flowers burst impossibly from the parched earth. When night falls, the scene becomes entirely still—a level of quiet that can only be felt in the desert. This adventure explores it all, including visits to Saguaro National Park, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Each of these places is a protected wilderness area, offering opportunities to learn more about the flora, fauna, history, and geology that comprise this desert ecosystem. Get the perspective of locals living modern day life on the Arizona-Mexico Border. Enjoy daily hikes among desert landscapes and lounge on polished granite next to a clear, spring-fed waterfall. Cap each evening off in the relaxing comfort of our well-appointed hotel accommodations, feeling tired but exhilarated from the day’s adventures.

This 4-day adventure brings you face to face with the many facets and hidden wonders of the Great Smoky Mountains. Your experience begins amidst misty valleys dotted with homesteads. Trees tower above the forest floor and waterfalls cascade down lush hillsides. We hike the park’s most beloved paths–including the iconic Appalachian Trail–and explore moonshine caves and old Civil War roads. For thrills, we raft down the rollicking Class II and III rapids of the Nantahala River and soar high above the forest floor on a mountaintop zip line tour. Each night our private deluxe REI Signature Camp awaits. Scrumptious meals next to cozy campfires and stories shared under a starlit sky create memories to last a lifetime. Finally, the warmth of a cozy sleeping bag beckons and we fall asleep to the sounds of the forest. This is a great trip for adults and fit, older teens. If you're traveling with younger children, check out our Great Smoky Mountains Family Adventure.

Spend 4 days as a family experiencing the sights, summits, flavors and joys of the Great Smoky Mountains. Every day of this trip brings a new adventure and reveals a new side of these ancient mountains. Discover this UNESCO World Heritage site and International Biosphere Reserve with naturalist guides who seem to know something interesting about every plant, critter, hill and holler. You’ll hike amongst old-growth giants, mist-veiled valleys, meadows of year-round wildflowers, and a thousand years of human history. (Ever hiked a Civil War road or explored a moonshine cave? You will!). You’ll fly mountaintop to mountaintop on two miles of zipline, then board rafts for a ride on the rollicking Nantahala River. Evenings are for roasting marshmallows and cuddling up to the campfire and gazing up at “wow”-worthy night skies, all in the comfort of our deluxe private Signature Camp. Give your kids the chance to rediscover the beautiful simplicity of life with less technology. Kids get an REI day pack — Kids traveling on our Family Adventures will receive an REI day pack for their adventure! Kids age 8-17 will receive the REI Flash 18 Pack (while quantities last, colors may vary). Learn more about REI Family Adventures. Not traveling with kids? Check out our Great Smoky Mountains Adventure trip or our Great Smoky Mountains Backpacking trip.

Escape to the Sunshine State for 4 days of bucket-list tropical adventures in Key Largo and the Everglades. As a World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve Everglades National Park protects an enormous amount of rare and endangered flora and fauna. The best way to explore this extraordinary terrain and the abundance of wildlife that live here is on the numerous land and water trails that snake through the park. American crocodile bask in the warm winter sun, manatee float through blue green waters, and flocks of brilliant white Ibis soar in the vibrant pink, orange and purple evening sky. Everglades National Park offers the perfect blend of premier wildlife viewing with world class outdoor recreation. We’ll paddle through stands of giant mangrove and over crystal blue ocean waters. We’ll hike through tropical hammocks and towering pine forests. Our icing on the cake is world-class snorkeling experience at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, home to one of the world’s top five largest coral reefs.

From Bryce Canyon to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, this mountain biking journey features the most iconic landscapes of the American Southwest. Perfect for intermediate and advanced riders, this trip packs multiple must-see, must-do items into a single long weekend – while still giving you time to breathe. We embark from Las Vegas to Utah’s Red Canyon to ride the rolling Thunder Mountain Trail through the Mars-like hoodoo landscape of Dixie National Forest. From there, we hike Bryce Canyon National Park, with its sandstone spires, and then make our way to the remote North Rim of the Grand Canyon for two days of scenery and solitude. On the North Rim, we ride the Rainbow Rim Trail – a ribbon of smooth singletrack with views of the canyon’s splendor – eat three hearty meals a day, stay fresh with solar showers, and sleep under dark, starry skies on the rim of the Grand Canyon. On the final day of our journey, we ride and watch for wildlife in the Kaibab National Forest and explore the Grand Canyon’s scenic Transept Trail on foot. We bid farewell to newfound friends over lunch at the historic North Rim Lodge.

Backpack from Mattole Trailhead to Black Sands Beach, covering 25 miles in four days. The Lost Coast is a remote stretch of the California coastline so rugged that it forced the Coast Highway further inland. With no road or cell phone signal for miles, this rare stretch of paradise is a must-do for the backpacker looking for a truly off the beaten path experience. Backpacking south with the wind at our backs, we watch for sea lions, explore tide pools, and enjoy a colorful bounty of wildflowers. Expect to backpack through sand, over rock cobbles, and across streams—with the occasional stretch of smooth hiking trail. Though the terrain can be challenging, the rewards make it well worth the effort. We enjoy views of towering mountains, crystal clear cascading rivers, endless views of the Pacific Ocean and a diverse array of extraordinary wildlife. Our guides handle the details expertly—getting us to the trailhead, teaching us about the history of the landscape and preparing fantastic backcountry meals—leaving us free to fully focus on enjoying this incredible backpacking adventure.

Three days cycling in one of the West’s most remarkable national parks is an experience like no other. A land born of fire and steeped in history, Death Valley’s smooth, winding roads undulate above and below sea level, rolling through some of the most dramatic scenery in this 3.4-million-acre national park. The largest national park in the contiguous United States, Death Valley is known the world over as a geological and geographic treasure. Begin in the old mining camp and ghost town of Rhyolite. From there, ride into the park to get a first taste of the wonders of this awe-inspiring landscape. Mountains rise to 11,000 feet on either side of the park’s namesake valley and multi-hued rock formations jut out between salt spires and sand dunes. Some of the best rides of our adventure find us skirting the edges of the Badwater Basin salt flats and walk around the rim of the large volcanic Ubehebe Crater. A weekend spinning through Death Valley National Park will renew your spirit, fill you with exhilaration and introduce you to the exceptional beauty and majesty of this desert wilderness.

Experience the grandeur of Zion National Park during three days of hiking and camping. Travelers who come to Zion often feel an instant sense of awe and reverence. Formed over the ages by water and time, this park is indeed one of Utah’s most spectacular wonders. Zion’s greenery is spectacularly contrasted to its steep, gold and red-hued cliffs. Colorful canyons and panoramic views, shimmering rivers and iconic rock formations—our weekend adventure showcases it all. We begin with one of the most famed hikes in Zion National Park: Angels Landing, a steady climb that culminates in an invigorating half mile of hiking along the spine of an exposed sandstone fin jutting up from the canyon floor. Head for the shade of The Narrows, a deep chasm carved by the North Fork of the Virgin River. Wonder at the hanging gardens, beautiful geology and play of light in this enormous slot canyon. When we are done marveling at Zion’s natural beauty, we rest both nights at our private Signature Camp, exhilarated and glad we came along for the ride. This is a great trip for adults and fit, older teens. If you're traveling with younger children, check out our Family Zion Hiking Weekend – REI Signature Camping trip.

Las Vegas, San Francisco, LA, and the quest for the perfect burger – all that’s missing from this quintessentially American experience is a ballgame and Mom’s apple pie. Promising unfiltered fun from dawn to dusk in some of the West’s best locales, this trip mixes downtown excitement with all-natural, full-contact thrills exploring the Grand Canyon and camping under the stars in Yosemite National Park. All this in just one reasonably priced week? This is America, the land of opportunity! Believe in the impossible.

Great island cycling, panoramic views and endless adventure on this 4-day camping weekend on Washington’s San Juan Islands. Our 4-day bike touring journey offers adventurers a quick weekend getaway highlighting the best riding and camping of Washington’s famed San Juan Islands. Great snowcapped peaks rise all around as scores of marine mammals and shorebirds bask on the craggy coastline. Whales and dolphins feed in the protected waters while cyclists enjoy the ‘punchy’ terrain on low traffic roads, enjoying the world-class scenery of Puget Sound. Spend the day meandering along the quiet roads of San Juan, Lopez and Orcas islands. Experience the joys of climbing Mount Constitution, the highest peak in the San Juans. Catch photographic views atop the summit and on the descent as the sun reflects off myriad inlets. Dine on locally-sourced, organic meals prepared fresh daily by our guides throughout the trip. Each evening, we indulge in a campfire under the starry Pacific Northwest sky. Don’t forget your camera!

Escape for a 4-day adventure in the wild western wonderland of Pinnacles National Park. Located just two hours from the Bay Area, Pinnacles makes a fantastic destination for travel friends who want to get away but prefer to avoid long car rides. Join an expert REI guide and a handful of friendly fellow adventurers to explore one of America’s newest national parks. We’ll hike, scramble and soak up the highlights of a spectacular volcano-forged landscape that’s equal parts Old West and Indiana Jones. Camp in comfort—your guides handle the details—and wake up to freshly-brewed coffee. Watch sunrise illuminate the park’s namesake pinnacles. Brave the High Peaks Trail. Scramble through canyon passages and rare “talus caves,” listening for the echolocation chirps of western mastiff bats. Hike to the summit of North Chalone Peak and stand eye-level with soaring vultures or, perhaps, an elusive California condor surfing the thermals. Pause at the oasis-like Bear Gulch Reservoir. Return with tales of adventure and beauty among canyons, caves and mysterious rock spires. Best. Weekend. Ever.

The Grand Tetons are renowned for their breathtaking beauty. This incredible 4-day trip takes us through some of its best sights. One glimpse of the Grand Teton National Park is enough to understand why this is a destination spot for adventurers the world over. Our weekend getaway begins with a steady paddle on Jackson Lake toward our campsite at Grassy Island, situated just below the impressive Mount Moran and surrounded by breathtaking views. We kayak to the trailheads on each of the following mornings, where we leave the boats behind and hike to alpine lakes. Explore the beauty of the surrounding mountains reflected in the still waters. Raft the rugged and scenic Snake River. Our local guides share their knowledge and perspective, prepare delicious meals and provide expert paddling instruction. On our final night, we camp in Spalding Bay, where the star-filled sky is just a zipper pull away.

Spend time in the untamed wilderness of Yellowstone’s Black Canyon on a 4-day adventure. The Yellowstone River winds its way nearly 700 miles from Yellowstone National Park to the Missouri River. We explore a scenic stretch through Black Canyon by foot, teeming with cascades and waterfalls. Carrying all we need in our packs, we quickly ditch the crowds and enjoy the solitude of remote wilderness. Backpacking five to eight miles each day, we take time to rest, relax, and recharge on our journey from camp to camp. Anglers can even try their hand at trout fishing from one of the best rivers in the world. On our journey, we keep an eye out for wildlife, from elk and bison to moose and the occasional bear. Looking for other options in Yellowstone? Check out our Gallatin Mountains and Bechler River backpacking itineraries, or our Yellowstone Kayaking trip.

Spend four days backpacking, sightseeing and animal-spotting in Yellowstone’s Lamar and Pelican Valleys. Elk, pronghorn, bear, wolf, moose—there is no shortage of wildlife in Yellowstone’s spectacular Lamar Valley. The area’s vast, far-reaching landscapes are renowned as a haven for these animals, and provide the perfect view for spotting them. The remote Pelican Valley is widely known as a premier grizzly bear habitat in the United States; its meandering meadows and creeks make for a perfectly serene backdrop for our adventure. Beginning in Lamar Valley, backpack south along the banks of the Lamar River, keeping eyes peeled for some of the 67 species of mammals that live in the park. Take a cooling dip in the river, or just let its tranquil sounds lull you to sleep from the comfort of our riverside campsites. Traveling in the shadow of the Absaroka Mountain Range, cross up and over Mist Creek Pass, ultimately dropping down into the beautiful open meadows of the magnificent Pelican Valley. By the end of the through-hike, the sights, sounds and smells of Yellowstone’s most spectacular landscapes will be forever etched into our minds.