Afternoon: Participants check in to La Quinta Mesa west after 3:00 PM. Program registration in hotel meeting room anytime between 4:30-5:15 PM.

Dinner: Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Evening: Introductions and orientation in the motel meeting room following dinner.

Lodging: Mesa West La Quinta Inn & Suites

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: 7.4 miles loop with 1020 feet of elevation gain.

Breakfast: Enjoy a breakfast buffet at the hotel including eggs, sausage, four choices of fresh fruit, bagels, danish, muffins, coffee, tea, juice.

Morning: Each day's destination is dependent on the current weather and/or road conditions and may change to other days of the week or alternative destinations. Typical hiking distances are 6-10 miles with 600-1500 feet of elevation change. Pass Mountain Trail: We start off the week with a hike outside of the Superstition Mountains at the Usery Mountain Regional Park on the outskirts of town. The Pass Mountain Trail provides a good introduction to the Sonoran Desert and great views of the Superstitions in the distance. This trail is a 7.4 miles loop with 1020 feet of elevation gain. You'll see a variety of plants adapted to desert conditions including the stately Saguaro cactus, chainfruit and teddy bear cholla cacti, Palo Verde trees and seasonal wild flowers.

Lunch: Sack lunches along the trail.

Afternoon: Continue hike, return to the La Quinta in late afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Evening: Evening program on the Geology, Human History or Natural History of the Superstition Mountains and the surrounding area.

Lodging: Mesa West La Quinta Inn & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: 6 miles and 1400 feet.

Breakfast: Enjoy a breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Peralta Cave Trail Loop: The trail starts out in the relatively lush riparian foliage along the wash. As you climb towards Fremont Saddle out of the wash, the vegetation thins and become more desert like, with a lot of bare rock. The view of Weaver's Needle from the Saddle is good, but with a short walk out the Weavers Needle Overlook Ridge the view gets even better with views down into the labyrinth of needles guarding the needle. The hike returns on the Cave Trail for 6 miles and 1400 feet. This off the beaten track route takes us down a ridgeline with magnificent views past brilliantly colored lichen on walls of volcanic tuff and some steep sections where you will learn to trust your boots. NOTE: Days destination is dependent on current weather/road conditions and may change to other day of the week or alternative destination.

Lunch: Sack lunches along the trail.

Afternoon: Continue hike, return to the hotel in late afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Evening: Evening program on the Geology, Human History or Natural History of the Superstition Mountains and the surrounding area.

Lodging: Mesa West La Quinta Inn & Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike in the northern Superstition Mountains and drive to the Apache Lake Resort.

Note: 4.8 miles and about 400 feet.

Breakfast: Enjoy a breakfast buffet at the hotel.

Morning: Garden Valley Loop: After Breakfast, pack up. Load luggage into the vans, then we depart for an easier hike in the northern superstitions. Garden Valley loop starts in a usually dry wash, leading to a mesquite and chainfruit cholla "forest". Near the trail you will see Ruins of an ancient house with pot sherds and stone metates used for grinding corn. Next we pass through a area filled with palo verde trees. The hike descend to Hackberry Springs and then follows a short canyon back upstream to the trail head for 4.8 miles and about 400 feet. NOTE: Days destination is dependent on current weather/road conditions and may change to other day of the week or alternative destination.

Lunch: Sack lunches along the way.

Afternoon: After lunch, continue our hike and check in to Apache Lake Resort.

Dinner: Dinner at Apache Lake Resort

Evening: Free Evening.

Lodging: Apache Lake Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: 6 miles and 800 vertical feet.

Breakfast: Breakfast at Apache Lake Resort

Morning: La Barge Canyon Boulder Mountain Loop: No doubt about it, today is the most challenging hike of the week, but you are ready for it. We start with a short climb out of the Canyon Lake area, and then descend an off the beaten path route down to La Barge Canyon, This flat section is filled with large cobbles brought here during summer flash floods. We follow the La Barge creek through a narrow scenic canyon to the point where it opens up again, and meets the Boulder Canyon Trail, we return on the Boulder Canyon Trail starting with a steep climb out of the canyon to a ridgeline with spectacular views for a hike of 6 miles and 800 vertical feet. NOTE: Days destination is dependent on current weather/road conditions and may change to other day of the week or alternative destination.

Lunch: Sack lunches along the trail.

Afternoon: Continue hike, returning to hotel in mid to late afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner at Apache Lake Resort

Evening: Evening program on desert wildlife, or another program of interest.

Lodging: Apache Lake Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Windy Pass is a hike of 12 miles and 1500 vertical feet, while turning around at the shoulder is 9 miles and 1000 vertical feet.

Breakfast: Breakfast at Apache Lake Resort.

Morning: Reavis Mountain Trail: Today's hike starts with a spectacular view above Apache Lake, It begins its ascent on a moderately graded former road bed through grassy rolling hills towards Castle Dome. The trail is mostly smooth but an occasional Rocky section keeps you on your toes. After a rest below Castle Dome We go around the north side to Windy Pass. Windy Pass is a hike of 12 miles and 1500 vertical feet, while turning around at the shoulder is 9 miles and 1000 vertical feet. NOTE: Days destination is dependent on current weather/road conditions and may change to other day of the week or alternative destination.

Lunch: Sack lunches along the trail.

Afternoon: Continue hike, returning to hotel in mid to late afternoon.

Dinner: Dinner at Apache Lake Resort.

Evening: Program wrap-up and farewells.

Lodging: Apache Lake Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the Apache Lake Resort.

Morning: NAU Road Scholar vans depart from Apache Lake Resort after breakfast with a drop off at the Phoenix Airport by 10:30 AM followed by a stop at the starting hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast