Afternoon: Check into hotel after 3:00 PM, register for program between 4-4:15 PM in hotel meeting room or lobby. Introductions and Program Orientation follows begin at 4:15 PM. Don't buy airline tickets or commit to other travel arrangements before the final dates of the program are known! Program dates may shift a day or weeks based on group campsite availability at GC National Park. Final dates will not be known until 4 months before the program. Hike direction (north to south or south to north) is also determined by group campsite availability. The Provider(Northern Arizona University) can be contacted at (928)523-2359; RoadScholarPrograms@nau.edu; and www.nau.edu/RoadScholar.

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant.

Evening: After dinner Program Orientation continues.

Lodging: La Qunita Inn & Suites

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: 4.6 miles 3060 vertical feet with packs. 3 miles 150 vertical feet optional hike without packs

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Travel by van to the canyon rim. Stretch, review hiking plan, Put on the packs and begin the journey. Hike down The Bright Angel Trail through 500 million years of rock layers, 3000 vertical feet and 4.5 miles. The Bright Angel Trail is the most used trail into the Grand Canyon, and has been used for thousands of years by everyone from animals, archeo-hunters, prehistoric and historic indians, explorers, miners, tourist, even Teddy Roosevelt. Begin discussions about Grand Canyon Geology.

Lunch: Sack lunch along the trail.

Afternoon: Arrive at Indian Gardens campground. Set up camp. Optional hike for those wanting additional challenge - a 3.0 mile r/t to the excellent canyon views at Plateau Point and your first view of the Colorado River.

Dinner: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Evening: After a trail prepared dinner, kick back and relax under the stars.

Lodging: Grand Canyon Campground

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike to Bright Angel Campground/Canyon Geology & Biology Presentation/NPS Ranger Presentation

Note: 4.7 miles 1400 vertical feet hike

Breakfast: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Morning: Following breakfast, break camp, put on packs and continue hiking down the Bright Angel Trail, through the Tapeats Narrows, past the Great Unconformity, along Garden Creek and Pipe Creek to the River Trail. We then hike to Bright Angel Campground. We hike about 4.5 miles and 1800 vertical feet down.

Lunch: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Afternoon: Arrive in campground, set up camp. Free time to explore the Bright Angel Creek/ Phantom Ranch area. Continued discussions on Canyon geology and biology.

Dinner: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Evening: After dinner, a presentation by NPS ranger. Optional trip to the canteen at Phantom Ranch.

Lodging: Grand Canyon Campground

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Morning: Layover day. Short easy hike with fanny pack on bridge loop about 2-3 miles, and ~200 vertical feet. Discuss river ecology and the effects of the dams on the Grand Canyon.

Lunch: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Afternoon: Free time to hang out in camp, sit with your feet dangling in Bright Angel Creek, hike up the Clear Creek Trail, explore Phanom Canyon, go to the afternoon ranger program, and/or visit the Phantom Ranch Canteen for its ice cold lemonade and beer.

Dinner: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Evening: Free time to hang out in camp, go to the evening ranger program, and/or visit the Phantom Ranch Canteen.

Lodging: Grand Canyon Campground

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike to Cottonwood Campground/Begin the ascent, hike through the Box. visit Ribbon Falls

Note: 8 miles 1600 vertical feet hike

Breakfast: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Morning: Break camp after breakfast and begin the ascent, rising 1600 ft over 7.6 miles. We hike through "The Box", A Narrow gorge carved by Bright Angel Creek through 1.8 billion year old Vishnu Schist and Zoroaster Granite. Once out of the Box, the canyon opens up as we enter the Grand Canyon Supergroup of rocks, and we approach Ribbon Falls.

Lunch: Lunch on the trail.

Afternoon: Continue hiking, with a stop at Ribbon Falls, an amazing waterfall onto a travertine pillar surrounded by a relaxing grotto, that the Zuni Pueblo Indians hold sacred. After Ribbon Falls, we continue on to Cottonwood Campground with its shady Cottonwood and Live Oak Trees.

Dinner: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Lodging: Grand Canyon Campground

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike to N Rim/Scenic ride through Grand Canyon back to Flagstaff/Graduation

Note: 6.9 mile 4240 vertical feet hike

Breakfast: In-field meal prepared by staff and participants.

Morning: After breakfast and early camp break, begin the final climb to the N Rim. This is the big climb which will become one of your favorite war stories in the retelling. We will hike up about 4200 vertical feet in about seven miles through some of the most spectacular scenery the Grand Canyon has to offer.

Lunch: Lunch on the trail.

Afternoon: After lunch, hike to the North Kaibab Trailhead, (and enjoy a stop at the N. Rim Lodge if we get out early enough), relax and ride back to Flagstaff through the Kaibab Plateau, Vermillion Cliffs, Marble Canyon, Echo Cliffs, the Painted Desert, the Little Colorado River Valley, Cameron and the San Francisco Peaks.

Dinner: Celebratory dinner at local restaurant.

Evening: After a hot shower in the hotel, dinner at the restaurant, program wrap-up and farewells.

Lodging: La Qunita Inn & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Continental breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Check out.

Meals Included: Breakfast