Arizona
Exploring & Rafting the Western Grand Canyon With Your Family
Program No. 9878RJ
Explore the Western Grand Canyon with your family as you whitewater raft the Colorado River, and learn about the life of a cowboy!
Enroll with Confidence
We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more
Protecting the Environment
We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
14 meals (
5B, 4L, 5D
)
3 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
4 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Program Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Flagstaff, AZ
Meals:
D
Stay:
La Quinta Inn & Suites Flagstaff
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Program Registration. 4:30 – 5:15 p.m. After you have your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the hotel meeting room to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.
Dinner:
At the hotel
Evening:
Orientation. 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. Transportation will be provided primarily by passenger vans, unless otherwise noted. This is a Road Scholar intergenerational program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Children are never to be left unsupervised. Periods in the daily 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. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the full day ahead. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
2
Museum of Northern Arizona, Walnut Canyon National Monument
Location:
Flagstaff, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
La Quinta Inn & Suites Flagstaff
Activity Note
Walking about 1 mile on Island Trail at Walnut Canyon; approximately 1 hour with stops; paved trail; descend and ascend 185 feet via 240 steps. Walking about 1 mile on Rim Trail; approx. 1 hour; paved and level. Elevation at 6,700 ft. Driving approximately 15 miles; about 1/2 hour. We recommend bringing a water bottle, good walking shoes, sun protection, long sleeves, and perhaps a walking stick.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We’ll travel to Walnut Canyon National Monument for our first field trip to the Sinagua cliff dwellings and the Visitor Center. Upon arrival, we’ll set out on a hike led by our Group Leader down into Walnut Canyon, which will bring us face to face with ancient cliff dwellings. Walnut Canyon is a spectacular scenic attraction in its own right, with diverse plant and animal communities to be enjoyed from all vantage points and interpretive displays to supplement viewing. For those that choose not to go into the canyon, a lovely rim walk led by one of the Group Leaders also offers excellent views.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
Afterwards, we will enjoy an insightful and informative docent-led field trip at the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) after arriving by van. The MNA has evolved into a regional center of learning with collections, exhibits, educational programs, publications, and research projects. Museum of Northern Arizona is the premier museum dedicated to the cultural and natural history of the Colorado Plateau. Afterwards, we’ll take some time for independent exploration in the museum and a kid center craft.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
We’ll then join our Group Leader for a regionally relevant Presentation and Activity in the meeting room.
Day
3
Visit Grand Canyon National Park, hike along the rim.
Location:
Peach Springs, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hualapai Lodge
Activity Note
Driving approx. 207 miles total for the day; about 4 hours. Short walks to scenic viewpoints, less than 2 miles total; some sloping terrain on paved pathways and stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We will board our transport and set out on a full-day field trip to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. Upon arrival, we will start on a walk and learn as we explore about the Grand Canyon’s unique geological, biological, and historical features. We will also see Grand Canyon Village where many of the most impressive structures in the historic village were designed by Mary Jane Colter, a renowned architect and designer for the Fred Harvey Company and Santa Fe Railroad. With luck, we might even see an endangered California condor soaring overhead as we gaze into the Canyon’s depths below.
Lunch:
At the Grand Canyon's rim, we’ll have sack lunches.
Afternoon:
We will have some time for independent exploration in the historic village. Be sure to take a look across to the Canyon’s North Rim, 10 miles away as the raven flies. We will board the vans and transfer to our accommodation along a historic stretch of the famous Route 66 in Peach Springs, AZ. En route, we will keep a look out for Burma Shave signs, enjoy wide open views, and drive through a classic site of Route 66 nostalgia – Seligman – with its focus on American road touring in the 1950s. Seligman is the town which Radiator Springs, from the Pixar movie “Cars,” was based on. In late afternoon, we will arrive at our accommodation and have access to a more remote area.
Dinner:
Diamond Creek Restaurant at the Hualapai Lodge.
Evening:
The remainder of the evening will be at your leisure.
Day
4
Ranch Visit, River Trip Orientation, Kids Only
Location:
Peach Springs, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hualapai Lodge
Activity Note
Driving approx. 2 hours throughout the day; Short periods of standing, sometimes in full sun, during the morning session.
Breakfast:
At the hotel restaurant
Morning:
We will board our transportation to transfer to a local ranch, where we’ll spend this morning learning about ranching, horses, and the importance of cattle in the history of the west with a real cowboy who has cowboy-ed in northern Arizona for over 40 years. Believe it or not, cattle still have many uses today, besides just steak and hamburger! Kids will learn about a horse’s tack, how to properly saddle a horse and how to rope.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
We’ll gather for a secret "Kids Only" activity led by our Group Leaders! Shhhhh! While the kids are engaged, the adults may wish to take a breather, a dip in the pool or engage in purely adult conversation for a short time. Following this activity, we’ll assemble in the meeting room to learn everything we need to know for the river trip coming up the next day through an in-depth orientation to the day’s activities. We'll go over how to dress for the river, how to pack your daypack, and what to take so you'll be well-prepared for a Colorado River raft trip to remember!
Dinner:
Diamond Creek Restaurant at the Hualapai Lodge.
Evening:
We’ll be joined by a local expert for a presentation on a topic of local interest. Our topic will vary by week and feature a local author, artist, or regional expert.
Day
5
Grand Canyon River Raft, Waterfall Hike, Helicopter Ride
Location:
Peach Springs, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hualapai Lodge
Activity Note
Driving approx. 155 miles total. Morning about 20 miles; approx. 1.5 hours; unpaved, rough road. Afternoon approx. 135 miles; about 3 hours, with stop. Rafting approx. 37 miles; 5-6 hours total. Climbing in/out of rafts, assistance provided as needed. River temperature about 50 degrees F – air can be 100+ degrees F. Hiking about 1/2 mile total for the day; some slippery rocks, sand. Elective climb using ropes & ladders to hidden waterfall.
Breakfast:
At the hotel restaurant
Morning:
Meeting in the hotel lobby we will go through a safety orientation with our river leaders and get fitted with life jackets before embarking on our river rafting trip. We will divide up into multiple groups to fit on 8-passenger motorized pontoon rafts (approximately 25 feet long), each with a certified rafting expert. The Diamond Creek trip down the Colorado River is about 37 miles in length. During the first 16 miles we will encounter about 10 whitewater rapids, some rather large (5, 6 and 7’s on a 1 to 10 scale), so we will get wet. The air temperature in summer at the bottom of the canyon will likely be around 100 degrees so the splashing is a welcome relief and will keep us cool. is a welcome relief and will keep us cool. We’ll pull our rafts to see a couple of attractions en route including the beautiful and hidden Travertine Grotto where we’ll have an opportunity to climb up on a series of rope ladders on the rocks and splash in the flowing waterfall. This is for the adventurous. All stops are optional depending on comfort and ability. After 16 miles the rapids disappear, but the scenery remains "grand" in all regards. Hualapai tribal members will operate rafts and, along with our staff, provide information about the canyon along the way.
Lunch:
Along the river, we’ll have sack lunches provided by the river company.
Afternoon:
Continuing downriver, we’ll reach Quartermaster Landing where we will get off our rafts and climb several flights of stairs up to the landing pad in order to board the helicopter that will fly us out of the canyon on a quick but spectacular ride. Have your cameras ready! The helicopter will drop us off at Quartermaster Point where we will board our transportation and transfer back to the lodge in Peach Springs. On our way we’ll travel through a landscape of Joshua Trees and creosote bush as we cross the beautiful basin and range landscape of the Mohave Desert. Note: Helicopters cannot fly in excessively hot and/or windy conditions for safety reasons. Although this happens very infrequently, it remains a possibility. In that event, the raft trip will be extended to a location where ground transportation can reach the group.
Dinner:
Diamond Creek Restaurant at the Hualapai Lodge. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departures in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Flagstaff, AZ
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check out and driving to Flagstaff; 102 miles, approximately 1.5 hours. Arrival in Flagstaff by 10:30am at the starting location, La Quinta Hotel.
Breakfast:
At the hotel restaurant
Morning:
We’ll board our transportation back to Flagstaff La Quinta Hotel and share some of our favorite memories from our week together before saying farewell. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.
