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Arizona

Scenic Railroads of Arizona: Sedona and Grand Canyon

Program No. 1083RJ

Experience the wonders of Sedona and the Grand Canyon via two historic railways as you join experts to learn about the local history, culture and charm of these iconic landscapes.

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6 days

5 nights

13 meals

5B 3L 5D

Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation

Sedona, AZ

Geology, Verde Canyon Railroad.

Sedona, AZ

Montezuma Castle, Sedona Sights, Historic Williams, AZ

Williams, AZ

Grand Canyon Railway, Explore Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon - South Rim

Desert View, Canyon Exploration, Program Wrap-Up

Grand Canyon - South Rim

Return to Sedona; Program Concludes

Sedona, AZ

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At a Glance

The wonders of Sedona and the Grand Canyon are well known, but few visit these locales via scenic and historic railway. Ride the Verde Canyon Railroad through Arizona’s rim country along the wild and scenic Verde River. Later in the week, embark on an overnight adventure to Grand Canyon National Park via the historic Grand Canyon Railway. Throughout your journey gain insights into regional lore as you explore this breathtaking part of northern Arizona.

Activity Level

Varies by date

Walking up to one mile on varied terrain. Optional longer hike at the Grand Canyon. Elevations of 4,500-7,000 feet.

Best of all, you’ll…

Enjoy a guided exploration of Sedona’s red-rock vistas.
Travel through dramatic Oak Creek Canyon en route to historic Williams for embarkation on the Grand Canyon Railway.
Stay overnight at a Grand Canyon lodge, explore historic village sites and absorb incomparable canyon views.

General Notes

Transportation on this program is by full-sized motor coach.

Featured Expert

All trip experts

Carl Bowman

With a bachelor’s degree in biology and having spent 25 years of his life on the South Rim, Carl Bowman knows the Grand Canyon well and specializes in relating the Canyon’s varied and constantly evolving geologic stories. He worked for the National Park Service from 1974-2013, and during his career served as a janitor, wildland fire fighter, archaeologist, ranger, and scientist. A long-time student of the Grand Canyon, Carl has shared its stories with park visitors, staff, university classes and lifelong learners.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Carl Bowman View biography

Slim Woodruff View biography

Marjorie “Slim” Woodruff is a graduate of Northern Arizona University. She has worked in outdoor recreation and education for most of her adult life. Slim is a board member and outings chair for the Grand Canyon Historical Society. She is a senior instructor with the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute. Living on the South Rim, her usual hangouts are inside the canyon. Her writings can be found in High Country News Writers on the Range and The Outdoor Journal.

Kathy Farretta View biography

Kathy Farretta is a history and science-loving bookworm who also loves hiking and taking photos. She was previously the Assistant Park Manager at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in Flagstaff, where she now serves as a volunteer. She received her Master's Degree in History from Northern Arizona University and teaches U.S. History at Coconino Community College, and serves on the Board of the Flagstaff Festival of Science. When not prepping for her history classes, she most often has her nose in a science fiction book.

Sherri O'Neil View biography

Sherri O'Neil has been an outdoor educator since 1996, bringing nearly three decades of expertise in fostering meaningful connections with the natural world. She earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in outdoor education from Prescott College, where her studies focused on interpreting Indigenous cultures and promoting stewardship through education. A published author, Sherri has contributed multiple articles to Legacy, the magazine of the National Association for Interpretation.

Rocky Sullivan View biography

Rocky Sullivan, a Kansas native, has been living in the southwest working on ranches among other things for the better part of three decades. During the last few years, he has brought his poetry into the limelight, gaining respect and praise from peers and audiences. Rocky won in his division of the 2015 National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo in Abilene, Kansas, and again in 2017. He has been asked to perform at numerous venues since.

Kyle Storey View biography

Kyle Storey is an urban planner with a passion for creating sustainable and livable communities. He possesses a love for nature and agriculture and is committed to sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices. Kyle works towards implementing cutting-edge technologies to reduce our carbon footprint and transition towards a more sustainable future. Kyle is also a seasoned outdoor group leader who is deeply in touch with the natural world. He has led numerous outdoor adventures, from hiking and camping trips to wildlife expeditions and nature exploration.

Suggested Reading List (8 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.

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Scenic Railroads of Arizona: Sedona and Grand Canyon

Program Number: 1083

The Archaeology of Ancient Arizona

by Jefferson Reid and Stephanie Whittlesey

General overview of the archaeology of Arizona written by archaeologists with combined experience of over half a century of a combination of laboratory and fieldwork.

Sedona through time: Geology of the Red Rocks

by Ranney, Wayne

Visitors to the towering red rock cliffs near Sedona seldom realize that the area was once a broad river floodplain that lay beyond the Ancestral Rocky Mountains. Or that this same place was later buried in a vast, Sahara-like desert, still later to lie beneath the waters of a warm tropical sea filled with ancient life forms. Sedona Through Time is an eminently readable story of the evolution of this fantastic landscape through the eons of geologic time.

Grand Canyon Geology

by Beus, Stanley

This second edition of the leading book on Grand Canyon geology contains the most recent discoveries and interpretations of the origin and history of the canyon. It includes two entirely new chapters: one on debris flow in the Canyon and one on the impact of water flow releases from the Glen Canyon Dam. All chapters have been updated where necessary and all photographs have been replaced or re-screened for better resolution. Written by acknowledged experts in stratigraphy, paleontology, structural geology, geomorphology, volcanism and seismology, this book offers a wealth of information for geologists and general readers interested in acquiring an understanding of the geological history of this great natural wonder. 423pp

Arizona: A Cavalcade of History

by Trimble, Marshall

During America's first 100 years as a nation, pioneers moved ever-westward to new frontiers. When it became too crowded or the soil was mined out, they moved on to virgin land. Those days are gone forever. We have to learn to live with the problems we create. The knowledge gained from studying the mistakes of the past can help provide a better future. Will Rogers said it best: "The Indians never got lost because they were always looking back to see where they'd been." 368pp

Carving Grand Canyon: Evidence, Theories, and Mystery

by Ranney, Wayne

Ranney explains how rivers in general can physically carve canyons, looks chronologically at the numerous theories that have been presented by successive generations of geologists regarding the Grand Canyon's formation, and describes a plausible sequence of geologic events that could create such a landscape. Numerous color photographs, detailed illustrations, and maps are provided. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR 160pp; 2nd edition 2012.

Secret Sedona: Sacred Moments in the Landscape

by Larry Lindahl

This book provides an overview of the terrain, ancestral Indian ruins and petroglyphs found in Sedona's wilderness areas. Extraordinary photography from one of the nations most photogenic areas. 80 pages.

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

by Anderson, Michael F

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

An Introduction to Grand Canyon Prehistory

by Coder, Christopher M.

People have inhabited Grand Canyon for the past twelve thousand years. Evidence of their lives exists throughout the canyon; but it is up to their ancestors and archaeologists to interpret those remains for us. This book provides a popular look at the architecture, art, and tools of prehistoric Puebloan peoples, as well as information about modern-day Native American tribes. With illustrations and color photographs.

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Scenic Railroads of Arizona: Sedona and Grand Canyon

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At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

General Notes

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