New Adventures: Grayson Highlands Backpacking Trip

Program Dates: June 26th – 29th, 2025

Trip Cost: $150

Going to college is an adventure, so why not start it that way? New Adventures is Ohio University's outdoor orientation program for incoming first-year students, and it's the perfect way to ensure you begin your college experience with friends, mentors, and an adventure experience on your side.

Outdoor Pursuits and Signature Academic Experiences partner to offer this OHIO Signature Program, which offers incoming students the chance to participate in an outdoor orientation program during the summer before your first semester of college. Choose from backpacking, rock climbing, or canoeing, while camping in scenic wilderness areas as you build a tight-knit community with the other incoming students adventuring alongside you. All the while, you'll gain the skills you need to succeed in your first year at OHIO.

Grayson Highlands features extraordinary recreational opportunities on and around the Appalachian trail within Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia. This trip is perfect for students who are interested in getting into backpacking but want to ease into it, or for those who may not have the time to join us on a longer backpacking trip. Grayson offers sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, abundant birds and wildflowers, and even the chance to see wild ponies! The Highlands sit at a higher elevation offering cool temperatures throughout the month of June and July, making it the perfect summer backpacking destination.