Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions

An early leader in outdoor education, we’ve been running unique outdoor expeditions in the Southwest since 1926.

Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions is a non-profit, 501c3 organization based out of Albuquerque, NM with a 550 acre Basecamp located in Thoreau, NM. We believe that to experience true adventure, you must first have a reason to be there. To us, adventure is both feeling the thrill of your first 13,000 foot peak and the excitement of discovering how that peak came to be. We believe that knowledge provides the basis for excitement, and that to fully experience the wonder of the Southwest, we must seek to understand it. Cottonwood Gulch creates outdoor learning adventures for youth from all backgrounds that foster personal growth, strengthen community, and inspire stewardship of the natural world. We run programming with local schools during the fall and spring, and develop summer treks for youth eager to spend more time in the wild places of the American Southwest. Living in community and encouraging self-discovery through adventure are key components of our programming, and our essential for our participants to grow into mindful, accountable and confident young people. We hope you'll join us for a season full of curiosity, collaboration and community as we experience wilderness adventure and personal growth.