Walk with me.

The 2026 Fruit Heights Stake Pioneer Trek will be on Deseret Land and Livestock. I-80, exit 191 (Wasatch exit), Utah — just outside of Evanston, Wyoming. See the route map or download the trek map PDF.

Four full days.

• Stake Youth Hoedown — Wednesday, April 15, 7:00 PM
• Pre-Trek Fireside — Sunday, April 26, 4:00 PM
• Stake Youth Temple Walk — Wednesday, May 13, 6:30 PM
• Load Gear — Tuesday evening, June 23
• Trek Dates — June 24–27

We expect to arrive back at the Fruit Heights Stake Center at about 4–5:00 PM on Saturday, June 27.

We could be walking up to 8 miles per day, depending on the day.

No. All trek participants will arrive together and leave together. No additional personnel or vehicles will be allowed in or out during our trek except for emergencies.

Each individual must complete a Registration and Release form. If they check any health condition items that warrant further review by a healthcare provider, they must also complete a Medical Release form and have it signed by their healthcare provider within three months prior to participation in trek.

This trek is for all youth living within the Fruit Heights Stake boundaries between the ages of 14 and 18. Those who turn 14 in 2026, and those who turn 19 and graduate from high school in 2026, are included in this definition. This includes youth not of our faith who are willing to live the standards of the church while on trek.

Each of the youth participants will be randomly assigned to one of about 30 “trek families.” Each family will have a Ma and a Pa to lead and guide them (and their trek family of about 7–10 youth) through the trek experience.

Trek families will be announced on the morning of our departure date (June 24th).

These requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis through your bishop and the Stake Presidency. It is important to note that any approved visiting friends and family members will almost certainly be assigned to families other than the one your son or daughter is in, due to the nature of our family assignments.

Start early in managing expectations. The pioneer trek can be a very powerful and formative experience for your son or daughter, but they must be open to making new friends and embracing some of the formats and rules that are part of this experience.

Our food team is working to make accommodations for known food allergies as well as reasonable requests for dietary restrictions. Please add that information to the registration and medical release form.

Participants are expected to wear “pioneer” clothing throughout the trek.

• Boys and men: wide-brim hats, bandanas, long-sleeved button-up shirts, vests, long pants, comfortable closed-toe shoes or boots.
• Girls and women: wide-brim hats, long dresses or skirts and blouses, aprons, bloomers, comfortable closed-toe shoes or boots.

Each family will have three tents that can be arranged for separate sleeping areas for boys and girls. The Ma and Pa will sleep in their own tent between the boys and girls.

Portable toilets will be available at the trailhead where we begin our trek, as well as at lunch stops and at our designated camping spots. Each handcart will have a tarp for creating a screen or “portable bathroom” on the trail if needed.

No. Personal electronics will not be allowed on trek, and we will have photographers and videographers there to capture images of individuals, families, and activities. Participants are also encouraged to bring hard-copy scriptures and journals.

Our food team is working to provide delicious meals for every meal time. No porridge and water! There will be really great food and lots of it.

We recommend comfortable walking shoes or boots. We also highly recommend that you get them early and wear them on training hikes prior to trek. Note that some running shoes — while comfortable — have well-ventilated “toe boxes” that tend to allow dust to get in between your toes, increasing friction and the probability of blisters.

Based on averages from the National Weather Service, we can expect high temperatures to be around 72°F in the day and low temperatures around 42°F at night. The monthly rainfall average for the area we'll be in is only 1 inch.

In previous years we've trekked through heat, rain, and even a little bit of snow. Participants should prepare for these possibilities and bring ponchos or rain gear, as well as warm jackets.

Please reference the official 2026 Trek Equipment List. We discourage participants from bringing any items not on this list.

Yes. It is part of the 2026 Pioneer Trek equipment list, and for good reason. We'll be out in the sun all day, every day, and a hat is a good way to stay out of the sun and its harmful UV rays.

As with previous treks, the 2026 Fruit Heights Stake Pioneer Trek will be designed and paced in such a way as to keep it within the capability range of all of our youth and Ma's and Pa's.

The primary focus of trek is to bring our wonderful youth to Christ. Help them by attending the temple, being comfortable sharing their testimony openly with others, and thinking deeply about their personal connection to Christ. You may also look up stories and information about ancestors who may have emigrated by wagon or handcart. If none fit that criteria, look up other ancestors and their stories of accomplishment (and hardship). We all have ancestors — help your son or daughter learn their stories.

Experience has shown that the people who are acclimated to working or playing outside are generally better at handling the rigors of the pioneer trek. Encourage your son or daughter to spend some time training for this event by walking, running, hiking, or simply working long hours outside prior to trek. This will help their bodies acclimate to working in the heat.

Start with the 2026 packing list. Go through it with your son or daughter and make sure they have each item (and only those items). Each trek participant will be given a 6-gallon bucket and a lawn-and-garden trash bag to pack their gear in — it will help a lot if you mark individual gear so that things don't get lost.

Group games, family games, square dancing, singing, and so much more.

Please complete all registration and medical release forms and hand them in to your ward Young Women leaders by April 1st. You may also bring them to the Pre-Trek Fireside on April 26th at 4:00 PM and turn them in to the Trail Bosses.

Absolutely. Trek can be one of the most memorable, inspiring, and confidence-building experiences your son or daughter will have in their teenage years. Don't miss out.