Philmont Scout Ranch is a ranch located in Colfax County, New Mexico, United States, near the village of Cimarron; it covers 140,177 acres (56,728 ha) of wilderness in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the east side of the Cimarron Range of the Rocky Mountains.

It is a National High Adventure Base where crews of Scouts and Venturers take part in backpacking treks and other outdoor activities.

During the 2019 season, between June 8 and August 22, an estimated 24,000 Scouts and adult leaders backpacked through the Ranch's extensive backcountry.

Of the ranch's various peaks with trail access, Black Mountain is widely considered the most difficult, followed closely by Baldy and Big Red.

Tooth of Time Ridge, and the latitude line on which it sits, marks the boundary between the central and southern sections of Philmont.

The Tooth of Time owes its name to this trail; travelers knew that once they passed it, they had only one week to go until they reached Santa Fe, New Mexico.

In 1841, Carlos Beaubien and Guadalupe Miranda obtained a large land grant from the Mexican government, including the present ranch.

One of the sons remained on the ranch near the site of Abreu, a present staffed camp, and his homestead was preserved for years.

They could not stay to mine the gold due to the approaching winter, but by the time they returned in the spring, the area was overrun with prospectors.

Wealthy oil magnate and wilderness enthusiast Waite Phillips amassed a large part of the old land grant in the 1920s, totaling over 300,000 acres (1,200 km2).

He turned the ranch into a private game reserve for himself and friends, and built a number of hunting lodges and day-use camps.

Contrary to popular belief, Phillips did not donate his entire ranch to the Boy Scouts, but only that portion of the property that provided the most recreational value.

In return, each camper is asked to contribute three hours of conservation work in the Valle on projects approved by the Forest Service.

Philmont was mortgaged in March 2019, in order to support the BSA financially while it was settling sex abuse cases.

An oversight committee member claimed that this was in violation of the 1938 donation that gave the organization the land, but the BSA disagreed.

Using chainsaws, a masticator, a skidder, and a portable sawmill, these crews create defensible space around staff camps and strategic shaded fuel breaks to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and improve the health and productivity of Philmont's forests while utilizing the wood in construction projects around the Ranch.

Slash from the thinning projects is piled and burned and a prescribed fire program is being developed to maintain desired forest condition.

The Forestry crews work year-round, and each staff member receives detailed training in chainsaw operations, as well as an overview of forest management and fire ecology.

While on the trail participants learn about ecology, botany, dendrology, geology, hydrology, forestry, soil science, fire ecology, environmental policy, leave no trace principles, environmental ethics, conservation techniques, and wildlife, range, and land management practices.

Participants tackle conservation projects ranging from trailbuilding to meadow encroachment to timber stand improvement to erosion control to streambed restoration.

It is based on backcountry high adventure skills and began in the summer of 2006 replacing the previous National Junior Leader Instructor Course.

The course is available to Boy Scouts and Venturers aged 14 through 20 who have completed their local council National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) course and is held during six one-week sessions.

It was an "alternative spring break" program started in 2003 to help restore Philmont Scout Ranch after devastating forest fires.

From 2004 to 2007, the participants worked on the Urraca Trail, which is intended as a day hike for those attending the Philmont Training Center.

Heavy rain throughout the area caused waters in Rayado Canyon and the Cimarron River to rise to extreme levels;[20] up to 12.42 feet at the highest.

The flood also affected some other nearby areas in Colfax County that morning, including highways and small towns around Philmont.

One youth Scout, Alden Brock, who was situated in a campsite within the staff camp Indian Writings, drowned while being swept away by the flood and died.

By the morning of June 1, the Ute Park Fire had almost doubled in size to 8,000 acres (32 km2), burning entirely on private land, including Philmont Scout Ranch.

[28] All backcountry treks at Philmont Scout Ranch for the entire 2018 summer season were cancelled,[29] though PTC courses—including the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience—remained in session.

Philmont staff along with wildland firefighter personnel have wrapped the Fish camp Cabin, as well as other buildings within the south country.