Summer 2024   

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Reserve at least two weeks in advance.

Follow Diamond Creek Road as it winds through Peach Springs Canyon – the only road access to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Diamond Creek Road will take us down the canyon to the banks of the Colorado River. Along the way, we will stop to enjoy the views and learn about Hualapai history, cultures, and the geology and the natural history of the canyon. You will enjoy a picnic lunch with an optional walk the last mile to the Colorado River following a narrow canyon that crosses Diamond Creek. Includes driving on a bumpy and winding dirt road to the Colorado River.  Activity Rating: 1-2. 
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$180 per person -Tuition includes transportation, Hualapai permits, box lunch and field instruction. Departs at 7:30AM from Prescott Campus. *Chino Valley pickup available. 
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Friday, September 6, 2014
Please reserve by 8/23.

Bill Williams Mountain, visible to the north from most of the Prescott area, is the westernmost 9,000-foot peak in Arizona. The mountain is named for a preacher/guide/mountain man from North Carolina whose story will weave through the day. We will circle the mountain on the Bill Williams Loop Road starting at Devil Dog Lake just off I-40, then drive to the summit fire tower, enjoying distant views across much of northern Arizona. We’ll do some short walks, but no significant hiking, as we talk about the geology and ecology of the mountain. There’s a good chance of seeing Elk and other wildlife along the way. Activity Rating: 2.
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann

$170 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 8AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available

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Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Please reserve by 8/14..

Northwest of Flagstaff is a little-known crater lake, surrounded by meadow and aspen groves, hidden inside a small volcanic cinder cone just east of the Kendricks Mountain Wilderness Area. Our day afield will focus heavily on the volcanic history of the San Francisco Volcano Field surrounding Flagstaff and Williams. We will drive up the access road to the ski area on San Francisco Peaks, hike into Crater Lake for lunch, then in the afternoon visit a lava tube (with optional exploration of the tube) south of Kendrick's Peak. We will also traverse some of old Route 66 on the way home. Total hiking distance for the day about two miles at elevations near 8,000 feet. Activity Rating: 3
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 7AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available
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Friday, September 13, 2024 

Reserve by 8/30.

Near the northern edge of the great field of volcanos that surrounds Williams and Flagstaff is an otherwise average cinder cone, about 1,000 feet tall, called Red Mountain. What makes this little mountain unique is how erosion has carved a spectacular amphitheater out of the heart of this extinct volcano, creating a magical landscape of cliffs, spires, and little slot canyons. While talking about the history and dynamics of the San Francisco Volcano Field, and the local ecosystems, we will hike into the heart of Red Mountain, enjoying our lunch inside the volcano, Inside Red Mountain there’s some optional off-trail exploring. After our main hike, we’ll travel back roads south to Parks, then west on Historic Route 66 to Keyhole Sink, hiking into this unusual feature with petroglyphs and a seasonal waterfall. Hiking distance is about 4.5 miles, mostly on well-maintained trail; at elevations about 7,000 feet. Activity Rating: Level 3.

Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann

$175 per person - Tuition includes ground transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 8AM from Prescott campus. *Chino valley pickup available.

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Friday, August 16, 2024
Reserve by 8/1.

 

North of Verde Valley is a little-visited plateau, surrounded on three sides by rugged wilderness areas. On the east is West Fork Wilderness and Oak Creek Canyon; on the west is Sycamore Canyon Wilderness; and on the south is Redrock/Secret Canyon Wilderness. We will explore this beautiful, forested landscape, culminating with utterly amazing views of the redrock country of Sedona, seen from above. Along the way we’ll talk about geology, including visiting a baby sinkhole, forest ecology and the logging railroads of the early 20th century. We’ll also talk about the handful of people who have lived out there, including Bear Howard, who literally made his living hunting bear, and the wild Casner Clan, who have multiple local landmarks named after them. Lots of short walks, but no serious hiking. Activity Rating: 2

Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$180 per person - Tuition includes ground transportation, box lunch, and field instruction. Departs 7AM from Prescott campus. *Chino Valley pickup available.
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Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Please reserve by Aug. 8.

The Northern Bradshaw Mountains overlooking Prescott are the highest range in Yavapai County, peaking out near 8,000 feet. We’ll explore south through this region on the old Senator Highway as far as the site of the town of Goodwin, then head east to Mayer and return via Highway 69. Along the way we’ll visit old mining and homestead sites on Wolf Creek, explore the ruins of the Senator Mine, enjoy distant views from the Mt. Union Divide, and other historic and natural features. We’ll also pass though the burn area of the Goodwin fire of 2017 and talk about fire management and the role of fire in the natural ecosystem. The trip will include about two miles of moderate hiking. Expect driving on bumpy, winding roads. Activity Rating: 2
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann.
$170 per person. Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 8 AM from Prescott Campus.
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Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Reserve by August 1st.

This one-day rafting trip of the Grand Canyon is full of adventures! Join us on a rafting excursion with the Hualapai River Runners. Your river guide will navigate the Colorado River white water (plan on getting wet!) and relate the history and culture of the Hualapai people. Lunch in the canyon, then take an optional hike to beautiful Travertine Waterfall. Dinner TBD (on your own) before heading home. Experience the Canyon like never before! Activity Rating: 2-3

Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann

$780 per person - Tuition includes ground transportation, raft excursion, lunch on the river, permit fees and gratuities, field guide and instruction. Departs 5AM. No additional pickups available.
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Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Reserve by 8/21.

Step back in time with a visit to Chevelon Canyon on Rock Art Ranch, home to some of the finest ancient petroglyphs in the world on a privately-owned ranch. Visit the cowboy museum and working ranch to learn about ranching history, the Hashknife Cattle Company and military and Indian activity in the area. Tour the excavated prehistoric pueblo sites and an historic Navajo camp with intact hogan. Take a short, steep hike into Chevelon Canyon to view the multiple petroglyph panels. Visit Winslow, AZ and take a photo next to the ‘Standing on the Corner’ sculptures. We will finish the day with dinner at the famous La Posada, the beautifully restored Fred Harvey Hotel in Winslow with dinner (on your own) in the award-winning Turquoise Room. Activity Rating: 2-3 (steep stairs). 
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$200 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch, ranch tour admission, and field instruction. Departs 7AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available
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Alexander Duff came to Arizona Territory in 1879, a trapper, prospector, and market hunter, married to a Shoshone Indian woman. He left the territory in 1906 as a respected hotel and mercantile owner, with a whole new family. In between he homesteaded at a beautiful spot on the Verde River, overlooked by a centuries-old cliff dwelling, where a crystal-clear spring bears his name; a locale still miles from any road today. He then became one of the early movers and shakers of Jerome Junction, terminus of the narrow-gauge railroad to the copper mines of Jerome and precursor community to Chino Valley. Join us in on this exploration of Duff’s story and of some of the history and natural features while visiting both these localities, prominent in the early history of Yavapai County, including discussing the prehistoric inhabitants.
The video link will be emailed upon registration.

 

Date Creek flows from the crest of the Weaver Mountains above Yarnell west into a vast desert plain, studded with rugged mountain ridges, finally joining the Santa Maria River above Alamo Lake.  Originally home to the Yavapai People, Date Creek’s first Anglo visitors were led by Charles Genung in 1863, who upon seeing one of the creek’s green valleys declared it to be the Garden of Eden.  Near this spot the military post of Camp Date Creek operated from 1867-1874.  We will explore this little-known landscape, seeing ancient rock art, viewing the ruins of Camp Date Creek, visiting with modern ranchers, and searching for the elusive beaver reintroduced along the creek in recent decades.  We will also observe a little-known historic rock art site from 1864.  Date Creek is so remote that less than fifty people live within a mile of its course. The video link will be emailed upon registration.

 

When the Santa Fe Railroad was constructing their line across northern Arizona in the early 1880s, they overcame many physical obstacles in the rugged landscapes they traversed. One of the more difficult was the steep drop westwards off the Coconino Plateau, between Williams and Ash Fork. Their surveyors and engineers chose a somewhat obscure canyon as the optimum route off the plateau, a canyon so rugged that it required the only tunnel from Albuquerque to Los Angeles. We will explore this canyon, visiting many man-made features related to the construction and operation of the railroad, including the now-abandoned Johnson Canyon Tunnel and the only functional dam of steel construction in the United States. Our explorations will also include some strange and interesting natural features, and we will hear the story of rancher and homesteader George Johnson, after whom the canyon is named. The video link will be emailed upon registration.

 

In 1863, during the height of the Civil War, several parties of intrepid prospectors discovered gold in the flanks of what became known as the Bradshaw Mountains. While the Walker party was most notable, the range was named for one of others, William Bradshaw, who died under mysterious circumstances in La Paz, on the Colorado River, in December of 1864. We’ll explore the northern part of the range, which overlooks Prescott, visiting old mine sites, ghost communities, homesteads, and historic Palace Station, established by the Spence family in 1875. We’ll be traveling mainly via historic Senator Road, talking about the history of the range and about the basics of mining and geology. Since this area has been subject to several large forest fires in recent decades, we’ll also discuss the ecology of fire and some history of forest and fire management. We’ll be exiting the range via Mayer, saving the Southern Bradshaws for another day. The video link will be emailed upon registration.

 

In 1863, during the height of the Civil War, several parties of intrepid prospectors discovered gold in the flanks of what became known as the Bradshaw Mountains. While the Walker party was most notable, the range was named for one of others, William Bradshaw, who died under mysterious circumstances in La Paz, on the Colorado River, in December of 1864.

We’ll explore the southern part of the range, prominent in the view from Sunset Point on I-17, visiting quirky desert communities like Cleator (home of the Cleator Bar and Yacht Club) and Bumblebee (what’s in a name?), ghost mining and railroad locales, and the little mountain town of Crown King. We will be traveling in significant part via the route of Frank Murphy’s “Impossible Railroad”, built from Mayer to Crown King in the first years of the 20th Century despite many naysayers who claimed it couldn’t be done.

Along the way, we will talk about the original Yavapai Indian inhabitants, the challenges of passage via rail, and some of the history of mining in the rugged and forbidding landscape of the Southern Bradshaws. The video link will be emailed upon registration.

 

Leading southwards into Verde Valley are two spectacular red rock canyons. To the east, well-known and heavily visited Oak Creek Canyon is followed by highway, although the west flanks are wilderness area. To the west, lightly visited Sycamore Canyon is entirely wilderness area. Between the lower ends of these canyons is still more wilderness area, surrounding on three sides is a nearly unknown landscape of utterly amazing views, exotic volcanic features, and canyons so steep and wild as to require technical climbing gear to traverse. Enjoy exploring this wild country with us via remote and rugged back roads. We’ll talk about geology, natural history, and forest management; the handful of early pioneers who braved this remote wilderness; and the historic logging railroads that once traversed the area. The video link will be emailed upon registration.

 

 

In 1903, two young girls traveled to Grand Canyon with their families. They rode from Flagstaff to the Canyon by stagecoach, stayed in the historic, long extinct Grand View Hotel and took a 3-day trip by burro into the Canyon with Captain John Hance, the Canyon’s first tour operator and renowned storyteller. Chris Wuehrmann, our trip leader, met these two girls when they were nearing 90 years of age during a Yavapai College program in 1981, when they shared their unique memories. With their childhood experience as inspiration, he re-creates their journey to the Canyon via the route of the Moqui Stage. The trip loops west of San Francisco Peaks through pine and aspen forest, then north through largely uninhabited ranch country to the little-known Grandview Entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. Follow along as he visits the South Rim sites of both John Hance’s compound and the Grand View Hotel, owned, and operated by Pete Berry. We will hear about their histories as miners and tour operators in the Grandview Point area, in addition to little-known histories of other Northern Arizona pioneers and places. The video link will be emailed upon registration.