James Hawthorne
Head Guide Pacific Northwest
Former Olympic National Park ranger, 22 years experience. Specializes in temperate rainforest ecology and old-growth identification.
The heart and soul of every Wildwood Trails adventure.
Twelve full-time naturalists with combined wilderness experience exceeding 200 years.
Head Guide Pacific Northwest
Former Olympic National Park ranger, 22 years experience. Specializes in temperate rainforest ecology and old-growth identification.
Senior Guide California Redwoods
Botanist (M.S. UC Berkeley). Author of "Whispers of the Redwoods." Mother tongue in birdsong.
Lead Guide Alaska
Tongass born and raised. Bear safety expert with 25 years of brown bear field experience.
Naturalist Smokies & Appalachians
Wildlife biologist, fluent in southern Appalachian flora. Photography instructor & published nature writer.
Expedition Leader Boundary Waters
BWCAW veteran with 15 years guiding canoe routes. Expert in fishing, traditional camp craft, and aurora forecasting.
Naturalist Yellowstone
Former Yellowstone wolf project researcher. Expert tracker and wildlife behavior interpreter.
Every guide on our team meets these requirements.
Wilderness First Responder 80+ hours of advanced backcountry medical training, recertified every 2 years.
Minimum 5 years field experience plus formal education in ecology, biology, or environmental science.
Each guide leads only in regions they know intimately often where they grew up or studied.