Scenic Railroads of Arizona: Sedona and Grand Canyon

4:30-5:15 p.m. Program Registration: After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the hotel conference room to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. All field trips will be led by our Group Leader, a seasoned and experienced naturalist, unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

In hotel meeting room.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Hotel Continental Breakfast.

Enjoy a presentation in our hotel conference room on the geologic story of Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and the surrounding area. The talk will help make sense of how the stunning beauty of this area came to be and prepare us for our time spent at the Grand Canyon. We will then ride to Clarkdale and board the train for our field trip up the Verde Canyon.

Our first-class train tickets include lunch with charcuterie items such as cured meats, gourmet cheese, fruit, fruit dip, crackers, brownies, and bottled water. It also incudes a champagne or sparkling cider toast upon boarding!

Next, we will transfer to the railroad platform and board the train for a leisurely ride with commentary given by a railroad expert. The Verde Canyon Railroad follows a 40-mile route along the Verde River. We will ride in comfort in renovated 1st class passenger and open air cars, journeying at a slow pace mostly near the canyon bottom. Along the route, we will pass red rock pinnacles, cross bridges, see Native American ruins, and ride through a 680-foot tunnel. Keep your eyes out for native plants and animals including the more than 30 eagles that winter in this scenic area. Following our journey we will stop at a restaurant for dinner before returning to the hotel.

Plated meal meal at a nearby restaurant.

Evening at leisure following our late return from our days adventure. Tomorrow is a transfer day, so be sure to spend some time packing and preparing.

Hotel Continental Breakfast.

After checking out of our hotel, we will set out for an all-day field trip, before ending the day in the historic railroad town of Williams, Arizona. Board transport with your Group Leader for a field trip to Montezuma Castle National Monument. This 5-story, 20-room cliff dwelling is nestled in a limestone recess high above the flood plain of Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley. It is one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America, constructed approximately 600 years ago by the Sinagua Indians. While here, we will observe the ruins from below and take note of Wet Beaver Creek’s unique ecosystem as we walk the paved loop trail. Following, we will transport to Verde Valley Archeological Center and Museum for a docent-led tour of the local artifacts discovered in the area.

Restaurant plated meal.

Next, we will ride to Sedona and view some of the town’s most scenic sites. During our exploration, we will learn about the area’s history, geology, climate, flora, and fauna. We will also have photo opportunities at some key vistas. We will then reboard the bus and ride approximately 1.5 hours to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in historic Williams, Arizona, and check in.

We will walk to the Grand Canyon Railway Depot dining facility adjacent to our hotel.

We will be joined at the hotel by a local historian who will discuss railroad history in northern Arizona.

At the Grand Canyon Railway Depot dining facility.

Once checked out of the hotel, we will load our luggage into transport before breakfast. After breakfast we will enjoy the Wild West Show before boarding the Grand Canyon Railway train for a scenic and entertaining ride across the Coconino Plateau to the Grand Canyon, narrated by the rail car attendant. The Grand Canyon Railway first arrived at the Grand Canyon in 1901. It heralded in a new age of travel, development and some might say luxury at the canyon. We will experience and relish this "classic" way of travel to the "doorsteps" of the historic El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon Village, and to the very rim of the canyon. On board, strolling musicians will provide entertainment during the ride.

Aboard the train en route to the Grand Canyon, we will have sack lunches including a sandwich, chips, fruit and cookie.

After arrival at Grand Canyon Village and the South Rim, we will gather for our first views of the canyon. Our Group Leader will point out the canyon's many features with historic and natural significance. We will also explore historical Grand Canyon Village— sometimes called "downtown Grand Canyon" — the site of much of the human development on the canyon's South Rim. Highlights of the village include the Kolb Studio where the Kolb brothers took photos of mule riders into the canyon, the buildings of Santa Fe Railroad and Fred Harvey, and architect and designer Mary Jane Colter’s work including the Bright Angel Lodge, Lookout Studio, and the Hopi House. At the east end of the Village, we will visit the El Tovar Hotel, built in 1903 and one of the great hotels in the National Parks. From the village, we will be able to see the North Rim and various spires and monuments rising from the canyon floor. We will also have time to explore rim trails and admire canyon vistas. We will then check into the lodge.

Yavapai Lodge cafeteria style meal.

At leisure. Those who wish to participate may transfer to a park location for an engaging elective presentation led by National Park Service Rangers. These will cover a Grand Canyon topic of interest and change nightly. NOTE: This activity is dependent on national park scheduling and current Covid restrictions.

At Yavapai Lodge.

This morning we will meet at a predetermined time and location to travel to and explore the scenic East Rim of the Grand Canyon to Desert View. Desert View is the location of Mary Jane Colter’s famous Watchtower and some of the best views of the Colorado River. Known for her many works for the Fred Harvey Company and the Santa Fe Railroad, Mary Jane Colter was a female architect in the early 20th century and helped blend Spanish Colonial and Mission Revival architecture with Native American motifs. The Watchtower is an interpretation of a prehistoric “tower kiva" with lavishly painted interior walls by Hopi artist Fred Kabotie. We will have time to explore the Watchtower with our Group Leader available to answer any questions. In late morning, return to the hotel via Mather Point for a grand look at this world wonder.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like from a variety of venues on the South Rim. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

This afternoon enjoy personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most using the park's pocket guide and map. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. The National Park Service includes a free shuttle along the West Rim Drive to Hermit's Rest with access to numerous scenic viewpoints (Powell, Hopi, Mohave, and Maricopa points to name a few) with sweeping views of the Canyon and the Colorado River. You might also like to go for a rim walk, hike further into the Canyon, attend an NPS ranger program, or just find a quiet spot to contemplate and gaze out at the Grand Canyon, taking in all of its grandeur.

At a restaurant in the town of Tusayan, just outside the park boundary. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

We will have a wrap-up session at the restaurant before returning to the hotel. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Prepare for early check-out and departure in the morning.

Early morning lodge breakfast.

Load luggage, check out of the lodge and depart for Sedona by 7:30 am. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Do not forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!