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Hiking the Slick Rock, Slot Canyons and Red Rocks of Lake Powell

Program Number: 6114RJ
Start and End Dates:
10/6/2013 - 10/11/2013; 10/13/2013 - 10/18/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Lake Powell, Arizona
Price starting at: $845.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Walking/Hiking; Natural History Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 14; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

Hiking boots and a daypack are your ticket to some magical forays into the Lake Powell area. Discover canyon country's secret treasures — hidden arches, slot canyons, ancient petroglyphs and matchless panoramic vistas. Naturalist guides reveal the geologic forces that have shaped these magical landforms.




Highlights

• On daily hikes, explore Paria Wilderness, Navajoland, Lee's Ferry and the historic Lonely Dell Ranch in Marble Canyon, where the Colorado River enters the Grand Canyon.
• Learn from regional experts about the dinosaurs, plants and animals, prehistoric Native Americans, Mormon pioneers, dam builders and contemporary culture that have defined themselves against this landscape.
• Evenings include musical entertainment and a presentation on the adaptable and unique wildlife of the high desert.



Activity Particulars

Daily hikes of 3-7 miles of moderate difficulty, including cross-country and some rugged terrain; some rock scrambling one day in a slot canyon.



Coordinated by Northern Arizona University.




Lake Powell

Resulting from the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam in 1963, Lake Powell is a surrealist’s dream, as houseboat flotillas drift past curvaceous rock formations, hidden coves and red-rock cliffs. Crystal-clear water reflects the lake’s towering buttes.
Accommodations
Four-star hotel with enclosed courtyard, sweeping views, outdoor pool and spa. Adjacent to Lake Powell National Golf Course.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Richard Stephens
Rich has been director of Northern Arizona University’s highly popular Road Scholar programs since 2001. He previously spent many years in the field as a program coordinator and group leader, where he honed his skills and learned the importance of detailed, pre-trip planning. Before making his home in Arizona’s spectacular red-rock country, Rich spent 10 years in Yosemite National Park and the Santa Cruz mountains as an environmental educator.
 
Pat Talbott
A resident of the Lake Powell region since 1997, Pat Talbott realized a lifelong dream when she became an Interpretive Park Ranger at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. As a ranger, she conducted wildlife presentations at the Wahweap Campground Amphitheater, and volunteered in a project documenting the authenticity of a historical 1776 inscription in a remote side canyon. Pat is an avid watercolorist, photographer and wildlife watcher, and shares her experiences in a monthly newspaper column.
 
Karlyn Bunting
Karlyn Bunting grew up in Page, Arizona, after the construction of Glen Canyon Dam – at the heart of what is commonly called the Grand Circle. He loves to hike and explore the many natural wonders of the region, and is deeply interested those who traveled this region prior to our modern day — from the Ancestral Puebloans to the Mormon migrations. Karlyn is also an avid photographer and storyteller, and enjoys sharing his unique and multi-faceted perspective of the Colorado Plateau.
 
Vivian Firlein
After a career as one of the first women on the California Highway Patrol, Vivian and her husband retired to Page, Arizona, where they maintain a houseboat on Lake Powell. Vivian loves to be outdoors — hiking, kayaking, birding, as well as boating. She loves her life exploring the vivid landscapes of the Lake Powell region and makes fitness and friendship her priorities.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Courtyard by Marriott
  Lake Powell, AZ 5 nights
 Courtyard by Marriott
Type: Resort
  Description: The Marriott Courtyard overlooks the high desert sandstone walls and blue water of Lake Powell, as well as the beautiful Page Golf Course. The property is one mile form the lake with its boating and fishing.
  Contact info: 600 Clubhouse Dr
Page, AZ 86040 USA
phone: 928-645-5000
web: www.courtyard.com
  Room amenities: Air conditioning, cable TV, clock radio, refrigerator, voice mail/ data port phones, coffee maker and hair dryer.
  Facility amenities: The Marriott features 152 rooms, an on-site restaurant, cocktail lounge, outdoor pool (seasonal - usually from mid Apr to mid October) and whirlpool, exercise room, on-site laundromat and coffee shop. Fax, copy and printer service available.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: Varies with season Be advised - if you desire to make the booking with the local property - please ask for Robin or specifically request to make the booking with the front desk. Otherwise, you will be transfered to the national office which know's nothing about Road Scholar
  Check in time: 3:00 PM
  Additional nights after: Varies with season Be advised - if you desire to make the booking with the local property - please ask for Robin or specifically request to make the booking with the front desk. Otherwise, you will be transfered to the national office which know's nothing about Road Scholar
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Hotel conference room between 4:30 - 5:15 PM. Check hotel lobby notice board to find out our conference room. You will be staying at Courtyard by Marriott that night.
  End of Program:
Program ends by 11:00 AM. You will be staying at Courtyard by Marriott the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Parking is free at the hotel for the length of the program.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Lake Powell, AZ
  Nearest city or town:  Flagstaff, AZ 135 mi S, Phoenix, AZ 280 mi S.
  Nearest highway: US 89
  Nearest airport:  Commuter - Page, AZ, Intl - Phoenix, AZ
  From End of Program
  Location:  Departures
Travel Details
 

Page Airport to Program Destination

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Express Bus
phone: 928-640-1809
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Estimated $10.00
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

5 minutes 
 

Distance:

 

2 miles
 

Page, AZ to/from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Public Transportation
Great Lakes Airlines
phone: 800-554-5111

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Price varies with season and time purchased. Approximat $100.00 non-refundable; $219.00 refundable.
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

2 hrs 
 

Distance:

 

280 miles
   

Only commercial airline from and to Phoenix airport. 2 flights daily each way. On-line booking: www.greatlakesav.com. early booking is encourages as price goes up when plane gets full.
 

Page Airport to Program Destination

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Destination Services Taxi
phone: 928-645-6664
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Approximately $15 to Wahweap/$10 in town
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

5-15 minutes 
 

Distance:

 

2-10 miles
   

Call 928-645-6664 once you have retrieved your luggage at the Page airport. Best to call a day ahead for reservations - the owner uses the same phone number for several of his businesses.
 
Driving Directions
  Courtyard by Marriott from I-17 Take I-17 North to Exit 340, I-40 East toward Albuquerque. Continue on I-40 for 6 miles and take exit 201, US 89 North towards Page. Go north on US 89 for 135 miles and continue to the North Business Loop US 89 intersection (second turnoff to Page). Turn right, and the Courtyard is on your right.
  Courtyard by Marriott from I-40 East Take Interstate 40 East to Flagstaff, AZ. Stay on I-40 to exit 201, US 89 North to Page. Go north on US 89 for 135 miles and continue to the North Business Loop US 89 intersection (second turnoff to Page). Turn right, and the Courtyard is on your right.
  Courtyard by Marriott from I-40 West Take Interstate 40 west to Flagstaff, AZ. Take exit 201, US 89 North to Page. Go north on US 89 for 135 miles and continue to the North Business Loop US 89 intersection (second turnoff to Page). Turn right, and the Courtyard is on your right.
  Courtyard by Marriott from Salt Lake City, UT Take Interstate15 South for 181 miles to I-70 junction. Go east on I-70 for 29 miles to junction US 89. Go south on US 89 for 131 miles to Kanab, UT. Continue for 75 miles on US 89 to Page, AZ. Turn left at the first traffic light (Business Loop 89 intersection), and the Courtyard is on your right.
Elevation Note: 4300 feet. Those with heart or lung concerns should consult physician before attending.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Registration / Orientation
(Sunday, October 6)
   
 Afternoon: On-site registration with your program coordinator anytime between 4:30-5:15 PM.
 Dinner: Dinner catered by Pepper's Restaurant on the Courtyard by Marriott site. Meals vary nightly and are generally served buffet-style. Salad and dessert nightly. A vegetarian option is available with advanced notice.
 Evening: Following dinner your program coordinator will discuss the week's hikes and activities in an overview/orientation and you'll meet your fellow participants during introductions.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard by Marriott
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Hanging Garden / Horseshoe Bend / Toadstool Valley Hikes
(Monday, October 7)

Note: Today's hikes total approximately 6 - 7 miles in length with 700' of elevation change. Trails will be largely packed dirt and well maintained with some sandy sections.
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy a hot buffet to include: scrambled eggs, bacon, home fried potatoes, fresh fruit/bananas, toast, cereal option/oatmeal, orange juice, coffee.
 Morning: Today we will take a number of hikes to get a taste of the amazing country that surrounds us. Start with a hike along the "Hanging Garden" trail which acquaints us with local landmarks, plants, slickrock hiking techniques, and the desert phenomenon called "hanging gardens. Next we go to "Horseshoe Bend" with its famous 1000 foot drop and overlook to the Colorado River below, These few hikes will provide untrammeled vistas and expose hikers to the terrain and variety of landscapes in this spectacular region -- a sampler of things to come!
 Lunch: Healthy sack lunch in the field.
 Afternoon: After lunch we drive to the Grand Staircase-Escalante Nat'l Monument. Our hike is 3.85 mi. RT, 500' elevation change, and displays fantastic hoodoos called The Toadstools.
 Dinner: Dinner catered by Pepper's Restaurant. Meals vary nightly and are generally served buffet-style. Salad and dessert nightly. A vegetarian option is available with advanced notice.
 Evening: Hear a presentation on the amazing wildlife in the high desert of the Glen Canyon region.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard by Marriott
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Lee's Ferry Area & Cathedral Wash
(Tuesday, October 8)

Note: Today's hikes total approximately 5 - 6 miles in the Lee's Ferry area of the Colorado River. Cathedral Wash requires our first real scrambling and a little taste of the slot canyons to come.
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy a hot buffet to include: scrambled eggs, bacon, home fried potatoes, fresh fruit/bananas, toast, cereal option/oatmeal, orange juice, coffee.
 Morning: After breakfast the group will shuttle to the Lee's Ferry area which marks the historic river crossing and the beginning of the famous Grand Canyon river trips. Hikes today will be centered in this region of unparalled geology and captivating human history. Discover Lonely Dell, homesite of one of this region's most colorful and charismatic characters, John Doyle Lee, and his 17th wife, Emma.
 Lunch: Enjoy a trail lunch in the Lee's Ferry area.
 Afternoon: Hike the slot canyon of Cathedral Wash. Some rock scrambling required which means the necessity to use your hands to negotiates large boulders and large steps. Not to worry though, as team work prevails and all make it through.
 Dinner: Catered dinner by Pepper's, the hotel's restaurant.
 Evening: Enjoy a presentation on the Dominguez-Escalante Expedition of 1776 which passed through this area. The two Franciscan priests were trying to establish an overland route between Santa Fe (in present-day New Mexico) and Monterey, California.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard by Marriott
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Slot canyons! Waterholes Canyon & Giant's Pocket
(Wednesday, October 9)

Note: Today we play in slot canyons, so wear your roughest clothes--long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. First one is Waterholes Canyon on the Navajo Reservation, where we spent 2.5-3 hrs. exploring the marvelous convolutions of this slot canyon. After lunch we go to one not even "on the map," but near Big Water, UT. We walk a short way through a sandy wash, then spend about an hour using feet, hands, shoulders, and butts to negotiate our way to the Giant's Pocket. We leave feeling like happy kids!
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy a hot buffet to include: scrambled eggs, bacon, home fried potatoes, fresh fruit/bananas, toast, cereal option/oatmeal, orange juice, coffee.
 Morning: This mornings hike we explore the twisting confines of "Waterholes" canyon. Located not far from its more famous cousin "Antelope Canyon", you will be be immediately impressed that such a beautiful place exists away from the crowding of others.
 Lunch: Lunch on the trail.
 Afternoon: Travel west towards the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument with possible hikes to Crustacean Alley, Blue Pool Arch and/or the Giant's Pocket. Visit the Big Water BLM Visitor Center with exhibits on recent dinosaur discoveries in the rich geologic strata.
 Dinner: Enjoy dinner at Pepper's Restaurant.
 Evening: Spend an evening on your own. Your local coordinator will assist you with options available to maximize free time.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard by Marriott
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Bucktank Draw / Musical Performance
(Thursday, October 10)

Note: Today's hike is approximately 6 miles in length with little elevation change but some hiking in sandy washes. Optional hike up an impressive arch for those that desire.
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy a hot buffet to include: scrambled eggs, bacon, home fried potatoes, fresh fruit/bananas, toast, cereal option/oatmeal, orange juice, coffee.
 Morning: This morning we hike through a beautiful wash called Bucktank Draw. The trail is impressive from the start with the full array of the red sandstone strata that you are now becoming familiar with. Some of the trail is sandy, some of it a broad expanse of Carmel & Entrada rock, dotted with juniper and other greenery now that we're in slightly higher elevation. We climb out and lunch beneath Birthday Arch.
 Lunch: Box lunch in Bucktank Draw where we find comfortable perches on rain-smoothed slickrock or under rustling Fremont cottonwoods to stretch out, rest and repast.
 Afternoon: After lunch we have the optional activity of climbing to the top of Birthday Arch--or you can just relax and enjoy the panoramic vista. Return to trailhead the way we came over the colorful slickrock and amazing views. This is an off-the-beaten path hike you won't find in any hiking books!
 Dinner: Dinner will be at Pepper's Restaurant.
 Evening: Enjoy a musical performance by your very talented Program Coordinator Joanna Joseph.
   
Accommodations: Courtyard by Marriott
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Carl Hayden Visitor Center / Departure Day
(Friday, October 11)

Note: We wrap up the week with a visit to Carl Hayden Visitor Center, recapping the week with a map talk by Joanna at the relief model map, followed by a guided tour of Glen Canyon Dam & Power Plant.
   
 Breakfast: Enjoy a hot buffet to include: scrambled eggs, bacon, home fried potatoes, fresh fruit/bananas, toast, cereal option/oatmeal, orange juice, coffee.
 Morning: Visit the Carl Hayden Visitor Center at the Glen Canyon Dam with views to Lake Powell in one direction and the Colorado River, 700' below, in the other. Tour the dam (optional) and the Visitor Center with its spectacular centerpiece, the detailed relief map of the Glen Canyon region. Return to the hotel to check out. Program ends by 11:00 AM.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Ghosts of Glen Canyon: History Beneath Lake Powell


Author: Crampton, C Gregory


Description: Drift down the Colorado River through Glen Canyon and explore the people and places that encompass the history of this majestic canyon before it drowned in the rising waters of Lake Powell. Author Gregory Crampton led the historical investigations of Glen and San Juan canyons from 1957 to 1963 under contract with the National Park Service. The objective was to locate and record historical sites that would be lost to the rising waters of the reservoir. This book records that effort.



Roadside Geology of Arizona


Author: Chronic, Halka


Description: (Also recommended: Roadside Geology of Utah.) The 18th printing of this book in the Roadside Geology Series offers a mini-course in geology, focusing on what can be seen from Arizona highways. Although written especially for those with little or no geologic training, there's plenty here for the professional geologist as well--a great introduction to Arizona and its past. Geologic terms are defined where first used and again in the glossary. Inside the front cover is a legend to geological symbols and abbreviations commonly used by geologists. 321pp



Lee’s Ferry, Desert River Crossing


Author: Rusho, W.L.


Description: Lee's Ferry operated for 55 years (1872-1928) as the only crossing point along 600 river miles of the Colorado with a “road” on each side. Explorers, emigrants, missionaries, promoters, miners, writers, politicians, even notorious outlaws all helped turn Lee’s Ferry into a corridor and supply point for the men and women who shaped much of the American West. More than 140 rare photographs bring to life the fascinating history of this unique area.



Heart of the Desert Wild—Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument


Author: Greer K. Chesher


Description: A 1.9-million acre blank spot…For almost 12,000 years people have lived in this desert wilderness that is part of the American Southwest. After European settlement throughout the western United States, this place was not only rugged but remote, so much so that it was a blank spot on the map, literally. In this volume, author Greer Chesher and photographer Liz Hymans take us into Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and help us dig deep into its beauty and meaning.



The Redrock Canyon Explorer --A Virtual Visit to an Imaginary Canyon


Author: Irene Brady


Description: A highly enjoyable and strongly recommended companion to exploring redrock canyons of the Southwest. Packed from cover to cover with black-and-white illustrations, The Redrock Canyon Explorer showcases amazing facts about canyon history and wildlife; from how lizards run, to the life cycles of ravens, to the Ancestral Pueblo Native American culture that once called the redrock canyons home. The Redrock Canyon Explorer is a truly amazing, fact-filled and exciting guide for nature lovers of all ages and backgrounds.



Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau


Author: Blakey, Ron, & Ranney, Wayne


Description: Imagine seeing the varied landscapes of the earth as they used to look throughout hundreds of millions of years of earth history. Tropical seas lap on the shores of an Arizona beach. Immense sand dunes shift and swirl in Sahara-like deserts in Utah and New Mexico. Ancient rivers spill from a mountain range in Colorado that was a precursor to the modern Rockies. Such flights of geologic fancy are now tangible through the thought-provoking and beautiful paleogeographic maps, reminiscent of the maps in world atlases we all paged through as children, of Ancient Landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.



Everett Ruess - A Vagabond for Beauty


Author: W.L. Rusho


Description: Everett Ruess, the young poet and artist who disappeared into the desert canyonlands of Utah in 1934, has become widely known posthumously as the spokesman for the spirit of the high desert. Many have been inspired by his intense search for adventure, leaving behind the amenities of a comfortable life. His search for ultimate beauty and oneness with nature is chronicled in this remarkable collection of letters to family and friends.



Living at the Edge: Explorers, Exploiters, and Settlers of the Grand Canyon Region


Author: Anderson, Michael F


Description: A comprehensive look at the pioneer history of the Grand Canyon Region, from its earliest residents to the creation of the national park at the end of the pioneer era (circa 1920). Included are close to two hundred historic photographs, many never published before, and 12 custom maps of the region. 184pp



Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country


Author: Williams, David B. & Gloria Brown


Description: Comprehensive and beautifully illustrated trailside reference to plants, animals, and geology of an area that includes nine national parks and monuments. 192 pp.



The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons


Author: Powell, John Wesley


Description: Full text of Powell's 1,000-mile expedition down the fabled Colorado in 1869. Superb account of terrain, geology, vegetation, Indians, famine, mutiny, treacherous rapids, mighty canyons. 240 illustrations. 432pp





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