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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Participant Reviews
Based on 57 Reviews
SHOWING
Really enjoyed this trip. Excellent staff. Learned a lot.
— Review left February 19, 2025
This was a fun program. You don't have to be an accomplished hiker in order to enjoy the hikes. People of many skill levels joined the program and enriched my enjoyment.
— Review left November 25, 2024
This is a HIKING program and very well done. The trails are rocky but doable, the pace selections are great and varied but you will be walking a lot for three days. Road Scholar has nailed the evening presentations and presenters; most enjoyable. Know that the Shawnee is an historic hotel; it’s more than adequate but not a roomy five star. Bathrooms en-suite were retro fitted; you have a step up to get in there. Bring a reading light if you plan to read books in the bed. This is a wonderful outdoor oriented trip. We learned a ton about the geography, geology and history in the area. Highly recommend.
— Review left November 23, 2024
This was a fun experience and I was happy that I particiapated. It was fun to be able to complete all the hiking trips. So good to be out in the woods.
— Review left November 22, 2024
Well run hiking adventure for all fitness types
— Review left November 22, 2024
Rocks aplenty ! Be ready to use your poles to navigate every step - you will be looking down alot. After the first master hike my iphone measured equal to 87 flights of stairs ! Beautiful country.
— Review left November 9, 2024
Fabulous hikes, spectacular knowledgeable guides, wonderful location at the Shawnee Inn. Shawnee and staff were friendly, outgoing and catered to us if we had questions or needed something i.e. extra blankets. This group of leaders and the women who participated were fabulous, and I plan to keep in touch with many of them. Thank you for the bottom of my heart for her wonderful, challenging, spectacular experience.!!!
— Review left November 2, 2024
Great experience hiking with other women.
— Review left November 1, 2024
Very much enjoyed hiking in the Poconos, and especially like the "Choose Your Pace" format. People moved between levels throughout the week depending on how they were feeling on a given day. Just be aware that NONE of the hikes are "easy", they are all rocky and involve elevation gain, some are just longer and have more elevation gain than others. The guides were great!
— Review left September 30, 2024
Lovely accommodations, beautiful setting, and great choices for levels of hiking. Just be aware that the "Advanced" trail choices are not just rocky...they are rocky for 99% of the trail. Which means your feet will not get much of a rest:)
— Review left September 27, 2024
My Wife's hiking group decided to take this program as a group (approximately 27 people including spouses) and overall it was a fabulous time not only for the
"choose your pace" hiking, but for the time spent with the group. The historic Shawnee Inn was just as expected - not the fully modern cookie cutter hotel, but a fine, well kept property with a rich history. The staff were excellent and you could tell they were hired from the heart and really cared about our experience. The program leader, Midge worked tireless with our group coordinator and accommodated every request. The hiking guides (a lead and and sweep for each level each day) were delightful, knowledgable, experienced and fun to be around. The food was good and the last night supper by Joseph was way over the top down to the beautiful table decorations.
It was a true adventure experiencing the trail sections they picked.
— Review left June 22, 2024
Quite the adventure! I loved the long, technical hikes with great hiking companions. Meeting thru-hikers was interesting. Seeing a Timber Rattler and a black bears was a plus!
— Review left May 19, 2024
If you are questioning whether you should sign up for this program or if you will be able to keep up with others that sign up, just DO IT!!! You will be pleasantly surprised, you will have a fantastic time, and meet great people!!
— Review left May 18, 2024
Loved hiking in Eastern PA rocky wooded trails - PA & NJ; Great to have daily options on length of hikes and wonderful guides. Lectures excellent about wildlife, plants and trees from naturalist on hike and food superb! Highly recommend to anyone who loves to hike!
— Review left May 17, 2024
Fun, glad to be completed safetly
— Review left May 11, 2024
This AT hiking trip was well organized and had suffient knowledgeable guides (at least 2 each) for the 3 levels levels of hiking. The entire group did essentially the same hike on the first day and our hiking skills were evaluated by our guides. As hikers, we got to experience the terrain on this rocky section of the AT and adjust our expectations accordingly to move among the hike levels that day. This was an excellent approach. On the second day and beyond, one needed to stay in the selected group level because the destinations/routes were different. I started and stayed in the longer hike group the first day, dropped to medium on the 2nd hike day, then did the shorter (but beautiful) hike on the final hike day. This was early November and leaves covering the trails made it hard to see the rocks--a lot of balance (even with poles) was required at times. This "choose your pace" hike was sufficiently challenging for me at all levels due to the terrain (and I've hiked rocky desert washes, etc.) On the first hike, one hiker's boot sole came loose on their trusty old pair of hiking boots--guides quickly duct-taped it back on until a new pair could be purchased later in town. We had a great group of hikers as well as wonderful leaders, sweeps, and van drivers. The historic Shawnee Resort was lovely and comfortable.
— Review left April 26, 2024
Had a wonderful hiking adventure in the Appalachian Mountains with well informed guides and a well versed trip leader. Teresa Dubovich
— Review left April 20, 2024
Excellent trip, hikes and accommodations. I highly recommend.
— Review left March 20, 2024
Wonderful program that allowed me to complete a life-long goal safely and encouraged me to continue to pursue my outdoor dreams.
— Review left November 24, 2023
I highly recommend this program! The hikes are all beautiful, and the guides are knowledgeable and supportive. Detailed information is provided so you can decide which hike is right for you each day. Most of the trailheads are nearby, so you spend more time hiking and less time riding; there is ample free time as well. The trails ARE rocky, so you need to be prepared for that. The views and the streams are worth the extra effort. Learning about the Appalachian Trail is another big plus.
— Review left November 10, 2023
Great program that I would highly recommend. Being able to pick your level each day is a benefit and removes pressure to go beyond your capability allowing a more enjoyable experience.
— Review left November 5, 2023
This program was wonderful! The people I met, the hikes we went on were absolutely incredible. I would definitely recommend this program to others who like to hike and enjoy being with great people.
— Review left September 18, 2023
Beautiful woods hiking and a real taste of the Appalachian Trail. Many in our group were unprepared for the rigor of these hikes—I’m used to steep rocky hikes so it wasn’t a problem for me, but many people in our session chose shorter hikes than they had been planning to take. The Shawnee Inn is charming, historic and friendly and I felt very comfortable—but it is definitely a bit worn, and not particularly soundproof!
— Review left June 2, 2023
Discover the natural beauty of the Poconos and and challenges of the Appalachian Trail with a variety of day hikes and activities, based at a lovely resort on the Delaware River.
— Review left June 2, 2023
Although I’m a hiking newbie, I’m happy that I joined this program. The self-paced format allowed me to decide which trails fit my comfort level. I can honestly say that I learned that I’m stronger physically and mentally that I knew. I also know I’ll seek other Road Scholar experiences in the future.
— Review left April 10, 2023
This trip was fantastic! I always felt taken care of, even though I never needed any individual attention. The hiking was challenging, but extra efforts were taken to accommodate everyone's hiking abilities. The trip leader, Midge, was extraordinary and all of the hiking group leaders were awesome too. Even though we had some not-so-perfect weather, I loved everything about this trip. I would consider doing it again in a few years.
— Review left December 16, 2022
I enjoyed this program, going a bit past my comfort zone and learning new things about the Appalachian Trail.
— Review left November 17, 2022
Remnants of Hurricane Ian did not dampen our spirits at all for those who joined us for hiking throughout the spectacular scenery of the Poconos. Interesting folks from across the country, knowledgeable trail guides, good food and an historic and beautiful resort added up to an awesome week with Road Scholar once again.
— Review left October 17, 2022
This was my first Road Scholar trip and based on my overall experience I plan to attend more! Choose your pace description was exactly as advertised. The coordinator and guides were excellent.
— Review left October 9, 2022
I was the slowest of the hikers, the group never made me feel slow and the sweep hiking guide was always encouraging. The area was more strenuous than I envisioned but I was able to complete my hikes. Yah for me!
— Review left October 8, 2022
This has been an awesome experience. I feel empowered to reach my full potential.
— Review left October 7, 2022
While staff is great, lodge amazing, CAUTION: this is NOT a trip for inexperienced, senior hikers. Hikes more on the level of the one with grandkids (we don't have any) would have been more appropriate for us. Much, much harder hikes than the NY AT trip hikes we took with Road Scholar last year.
— Review left September 24, 2022
This was my first foray into organized hiking in a rough terrain. I chose the program for 2 reasons: 1. To get over my anxiety to be around strangers - as I had carefully managed my activities till then due to Covid; 2. To decide for myself how much of a challenge I could handle as I am hoping to go on more hikes in the future.
— Review left August 13, 2022
I loved this program, but also did my best to prepare in advance. I went on regular hikes beforehand, and made sure to vary length and altitude changes. I had no trouble keeping up with the "middle" difficulty level.
— Review left July 18, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this program. However, be prepared! Rocky terrain ahead! Unlike most hikes I’ve been on, the paths were very rough and uneven- surprise(!) welcome to Rocksylvania. Do yourself a favor and incorporate lots of stairs (up and down!) and balance exercises in your daily routine to prepare for this program. That said, you’ll have a great time and feel like a true Through- Hiker.
— Review left July 16, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed my first RS trip! Connected with some great people. Had some downtime to enjoy on my own. Staff were friendly and helpful. Saw things I would never have seen on my own. Our accommodations were good. Their food service was a little disorganized. Staffing maybe. Overall, great trip and I will plan on doing another.
— Review left July 16, 2022
User friendly
— Review left July 11, 2022
This was my 14th Road Scholar trip and one of the best!! The Shawnee Inn is a fabulous resort, the food was excellent and the inn offered activities in addition to those included in Road Scholar. I even got to do archery! The group leader Midge was outstanding! Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, flexible, fantastic! The hikes were varied and of course having the option of 3 different hikes each day was great! Lots of fun evening activities. Many of the hikes are extremely rocky, just a heads up. I STRONGLY recommend this trip.
— Review left May 22, 2022
A wonderful first experience with Road Scholars, Pick Your Pace Hiking on the Appalachian Trail in the Poconos (PA and NJ) with fellow hikers from across the country. Lovely venue (Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort) with lots of amenities to enjoy. Day hiking along rocky trails with great guides and wonderful views of the area, including waterfalls and glacial lakes. Definitely worth the time enjoying the AT with new friends.
— Review left May 13, 2022
a fabulous hike at your own pace program in a unique and historic setting
— Review left May 10, 2022
This trip is excellent! The "choose your own pace" appealed to me and I was happy to be able to choose my level of hiking on the morning of each hiking day. Our group leader, Midge, was amazing! Her attention to each detail, enthusiasm, warmth, organizational skills and ability to make it all appear seamless are outstanding. The camaraderie in our large group (we split into three smaller groups for our hikes) was wonderful. The location and food were all excellent. It was my first time in the Poconos Mountains, and I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left April 30, 2022
I participated in the Road Scholar's "Pick Your Own Pace: Hike the Appalachian Trail". I highly recommend it for the adventure, comradery, price, great food and leadership!
— Review left November 23, 2021
This is a really good hiking break. The levels of hikes offered are suitable for occasional hikers or regular walkers ready for an outdoor experience - albeit with rocky terrain and some elevation but really different levels so suitable for regularly active people. The more demanding hikes are challenging enough for most active regular hikers too. The Shawnee Inn is very nice and friendly and the food is very good. It is a. resort so there are other activities including an indoor pool and golf - tennis courts and it is on the Delaware River - very pretty.
— Review left November 6, 2021
I really enjoyed this program. The location is perfect for hiking on the beautiful trails of the AT in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Midge was an excellent organizer, all of the leaders were personable and knowledgeable and my fellow hikers were lovely companions. The food was plentiful and tasty. I would definitely recommend this hiking adventure.
— Review left November 5, 2021
No matter your hiking experience or skill, you'll enjoy this program. Just be prepared for lots of ROCKS on the trail.
— Review left November 1, 2021
This is a great website for exploring trips that get some of us out of our comfort zone, and making it easy to understand while answering most questions.
— Review left October 29, 2021
Be prepared for rocky hikes. This was the most challenging of the RS hiking trips I have done. In late October we had to contend with lots of wet leaves and rocks. Good hiking boots and poles are a must. The Shawnee Inn was comfortable and convenient for the hiking.
If you have a non-hiking friend or partner who you like to travel with, this is a trip to consider. There are plenty of things to do at the Shawnee Inn. We had a day of hiking canceled due to extreme rainfall. The site coordinator assembled a very nice alternative schedule. This included a yoga class, brewery tour and a wonderful wildlife demonstration.
— Review left October 29, 2021
The friendly and knowledgeable hiking guides helped us accomplish things we never knew we could do. Some of the hiking was quite technical and challenging. The history of the Shawnee Inn and the area was fascinating to some old golfers like us.
— Review left October 16, 2021
The hikes were challenging on rocky terrain but overall it was a positive experience. The views at our stopping points were beautiful and the weather was perfect for hiking. Midge was great at organizing our activities and our guides were wonderful. I enjoyed meeting participants from all over the country and hearing about other trips they'd taken. We were kept busy but there was plenty of time to relax (and recover) as well. Meals were buffet style with plenty of options. I used the free afternoon to kayak on the Delaware River.
— Review left October 5, 2021
This was my ‘introduction’ to the Appalachian Trail and to the Road Scholar organization. I will definitely hike the AT again and would recommend Road Scholar to anyone wanting a fun trip where the logistics and details are done for you. Thank you for bringing people together for new experiences!
— Review left October 4, 2021
The different options for length/difficulty of hikes made this trip doable for a wide variety of participants. I definitely plan on taking another Road Scholar "Pick Your Pace" hiking trip again.
— Review left November 17, 2019
Delightful historic Inn on the banks of the Delaware River only adds to the wonderful adventure of exploring the rugged hills of Pennsylvania.
— Review left October 21, 2019
Getting to experience the Appalachian Trail has been a lifelong dream. I did not make it happen in younger years, being caught up with family, career & other responsibilities. But Road Scholar made this dream real by providing this experience of the AT to a greenhorn like me so late in life. I will always be grateful to you!
— Review left September 27, 2019
This was my 7th Road Scholar trip and I was not disappointed. Meeting people in their 70’s and 80’s who are still hiking and biking is always inspiring. My husband and I look forward to many more adventures with the Road Scholars
— Review left September 20, 2019
This is a super hiking program, but there are MANY ROCKS on the trails. Rocks, rocks, rocks. (Did I mention the rocks?) I chose the "moderately challenging" hikes (middle range, 5 to 7 miles) and was very satisfied with the experience. Some participants were extremely challenged by the rocks and by the occasional steep climbs. I'd advise people considering this program to bring good quality hiking shoes, a sturdy pack with hydration option if possible, and a strong desire to push yourself to greater personal accomplishment. Hiking the Appalachian Trail in PA allowed me to enjoy the environmental splendor of the stunning Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. I highly recommend this program.
— Review left July 19, 2019
Beautiful setting. I like the option to choose how challenging you are up to from day to day.
— Review left June 27, 2019
Very nice program. Trail leaders Brian, Len and Ken, are super, as well as Midge, the program coordinator. Rick, the environmentalist, surely knows his environment. Thank you, all.
— Review left June 7, 2019
