The Most Magical Way to Experience this World-Famous Trail!
Writers Gone Wild: McKenzie River Backpacking + Poetry Retreat
📍McKenzie River Trail, Oregon | May 28–31, 2026
A 3-night adventure for restless creatives who want to trade the noise of regular life for old-growth forest, river song, and the scratch of pen on paper.
(Don't want to carry a pack? Ask about our Hike Light sherpa service!)
For Creatives Ready to Fill Their Well
If you feel most alive outside (& have a bunch of thoughts and feelings to excavate...) this weekend was designed for you!
When your creative spark feels distant, distracted, or just plain dried up, THIS is the most memorable, enlivening and gorgeous intervention you could ask for. (Not another online course or certification, I promise.)
It's pretty ridiculous what happens to your nervous system and creative self after four days beside one of Oregon's most stunning rivers, with a pack on your back, a prompt in your pocket, and nowhere to be but here.
This adventure is NOT about "self-improvement". It isn't a classroom. There are no grades, critiques, or performance pressure.
It's four days of moving your body, clearing your mind, and writing whatever is asking to be heard (while walking through one of the most gorgeous forests on the planet. Trees that were already old when your great-great-grandmother was born!)
Over four days and three nights we'll through-hike the legendary McKenzie River Trail through cathedral old-growth forest, past alpine lakes, lava tubes, and along a river that runs so clear you can count the stones on the bottom.
We'll write in the mornings, hike through the afternoons and read poems along the trail. On our last night, we'll soak it all in at Belknap Hot Springs! YES, this means hot showers, natural mineral springs, and a final celebration! Because you earned it.
This is more than a hiking trip or a writing workshop. It’s a creative homecoming!
You'll Walk Away With:
A reawakened inner voice that feels strong, clear, and alive
Pages of poems and free writing born from presence, not pressure
A deeper connection to yourself, your creativity, and the wild world around you
A grounded body + clear mind, thanks to time in nature and away from screens
A new crew of trail-tested, adventure-loving creative friends :)
PLUS: Special limited-edition swag, because duh 🎁
Doors close once full. Don't wait!
What Is It Really Like?
The best folks to ask are the ones who have done this exact adventure before! Here's the trail report from last year:
I went on a backpacking poetry trip led by Sara and it was INCREDIBLE! Well organized, great food, well paced, and fun. I knew nothing about writing poetry before we left and now I write poems at home! What a gift! Writers Gone Wild thought of everything to make this experience worthwhile and magical. Highly recommend!
Molly
Writers Gone Wild adventurer
"The combustible and nearly constant laughter. It was like a release valve on a pressure cooker: people navigating all sorts of demands–career, home, society–taking time for ourselves and rediscovering what it means to be surrounded by a support group. Sara is the perfect cheerleader, coach, organizer. I need Sara to organize my life!"
Karen
Writers Gone Wild adventurer
"Writers Gone Wild curated a magical retreat that felt empowering, nourishing, and connecting. Writing and nature are inextricably linked and being surrounded by such supportive, caring, fun individuals enabled vulnerability, creativity, and risk-taking. No previous writing experience necessary. No pretentiousness present. The best vibes!"
Casey
Writers Gone Wild adventurer
I went on a backpacking trip with Writers Gone Wild and it was truly the highlight of my summer! The trip was full of belly laughs, authenticity, and fun. Sara is an incredible facilitator with a natural gift for making everyone feel seen, valued, and comfortable. Her gentle, playful spirit inspires you to open up, connect, and be yourself. Whether you’ve been writing for years or have never written at all- this is for you! I keep thinking back to how special it was—so much laughter, creativity, and genuine connection. If you’re considering it, definitely go!
Denise
Writers Gone Wild adventurer
NEW FOR 2026! "Hike Light" Sherpa Service
Don't want to carry a full pack for 24 miles? Our Hike Light add-on service lets you walk with just a daypack. We transport your gear from site to site so it's there for you each evening. (+$200 at checkout)
*To add the sherpa service to your ticket, check the "Hike Light" box at checkout.
The Experience
We'll spend four days and three nights through-hiking the world-famous McKenzie River Trail end to end! Here’s a daily snapshot of the trip:
(Click each day to see dropdown.)
Welcome to the wild! Meet your trail family over coffee and pre-trip pastries at Sisters Coffee where we’ll share intros, do a group gear check, and shake off last-minute nerves before shuttling to the trailhead.
Then, we'll lace up our boots, shoulder our packs, and hit the trail! Winding along a lava-fringed alpine lake and into the woods. As we hike, we’ll shake off the noise of daily life and settle into a slower, wilder rhythm.
Tonight, we’ll set up camp just past a thundering waterfall. We'll crack open our first writing prompt under the stars.
Today's Mission: Shed the rush and rules of regular life. Step fully into presence, movement, and possibility.
We hike deeper today — crossing creeks, moving through old growth forest, and arriving at the otherworldly Tamolitch Blue Pool for a long, leisurely lunch where you can dip your toes in the crystal blue waters or brave a swim!
Expect open-air writing sessions, spontaneous poetry, and belly laughs.
Along the trail, you’ll be offered prompts to spark unexpected poems. This is often the most exhilarating part!
Tonight, we camp under the hush of towering pines and sky full of stars. You'll have the opportunity to share your words, if you feel called.
Today's Mission: Let movement, beauty, and breath guide you back to your natural creative rhythm.
Today we slow down. Less miles, more pages. This is the day for generative writing sessions, longer conversations, and going deeper into whatever the trail has been stirring up for you.
We’ll follow the trail through bursts of color and sound, making our way to our final camp at Belknap Hot Springs! Hot springs. Hot showers. And a celebratory meal!
You’ll have generative writing time to follow wherever your wild words want to go, plus an optional open mic in a secret spot (no pressure, no critiques — just celebration).
Today's Mission: Drop the expectations. Write freely, straight from your wild heart.
A slow morning. Coffee. Journaling. An integration circle to close our time together before we head back to the trailhead and the regular world.
You'll carry home not just pages of fresh writing, but a wilder, quieter, more trusting version of yourself. One who knows exactly what to do when the inspiration stops flowing: go outside!
Today's Mission: Leave with full pages, new friends, and a creative instinct you trust more fiercely than ever.
Channel Your Inner Mary Oliver & Let Nature Do The Work
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
~John Muir
I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”
~ Vincent van Gogh
“To this day, I don’t care for the enclosure of buildings...I got saved by poetry, and I got saved by the beauty of the world."
~ Mary Oliver
"Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat."
~Laura Ingalls Wilder
“A walk in nature walks the soul back home.”
~Mary Davis
“If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees.“
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
"Nature always seems trying to talk to us as if she had some great secret to tell. And so she has."
–John Lubbock
“Time spent amongst trees is never wasted.”
~Katrina Mayer
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside… I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”
~ Anne Frank
Ready to Get Your Boots Dirty & Your Heart Full?
This retreat is a chance to unplug from the noise, rediscover your voice, and ground your nervous system.
Trip Tuition: $650 per person
*NEW FOR 2026: HIKE LIGHT Add-On (optional): For only $200, you can add-on our "Hike Light" service and have your backpacking gear shuttled from site-to-site. This means you can hike with only a day-pack and let us handle the heavy gear :). This add-on is available at checkout.
Your All-Inclusive Ticket is fully refundable up to 30 days prior to departure.
Limited to 10 participants. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this small-batch creative revival. Secure your spot today!
Your All-Inclusive Ticket is Fully Refundable until April 28th.
Meet Your Lead Guide
Hi, I’m Sara! Founder of Writers Gone Wild and lifelong trail-loving word nerd. I’ve led expeditions on six continents, ghostwritten for bestselling authors, and now I help burnt-out creatives remember how good it feels to write from a place of wild aliveness.
I’ll be there every step of the way, packing snacks, guiding prompts, and cheering you on as you find your way back to your voice.
What's Included:
ALL backcountry meals, snacks, and trail treats (Thursday dinner through Sunday breakfast)
Morning coffee + evening hot cocoa & tea
Final night accommodation at Belknap Hot Springs (hot springs access + hot shower included!)
Daily poetry prompts, generative writing sessions, and campfire open mic
All permits (wilderness, camping, parking)
Group vehicle shuttle from trailhead to endpoint
Professional WFR-certified guides
Your Trailhead Kit: packing list, trail journal & gear tips
PLUS, just for FUNZIES 🎁 🎁 🎁
A Writers Gone Wild adventure hat (limited edition!)
Wild and whimsical stickers to add flair your nalgene
Your Trailhead Kit (packing list, trail journal, pen, and gear tips).
Not Included: Your own backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad & tent; Transportation to/from Sisters, Oregon (carpooling coordinated!)
The Deets
📅 When: Thursday May 28th - Sunday, May 31st, 2026 (4 days, 3 nights)
📍 Location: Starting from Sisters, Oregon
🌲 Cost: $650 (all-inclusive, and fully-refundable up to 30 days out)
🥾Distance: 24 miles over 4 days
👥 Group Size: Limited to 10 participants for an ideal experience
⛺ Skill Level: Moderate – must be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles/day on uneven terrain with a backpack
🎒Hike Light Sherpa Service: This optional add-on lets you walk with just a daypack. We shuttle your camping gear from site to site. (+$200 at checkout)
Secure your spot today!
Spots are limited, and doors close once full. Don't wait!
FAQs
Click through to see answers to our most commonly asked questions.
Some! You should feel comfortable hiking 6–8 miles a day with a pack on. If you're newer to backpacking, we'll help you prep before the trip. This is NOT recommended as your very first backpacking experience. But, it's a great second or third one!
No sweat! Poetry is just a portal to your creative voice. You don’t need to be a poet (or even like poetry!) to get a TON out of this trip. All you need is a sincere desire to be creative and tap into your own inner voice.
All trail meals are included from Thursday dinner through Sunday breakfast — crafted for the trail, actually delicious. Think hearty, nourishing backcountry meals plus a snack smorgasbord to fuel your miles.
Note: We can accommodate most dietary restrictions with advance notice!
Yes, we can easily accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free and most nut allergies. For other food allergies or medical concerns, please reach out ASAP so we can make sure you're taken care of! <3
YES! It's the best last night on trail you've ever had. We'll camp at Belknap Hot Springs Resort on Saturday night, which includes hot springs access and hot showers! It's the reward your body deserves after three days on trail.
You’ll bring or rent your own backpacking gear, which includes: tent, sleeping pad, and sleeping bag. A full packing list will be provided, and we’ll help you source anything you’re missing.
Beyond your personal gear and clothing, we take care of the rest!
Writers Gone Wild will provide all your trail meals and snacks, cooking equipment, water filtration, first aid, and more. We'll have a pre-trip call to make sure everyone has what they need. And, we even do a final group pack-check before we hit the trail so any last-minute necessities can be grabbed in Sisters. <3
Mostly no. Expect limited to no reception once we’re on trail. This is part of the magic! Time to unplug completely. However, we will have access to satellite phone in case of emergency.
Late May on the McKenzie is typically mild and beautiful. We expect highs in the 60s–70s with cooler nights. There's always a chance of rain in Oregon, so we'll prepare you for all conditions and you'll be glad you came regardless.
Life happens! We'll issue a full refund minus a $50 processing fee as long as you cancel by April 28th, 2026.
After April 28, your spot is transferable but non-refundable. We're a small operation and your spot means the world. Thank you for understanding. ❤️
100%. This group is small, the vibe is low-pressure and spacious, and the trail has a magical way of breaking down social awkwardness in the first mile.
You'll have plenty of room to connect and plenty of room to be alone in nature.
Ask away! Send your questions to support@writersgonewild.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Book your spot, pack your pen, and let’s get wild.
Writers Gone Wild
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