Pennsylvania
Choose Your Pace: A Hiking Adventure on the Appalachian Trail
Program No. 14629RJ
Hike a stretch of the Appalachian Trail in the Pocono Mountains at your own pace, explore trails each day and learn about the region’s history from a local historian and park ranger.
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DATES & PRICES
No shuttle | Roundtrip airport transfer |
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Excludes round-trip airport shuttle transfers to and from the program location. |
Includes round-trip airport shuttle transfers to and from the program location. |
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
Oct 20 - Oct 25, 2024
Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2024
Nov 3 - Nov 8, 2024
Nov 17 - Nov 22, 2024
Mar 16 - Mar 21, 2025
Full Inventory
Mar 30 - Apr 4, 2025Full Inventory
Apr 6 - Apr 11, 2025Apr 27 - May 2, 2025
May 4 - May 9, 2025
Oct 12 - Oct 17, 2025
Full Inventory
Nov 2 - Nov 7, 2025Full Inventory
Nov 16 - Nov 21, 2025DATES & PRICES
No shuttle | Roundtrip airport transfer |
---|---|
Excludes round-trip airport shuttle transfers to and from the program location. |
Includes round-trip airport shuttle transfers to and from the program location. |
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
Oct 20 - Oct 25, 2024
Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2024
Nov 3 - Nov 8, 2024
Nov 17 - Nov 22, 2024
Mar 16 - Mar 21, 2025
Full Inventory
Mar 30 - Apr 4, 2025Full Inventory
Apr 6 - Apr 11, 2025Apr 27 - May 2, 2025
May 4 - May 9, 2025
Oct 12 - Oct 17, 2025
Full Inventory
Nov 2 - Nov 7, 2025Full Inventory
Nov 16 - Nov 21, 2025Not seeing the date you're looking for?
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5B 3L 5D
1
Check-in, Welcome Reception, Dinner, Orientation, Class
Shawnee on Delaware
2
Mt. Minsi (PA) Hikes, Historical Presentation
Shawnee on Delaware
3
Camp Mohican (NJ) Morning & Afternoon Hikes, Evening Concert
Shawnee on Delaware
4
Naturalist Walk (PA), Free Time, Animal Presentation
Shawnee on Delaware
5
Dunnfield Creek/Sunfish Pond Hikes (NJ), Farewell Dinner
Shawnee on Delaware
6
Program Concludes
Shawnee on Delaware
At a Glance
Lace up your boots and discover a section of the Appalachian Trail in the Pocono Mountains — a stretch of NJ & PA prized for its outstanding views. Pass through the picturesque Delaware Water Gap and follow rocky ridges a few thousand feet above sea level. On daily hikes chosen by level of challenge, learn trail orientation, hiking safety and the history and preservation of a national treasure while wrapped in nature's beauty and serenity.
Activity Level
Outdoor: Choose Your Pace
Each day, choose from multiple hiking options based on your desired level of challenge and pace, ranging from 3-10 miles on rocky terrain. Elevations of 500-1,200 feet.
What You'll Learn
- Enjoy hikes led by experienced, knowledgeable experts on the renowned Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
- Get acquainted with the environment of the Poconos on a walk with a local naturalist.
- Learn about the region from a local historian
General Notes
Airport transfer at added cost. The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for early morning exercise, interaction with the local community for insight into local life, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal and a live performance or event.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Rick Koval
Rick Koval is a longtime resident of Luzerne County and a professional naturalist, consultant, wildlife photographer and award-winning outdoor writer. He was the director of land conservation for the North Branch Land Trust before becoming the head naturalist for Skytop Lodge in the Poconos. Rick is a local television personality as a naturalist on the popular show, “Pennsylvania Outdoor Life.” He is currently writing a book on the native orchids of the Poconos.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Rick Koval
View biography
Rick Koval is a longtime resident of Luzerne County and a professional naturalist, consultant, wildlife photographer and award-winning outdoor writer. He was the director of land conservation for the North Branch Land Trust before becoming the head naturalist for Skytop Lodge in the Poconos. Rick is a local television personality as a naturalist on the popular show, “Pennsylvania Outdoor Life.” He is currently writing a book on the native orchids of the Poconos.
Sandy Walter
View biography
Sandy Walter grew up in Pennsylvania just south of the Delaware water gap. She taught skiing in Pennsylvania and Colorado for 24 years and is a certified yoga instructor. With a love for travel and outdoors, she has hiked, skied, and biked many areas of the country and world. Biking is another passion which has taken her on many long-distance cycling trips. She also enjoys kayaking, paddle boarding, and hanging out with her dogs.
Midge McClosky
View biography
Midge McClosky is the cultural program director for the Shawnee Institute, executive director of the Shawnee Playhouse, and the artistic director of the Worthington Players. Before moving to Shawnee, Midge worked as a professional actress, singer, and dancer performing musical theatre in 49 of the 50 states. Her extensive credits cross over into film, television, commercials, voiceovers and live industrials. She and Chris, her husband of more than two decades, have two grown sons.
Suggested Reading List
(3 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Choose Your Pace: A Hiking Adventure on the Appalachian Trail
Program Number: 14629
Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail
Emma Gatewood was the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian Trail alone, as well as the first person—man or woman—to walk it twice and three times and she did it all after the age of 65. This is the first and only biography of Grandma Gatewood, as the reporters called her, who became a hiking celebrity in the 1950s and '60s. She appeared on TV with Groucho Marx and Art Linkletter, and on the pages of Sports Illustrated. The public attention she brought to the little-known footpath was unprecedented. Her vocal criticism of the lousy, difficult stretches led to bolstered maintenance, and very likely saved the trail from extinction. Author Ben Montgomery was given unprecedented access to Gatewood's own diaries, trail journals, and correspondence. He also unearthed historic newspaper and magazine articles and interviewed surviving family members and hikers Gatewood met along the trail. The inspiring story of Emma Gatewood illustrates the full power of human spirit and determination.
A WALK IN THE WOODS
Home in America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. A gloriously out-of-shape friend named Stephen Katz is along for the walk. Katz's overwhelming desire is to find cozy restaurants, but he and Bryson eventually settle into their stride and enjoy their adventure. On the trail, they meet a bizarre assortment of hilarious characters, making for a laugh-out-loud hike.
But the book is more than that. Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this beautiful but fragile trail, with its astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes. Bryson not only tells its fascinating history, but he also makes a moving plea for the conservation of America's last great wilderness. An adventure, a comedy, and a celebration, A WALK IN THE WOODS is destined to become a modern classic of travel literature.
Hear the Challenge: Hike the Appalachian Trail
If you have even remotely considered hiking the length of the nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail, then you’ve “heard the challenge.” The question now is…will you answer it? If you have been on the fence about doing a thru-hike, the job of this book is to gently nudge, possibly even shove you off that fence, into the direction of the Appalachian Trail. But, if your mind is already made up to embark on this once in a lifetime adventure, then prepare to have your confidence elevated to new heights. Knowledge is power and information is currency; I intend to make you powerfully rich, in regards to the Appalachian Trail, as you read through the contents of this book. The subjects of this work include, but are far from limited to… -Preparing your life for a thru-hike -Financial preparation -Mental preparation (what you bring within yourself is far more important than what you put in your pack). -Physical preparation (I’ve been a strength and conditioning specialist for nearly a decade). -Hiking with a dog (I’ve done the whole trail with one) -Insights and information into nearly every aspect of thru-hiking, as well as life on trail and much, much more. -Extensive information regarding gear and itemized lists of what this journey requires. -Insights into each state, as well as noteworthy regions and the obstacles/highlights they present. This book is not designed nor intended to be a “how to” or a “guidebook.” It is simply designed to present you with information while simultaneously inspiring the confidence to use that information in making decisions that are perfect for you. Want the full story of the author's AT hike? Check out amazon.com best seller; "Lost on the Appalachian Trail."