*Cactus to Canyons/Agile Offroad VIP, after the Overland Expo West. Grand Cayon’north rim.*

We absolutely love getting outside and exploring roads, trails, the natural beauty, and human history of the west. We do it in our vans, loaded to the hilt with food, beverages, and all the toys, bikes, boats and gear. Cactus to Canyon Adventures is excited for our newest offering: van adventure trips!

I started my own van adventures by building out my first used Mercedes Sprinter van in 2018. My friend Adam (Next Level Overland), suggested taking it to Agile Offroad in Southern California for some suspension upgrades. Agile Offroad develops suspension and performance products for the Mercedes Sprinter van platform, Ineos Grenadiers, and more. It’s where I first met Agile owner and CEO John Brindell. Then Adam and I were in Death Valley National Park over the Thanksgiving holiday and we ran into John and his wife Karin, Peter and Kathy Holcombe of Famagogo, and their kayaking superhero daughter Abby. Meeting more van enthusiasts and outdoors people added fuel to my already building fire for loading up my van and exploring the west.

Evolution of adventure

Fast forward a few years and John developed the idea for a “Know Your Sprinter” van weekend course. With hundreds of customers new to driving a van, the three day course introduces drivers to the capabilities of the Sprinter 4x4 and AWD platform, covers basic self rescue, trail ettiqute, and builds on a great community of friends who love the outdoors. After a tour of the Agile shop we head to the desert for three days of trail runs, eats, and good times.

I’ve been helping John guide these Know Your Sprinter class/adventures for the past two years, and every time we get to the final morning there’s always guest discussion around “what’s next?”

VIPs and Cactus to Canyon Adventures

Following eight years of guiding with Arizona Outback Adventures and REI Adventures, my co-guide and friend, Jerry Wolf, and I founded Cactus to Canyons Adventures in 2025. We have run hundreds of cycling, hiking, and backpacking trips throughout the west. We both refined and developed itineraries with REI staff and bring over 25 years of additional experience in the outdoor industry.

Beginning around May of each year Agile Offroad gets busy with trade shows, van expos, and adventure events all over the country. Thinking about “what’s next” while around the campfire with Agile, I thought to myself, why not take advantage of the locations that Agile is already going to? In May of 2025 we hosted our first VIP collaboration around Grand Canyon National Park after the Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona. Our first Cactus to Canyons trip also drew from this collaboration with Agile and took place in southwest Oregon after the Overland Expo PNW. We’ll do it again June 30th-July 4th, 2026! You can see last year’s Oregon Wild Rivers Discovery Trail trip and sign up now for 2026, HERE.

A community of outdoor enthusiasts

Oregon Wild Rivers van adventure, July 2025 with Agile Offroad.

The support for each other by van enthusiasts in this environment has been incredible to watch. As humans, we thrive in environments where we share mutual interest. In our van space, we’ve all invested in these tiny homes and bring together various ideas, plans, and dreams to the exploring we aim to do. At the end of our trips, one of the things I like to watch most is the information and contact sharing everyone engages in, looking to make longer connections with friends and plan more ways to get out and explore. People are thirsty to build more community and submerge in opportunities to get together and adventure.

Cactus to Canyon’s guided van adventure trips offer thoughtful curated routes with a community of van owners who like to drive these big machines on dirt, find great campsites, share life’s wonderful journey through food, drink, shared adventure, and wonderful storytelling. It’s the van-extension of what Jerry and I did for years with hikers and bikers looking for a community of people to share adventures in National Parks and public lands thoughout the US. We’re based in Tucson/Phoenix and the west affords endless opportunities to explore the vast amount of Forest Service, BLM, and public lands miners, trappers and homesteaders head out for in the 1800’s. It’s that same nomadic spirit of those original travelers we bring to all of our trips at Cactus to Canyons Adventures!

Why Travel with Cactus to Canyons?

Since the pandemic, there’s been several companies attempting to fill the guided adventure space van owners are looking for. None of them have the depth of background and experience in the outdoor industry that Cactus to Canyons brings to the table.

Cactus to Canyons are

permitted outfitters with every National Park, National Forrest, federal, and state land we guide in.
certified First Responders in Wilderness medicine (WFR) and carry a defibrillator, along with satellite communication for emergency coordination.

We have spent tens of thousands of hours (literally), with adventurers on trails, around fires, driving in vans in every scenario imaginable … Several things rise to the top during internal conversations:

Community: people are looking to connect and create new experiences with others who share a similar thirst for adventure
Experiences: Again and again, we hear it—people would rather invest in unforgettable experience than more stuff. Gear is just a tool; the real value lies in the journey itself. What truly lasts are the places we explore, the people we meet, and the memories we make along the way.
We don’t just guide adventures—we teach you how to craft your own! From finding the perfect campsite and mapping routes to stocking your van fridge like a pro, we help you break barriers and build confidence. Our goal? To set you up for a lifetime of epic adventures.

A trip with Cactus to Canyons…

Cactus to Canyons heathy start breakfast spread!

Curated routes: We focus on locations west of the Rocky Mountains for the reasons we’ve mentioned earlier. We’re experts here, with decades exploring every state in the southwest, PNW, and Rocky Mountain west. It’s where we grew up and it’s what we know passionately and honestly.
Elevated Food in the Moments that Count: Our trips feature curated happy hours with epicurean delights. We scout and set up campsites, providing a hearty happy hour that often doubles as dinner—though you're welcome to add more. No bland Cosco stuff here. With your own van kitchen at your disposal, feel free to bring what you enjoy to prepare for breakfast. We’ll set out local coffee. Lunch is a trail-side “stone soup” style, where guests contribute their own personal charcuterie or snacks. It’s a fun, community-driven experience, where we bond over good food and get back on the road for more adventure.
Local knowledge: We’re all about sharing what we know! From outdoor adventures to the rich history of nature and people, we love passing on the lessons we've learned throughout our careers and travels. It’s not your average guided trip—we’re here to share, learn, and make it all a unique experience.
Welcome to our home!: We think of camp meals like hosting your best friends for dinner at home—chill, fun, and sometimes a little electric! We love creating an atmosphere that’s all about relaxing, swapping stories from our travels, and sharing the awesome experiences you bring to the group.

Join Cactus to Canyons for an unforgettable van adventure—one you’ll remember and share for a lifetime!