Hiking the Redwoods in Northern California

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration & Orientation: 5:00 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. We will also complete order forms for several meals on the road. Educational information will come from our Group Leader as well as our featured expert, the Study Leader. All travel will be by bus. 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.

Dinner: In the hotel conference room, we will have a buffet dinner with main course, salad, side dishes, and beverage choices of coffee, iced tea, and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

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

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 85 miles, approximately 2.5 hours. Hiking up to 5 miles throughout the day; maintained trails, varying terrain with little elevation gain.

Breakfast: In the hotel dining room, the breakfast buffet offers choices such as cereal, yogurt, fruit, and pastries with beverage choices of milk, juice, coffee, water.

Morning: Following breakfast, we will gather in the hotel meeting room for a presentation by our Study Leader on local geology and environment. After, we will hop aboard a bus and set out for a full-day field trip exploring the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The park comprises 53,000 acres, of which about 17,000 are old-growth redwood forest. This is the largest surviving stand of ancient coast redwoods left in the world. Our Group Leader along with our Study Leader will lead us on this hike where we will start to get to know the redwoods and explore Founders Grove.

Lunch: At Humboldt Redwoods State Park, we will have boxed lunches with a sandwich, chips, and cookie.

Afternoon: We will have some time for independent visits to the nearby Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive and Visitor Center that includes a natural history museum. We will then continue hiking in the park. Following our day of hiking, we will stop at a historic lumber town on the way back to the hotel. Our Study Leader will share information about the local history and lumber industry.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we will have pizza and salad with beverage choices of soda and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 15 miles, approximately 45 minutes. Hiking up to 5 miles throughout the day; terrain varies from paved paths to maintained trails and dirt paths; 200-350 feet of elevation gain throughout the day. At Sequoia Park, dirt path with gradual switchbacks and 250-300 feet of gradual elevation gain.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will set out on an early morning walk along Humboldt Bay with our Group Leader and Study Leader. We will learn about the bay and Woodley Island as well as local birds and animals in the area. Then, we will go on a walking field trip in Old Town Eureka with historians and naturalists who will tell us about local history. Some local owners will give short presentations about their business and heritage.

Lunch: At a popular eatery in Eureka, we will have a plated main course and a side dish with beverage choices of soda, coffee, tea, and water included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: Next, we will board our bus and head to Sequoia Park Zoo where a local expert will give us a presentation on raptors. We will then walk to Sequoia Park for a hike with naturalists where we will explore the local flora and fauna. After our walk, we will board the bus and return to the hotel.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: The remainder of the evening is at leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles, approximately 1 hour. Hiking up to 4.5 miles throughout the day; terrain varies from maintained dirt trails to slightly rocky paths with elevation gains of 300-325 feet.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will set out via bus on a field trip to Patrick's Point State Park and Trinidad with our naturalist leaders. While small in area, just one square mile, Patrick’s Point is rich in flora, fauna, and dramatic ocean views. Along the way, we will learn about the natural surroundings and local area. The seaside town of Trinidad — population approximately 360 — is notable for its breathtaking location as gateway to the California Coastal National Monument.

Lunch: At a restaurant in Trinidad, we will enjoy a plated meal with a main course with beverage choices of tea, soda, and water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will continue our hiking field trip along the coast before returning to the hotel.

Dinner: Hotel buffet.

Evening: In the hotel conference room, we will be joined by a representative from the Ink People Center for the Arts, who will lead a mural presentation and cooperative mural activity. Each participant will make a section of the mural, then we will put all of the pieces of paper together to make the entire work. Founded in 1979, the organization is dedicated to “weaving” the arts into the fabric of the community.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 95 miles, approximately 2 hours. Hiking up to 4 miles throughout the day; maintained trails with gradual elevation gains of up to 433 feet.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will board the bus for a field trip to Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park where we will hike with naturalists who will stop to give interpretation of the environment and any other animals and plants we encounter along the way. These are spectacular Old Growth coastal redwoods trails where we can soak in the sights and sounds of the redwood forests. We’ll also visit the local visitor center to explore and learn more about the redwoods.

Lunch: At a scenic spot, we will have a boxed lunch that includes a sandwich and drink.

Afternoon: Our hiking field trip will continue.

Dinner: Hotel buffet.

Evening: We will meet to wrap up the week and share favorite parts of our hiking adventure with fellow Road Scholars. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet. This concludes our program.

Morning: 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. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!