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Desert Hiking: Arizona’s Valley of the Sun and Superstition Mountains |
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Program Number: |
6117RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
6 nights |
| Location: |
Scottsdale, Arizona
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| Price starting at: |
$899.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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Walking/Hiking; Natural History
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Activity Level: |
t (see description) |
| Meals: |
17;
6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Vegetarian |
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Come to the Arizona desert for some of the most dramatic and beautiful hiking country in the Southwest. On 4 1/2 days of hiking, experienced wilderness guides introduce facets of Arizona’s varied geology, unique ecology and fascinating human history while nighttime in the Superstition Mountains brings spectacular night skies for enthusiastic stargazers.
Highlights
• Hike classic Sonoran desert trails while learning to identify many cactus species and exploring basin and range topography.
• While in Scottsdale, return to your resort to relax after invigorating hikes on challenging trails.
• Journey to the rugged and mysterious landscapes of Salt River Canyon and the volcanic Superstition Mountains, home to the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine.
Activity Particulars
Hiking up to seven miles on trails over uneven terrain requiring agility. Some rock scrambling, a few
sustained uphills. Elevation changes up to 1,200 feet.. Elevations of 2,000-4,000 feet.
Come prepared to hike with proper equipment and in good physical shape through regular aerobic exercise. Hikes will be on both established trails and “off trail” routes with uneven terrain, high steps, desert vegetation and rocky areas. Hikes are usually conducted as one group with a hike leader and a sweep. See daily schedule for more detailed information.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Scottsdale, 3 nights; transfer to Apache Lake/Salt River Canyon, 3 nights; return to Scottsdale/Phoenix for airport/hotel drop offs.
Coordinated by Northern Arizona University.
Scottsdale
An affluent city adjacent to Phoenix, Scottsdale enjoys an annual average of more than 330 days of sunshine, a factor that, along with the area’s wide-open desert landscape, makes the city a haven for golfers. Scottsdale’s vibrant nightlife and busy hotel scene are balanced out by its proximity to mountain areas popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
Superstition Mountains
This range of mountains is a hiking paradise virtually in the backyards of Phoenix residents. Located in the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area, the mountains are crisscrossed by numerous hiking trails. On Superstition Mountain lies Lost Dutchman State Park, named for a miner who, legend has it, discovered a mother lode in the area.
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Accommodations
Scottsdale: centrally located resort with two outdoor pools/spa, tennis courts. Spa services available. Apache Lake: resort with lake views.
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Bruce Banker
| | Bruce Banker is a graduate of Northern Arizona University, where he studied natural sciences and geology. He lives in Flagstaff and has worked for the National Park Service as a naturalist on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Chaco Canyon National Historic Park and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Bruce also serves as an outdoor educator for the Grand Canyon Field Institute. Bruce has taken students to many of the far-flung corners of the Southwest and has a few good stories to share. | | | | Mike Young
| | Mike Young has lived in Arizona for 40 years, and taught math and geology at Yavapai College prior to his work with Road Scholar. To convey the Arizona landscape, Mike uses a broad range of topics including botany, natural history and geomorphology. He has worked as a commercial boatman, designed and constructed his own home, and conducted field exercises throughout the intermountain west. He is an accomplished hike leader who challenges hikers of all skill levels. | | | | 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. | | | |
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