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Calendar
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Spring Day Trips Slideshow.
Fall Day Trips are open for registration now! Enjoy these photos from our Spring trips, then sign up to join the fun!
Carol Ruhter

The Trailhead

From Carol Ruhter, Trailbound Trip’s founder and guide.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes..including you." ~Anne Lamott

Register for these Fabulous Adventures

  • Northwoods Dog Sled Adventure ~ February 21-25, 2018 In the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula - tucked between the great lakes of Superior and Michigan unforgettable fun beckons! Almost full! Just 2 spots left - sign up now!
  • California Dreaming - Big Sur ~ April 8-14 & April 15-21, 2018 Explore where ancient redwoods and the Santa Lucia mountains kiss the Pacific Ocean. Hike along the Pacific’s sea caves, crashing waves, sea stacks, hidden coves, tidal pools, waterfalls, and sandy beaches. Spot playful sea otters, seals , sea lions, and tide-pool critters. Almost full! Just 1 spot left for April 8-14.
  • Fall Day Trips ~ September 5 - October 28, 2017 Walk on the Wild Side this fall! Explore 10 of Northern Illinois’ prettiest wild places ... Rejuvenate your spirit with crisp fall air, sunshine, & exercise ... Enjoy meeting other friendly women who love the outdoors ... Discover cool things about nature each week
  • Full Moon Hike ~ October 6, 2017 Hike by the light of the moon on this FREE hike exclusive to Trailbound women and their friends.
  • Devil’s Lake May 15-17 & 18-20, 2018 Just 3 hours away - yet worlds away - discover stunning beauty and great adventure
  • Turkey Run Oct. 7-9 & Oct. 9-11, 2018 Nestled in Indiana’s countryside, dotted with covered bridges, discover Turkey Run State Park; 2,300 acres of autumn beauty.
  • Blue Ridge Waterfalls May 13-19 & 20-25, 2018 If you love towering waterfalls, gorgeous mountains, spring wildflowers, and meeting other outdoor women, this trip is for you!
  • Galena Jan. 27-28 and Jan. 30-31, 2018 Wander Winter Wonderlands on our Galena Getaway
  • Superior Hiking Trail Sept. 9-14 and Sept. 16-21, 2018 Discover Minnesota’s Treasures: Mountains, Waterfalls, Lake Superior, Forests, & the Superior Hiking Trail!
  • Utah Oct. 7-13 and Oct. 14-20, 2018 Go Adventuring in Bryce & Zion National Parks!

Adventures in the Making

  • Coming in 2019!
    Spring: White Pines Getaway (Illinois)
    Summer: Glacier Nat’l Park (Montana)
    Shenandoah Nat’l Park (Virginia)
    Apostle Islands (Wisconsin)
    Autumn: Sheboygan Getaway (Wisconsin)
    Sedona & Grand Canyon (Arizona)
    Winter: Wyoming
    Starved Rock Getaway (Illinois)

Get on the Wait List for these popular trips

  • Autumn in Vermont Sept. 23-29 and Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2017 Join us for beauty, adventure, serenity, friendship, and more! Take a Sneak Peek of the trip!
  • New York's Finger Lakes ~ Oct. 15-21 and Oct. 22-28, 2017 According to Native American legend, the Great Spirit laid his hands on this land to bless it, leaving imprints of his fingers, which filled with water and became known as the Finger Lakes.
  • Great River Getaway Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 6-8, 2017 Where the Wisconsin River joins the mighty Mississippi...we invite you to join us to relax, reflect, and recharge!
  • Oregon ~ Aug. 4-11 & Aug. 11-18 & Aug. 18-25, 2018 Discover the Best of Oregon: its Coastline, Cascades, and Crater Lake

Did You Know...

The National Park Service will be increasing the price of the lifetime passes for people 62 and over. That increase happens August 28, jumping from $10 to $80. Get your passes quickly!

TRAILBOUND TRIPS GIFT CERTIFICATES

Give the gift of fun, health, outdoors, and friendship. Also a great gift for birthdays, holidays or just because. We've got you covered! Trailbound gift certificates come in any amount. We will mail to you or directly to the lucky recipient. It's a great gift for a friend, mom, sister, or daughter. Or put it on YOUR gift wish list. Contact us at trailboundtrips@gmail.com.

Welcome to Trailbound Trips...

Our outdoor adventures delight, inspire, encourage, and strengthen women.

Join us for fun hiking and bicycling day trips in Northern Illinois’ wild places. Bike under canopies of autumn color and along rippling streams … hike through forests dappled with spring wildflowers or in tall grass prairies … discover coyote dens and follow deer paths … walk through pristine winter wonderlands.

Explore and enjoy the Midwest’s most beautiful gems. Dogsled through Lake Superior’s Northwoods … kayak gentle streams under covered bridges … hike behind waterfalls and through canyons … horseback ride and bike through woodlands and meadows … savor vistas and sunsets from 500-foot bluffs. (Trails by day — lodges by night.)

Follow your heart on weeklong dream trips to destinations like Acadia, Maine, nestled by the Atlantic ocean … Utah’s gorgeous red rock canyon-lands … Oregon’s coastline, cascades, and Crater Lake… Waterfall tours through Carolina’s Blue Ridge wilderness … Snow-capped mountain wildernesses packed with wildlife and beauty. (Trails by day; lodges by night).

Discover:

  • Breathtaking beauty, unforgettable trails, and true outdoor adventure.
  • Your own adventurous spirit, renewed confidence, and exhilaration.
  • Tranquility: time to walk in silence, savor beauty, play outdoors again.
  • Friends who share your love of nature and the outdoors.
  • New ways to view nature and yourself through nature-based discussions. We also offer trips with a Christian focus, which are noted accordingly.

Enjoy this all with the friendliness, knowledge, and encouraging can-do attitudes of your experienced, women guides.

Join us! Explore. Dream. Discover.

Trailbound’s 2017 Schedule

Autumn

  • Day trips in Northern Illinois: Sept 5 - Oct. 28
  • Autumn in Vermont: Sat-Fri, Sept 23-29 and Sat-Fri, Sept 30-Oct 6; Guides: Rebel, LL Lucy & Hellbender
  • Great River Getaway (WI): Fri-Sun, Oct 6-8 and Mon-Wed, Oct 9-11; Guides: Scout & River Rat
  • New York’s Finger Lakes(NY): Sun-Sat; Oct 15-21 and Sun-Sat; Oct. 22-28; Guides: Scout & Running Water

2018 Schedule

Winter

  • Day trips in Northern Illinois:
  • Galena: Sat-Sun, Jan 27-28; Tue-Wed, Jan 30-31.Guides: Scout & LL Lucy
  • Northwoods Dog Sled Adventure: Wed-Sun, Feb 21-25. Guides: Scout & LL Lucy

Spring

  • Day trips in Northern Illinois: Apr 18 - June 3
  • Devil’s Lake: Thu-Fri, May 17-18 and Sat-Sun, May 19-20;Guides: Scout & LL Lucy
  • Waterfall Hikes in the Blue Ridge Mountains: May dates TBD. Guides: Rebel and Hellbender
  • California Dreaming in Big Sur: Sun-Sat, Apr 8-14 and Sun-Sat, Apr 15-21; Guides: Scout, Rebel, & Hellbender

Summer

  • Wild Woman Tri: Wed, June 15
  • Discover the Best of Oregon: Sat-Sat, Aug 11-18; Guides: Scout and Wander Woman

Autumn

  • Day trips in Northern Illinois: Sept 5 - Oct. 28
  • Northwoods Superior Hiking Trail: Sun-Fri, Sept 9-14 and Sept 16-21Guides: Scout and Running Water
  • Turkey Run Getaway: Fri-Sun, Oct 5-7 and Mon-Wed, Oct 8-10 ; Guides: Scout and River Rat
  • Explore Utah’s Bryce & Zion Nat’l Parks: Sun-Sat, Oct 7-13 and Oct. 14-20. Guides: Zip and Rebel

~ Like us on Facebook ~

Be sure to like us, where you can check out the fun and the beautiful places we visit! You’ll love the great nature videos, quotes, and photos that Nancy posts...along with Trailbound’s activity updates and trip photos. To be sure you’re getting our page updates, be sure to "like," comment, and/or share our posts. And if you see yourself in one of our photos, go ahead and "tag" yourself so your friends can see what a great time you’re having with us! Because Facebook only sends our posts to about 20% of our list, the more you participate, the better the chance of Facebook sending you our updates. And of course, you can always visit our Facebook page directly at any time to see what’s happening. See you on Facebook!