Spring 2023   

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Wednesday & Thursday, May 10-11, 2023
Please reserve by April 19

Canyon de Chelly, an amazing landscape of 800-foot tall red cliffs, includes spectacular cliff dwellings and mystical rock art. The canyon sustains a living community of Navajo people connected with the beautiful landscape and its great historical and spiritual significance. Take a 4x4 tour up the canyon with Navajo guides. Enjoy lunch in the Petrified Forest and visit the historic Hubbell Trading Post in Ganado. The colors within the canyon are sure to delight! Activity Rating: 1-2
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$640 per person double occupancy/$100 single occupancy supplement - Tuition includes transportation, lodging, meals, field instruction, driving tour of the canyon, permits and admission fees. Departs at 7AM from Prescott Campus. *Prescott Valley and Camp Verde pickup available.
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Wednesday & Thursday, May 4-5, 2022

*Please select this in addition when registering, if you are registering as a single traveler. This is our single room supplemental fee.

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Friday, May 5, 2023

 Reserve by April 21.
The history of the region’s historic gold mines comes to life! Travel along the winding roads beside the old railroads of the Bradshaw’s and the railroad switchbacks that pass the historic mines dotting the surrounding hillsides. Enjoy the magnificent views as you top out at the summit. A visit to the Crown King General Store transports you back in time. Driving on bumpy roads. Activity Rating: 1.
Instructor Chris Wuehrmann
$165 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 8AM from Prescott Campus.
View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

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Reserve at least two weeks in advance.

Follow Diamond Creek as it winds through Peach Springs Canyon – the only road access to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The road crosses and follows the creek as you are transported down the canyon to the banks of the Colorado River. You will enjoy a picnic lunch with an optional walk the last mile to the river through a narrow canyon with flowing stream. Includes driving on bumpy and winding roads. Activity Rating: 1-2. 
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person -Tuition includes transportation, Hualapai permits, box lunch and field instruction. Departs at 7:30AM from Prescott Campus. *Chino Valley pickup available. 
View Refund/Cancellation Policy

 

Download Full Itinerary

Reserve at least two weeks in advance.

Follow Diamond Creek as it winds through Peach Springs Canyon – the only road access to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The road crosses and follows the creek as you are transported down the canyon to the banks of the Colorado River. You will enjoy a picnic lunch with an optional walk the last mile to the river through a narrow canyon with flowing stream. Includes driving on bumpy and winding roads. Activity Rating: 1-2. 
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person -Tuition includes transportation, Hualapai permits, box lunch and field instruction. Departs at 7:30AM from Prescott Campus. *Chino Valley pickup available. 
View Refund/Cancellation Policy

 

Download Full Itinerary

Reserve at least two weeks in advance.

Follow Diamond Creek as it winds through Peach Springs Canyon – the only road access to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The road crosses and follows the creek as you are transported down the canyon to the banks of the Colorado River. You will enjoy a picnic lunch with an optional walk the last mile to the river through a narrow canyon with flowing stream. Includes driving on bumpy and winding roads. Activity Rating: 1-2. 
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person -Tuition includes transportation, Hualapai permits, box lunch and field instruction. Departs at 7:30AM from Prescott Campus. *Chino Valley pickup available. 
View Refund/Cancellation Policy

 

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Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Please reserve by Mar. 22.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Please reserve by Mar. 29.
Northeast of Flagstaff, on the Little Colorado River, is a dramatic seasonal waterfall, Grand Falls (sometimes referred to as Chocolate Falls). This is a place where the river was diverted: from its canyon by a lava flow, and cascades back into the canyon in a dramatic waterfall, higher than Niagara. The falls are most dramatic in the spring, when snow is melting in the White Mountains. We'll have lunch at the falls, with an optional scramble-hike to the bottom. During the afternoon we will visit the old railroad construction camp at Canyon Diablo, once considered the most violent town in Arizona, the nearby ruins of a Babbitt Brothers trading post warehouse, and the old Route 66 attraction of Two Guns. The day will include about a mile of fairly, easy walking, plus the optional trip to the bottom of the falls. Activity Rating: 2.
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 7AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available
View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

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Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Please reserve by Mar. 22.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Please reserve by Mar. 29.
Northeast of Flagstaff, on the Little Colorado River, is a dramatic seasonal waterfall, Grand Falls (sometimes referred to as Chocolate Falls). This is a place where the river was diverted: from its canyon by a lava flow, and cascades back into the canyon in a dramatic waterfall, higher than Niagara. The falls are most dramatic in the spring, when snow is melting in the White Mountains. We'll have lunch at the falls, with an optional scramble-hike to the bottom. During the afternoon we will visit the old railroad construction camp at Canyon Diablo, once considered the most violent town in Arizona, the nearby ruins of a Babbitt Brothers trading post warehouse, and the old Route 66 attraction of Two Guns. The day will include about a mile of fairly, easy walking, plus the optional trip to the bottom of the falls. Activity Rating: 2.
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 7AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available
View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

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Wednesday, May 17, 2023 

Reserve by May 3

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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Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Reserve by May 23.

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
$175 per person - Tuition includes ground transportation, box lunch, and field instruction. Departs 7AM from Prescott campus. *Chino Valley pickup available.
View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

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Friday, May 19, 2023
Reserve by May 5.

This road trip takes Williamson Valley Road all the way to Seligman with a return via Ash Fork and Highway 89. We’ll visit the areas of many early historic sites, including the town sites of Simmons and Walnut Creek. On the return from Ash Fork we’ll stop at the old Little Hell Canyon stage stop and a mysterious and unique signpost from the earliest days of air travel in the county. Along the way we’ll discuss the geology and natural history and many aspects of the human history of the area. There will be a few short walks of up to a quarter mile, but no serious hiking. Activity Rating: 2

Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann

$165 per person - Tuition includes ground transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 8AM from Prescott Campus.

View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

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Reserve at least two weeks in advance.

Hike with EDventures! Drive to the Grand Canyon on the only road to the Colorado River, accessible on Hualapai lands. Shortly before reaching the river, this road meets Diamond Creek. The hike is about 5 miles round trip up the creek into spectacular narrows. The trail has no steep grades, but it crosses the creek several times, so expect some wet walking and walking on river rocks. Lunch at a beautiful waterfall beneath thousand-foot cliffs and learn about both the geology and natural history. The day will culminate with a stop at the Colorado River. Dinner stop at Lilo's in Seligman (on your own). Activity Rating: 3+
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person - Tuition includes ground transportation, field instruction, Hualapai permits and box lunch. Departs 7AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available.
View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

Download Full Itinerary
Reserve at least two weeks in advance.

Hike with EDventures! Drive to the Grand Canyon on the only road to the Colorado River, accessible on Hualapai lands. Shortly before reaching the river, this road meets Diamond Creek. The hike is about 5 miles round trip up the creek into spectacular narrows. The trail has no steep grades, but it crosses the creek several times, so expect some wet walking and walking on river rocks. Lunch at a beautiful waterfall beneath thousand-foot cliffs and learn about both the geology and natural history. The day will culminate with a stop at the Colorado River. Dinner stop at Lilo's in Seligman (on your own). Activity Rating: 3+
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$175 per person - Tuition includes ground transportation, field instruction, Hualapai permits and box lunch. Departs 7AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available.
View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

Download Full Itinerary

Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Please reserve by April 19.

Thursday, June 8, 2023
Please reserve by May 25.
Step back in time with a visit to Chevelon Canyon on Rock Art Ranch, home to sone 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. Take a short, steep hike into Chevelon Canyon to tour the multiple petroglyph panels. Visit La Posada, the beautifully restored Fred Harvey Hotel in Winslow, and dinner (on your own) at the award-winning Turquoise Room. Activity Rating: 2.
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$200 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 7AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available
View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

Download Full Itinerary

Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Please reserve by April 19.

Thursday, June 8, 2023
Please reserve by May 25.
Step back in time with a visit to Chevelon Canyon on Rock Art Ranch, home to sone 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. Take a short, steep hike into Chevelon Canyon to tour the multiple petroglyph panels. Visit La Posada, the beautifully restored Fred Harvey Hotel in Winslow, and dinner (on your own) at the award-winning Turquoise Room. Activity Rating: 2.
Instructor: Chris Wuehrmann
$200 per person - Tuition includes transportation, box lunch and field instruction. Departs 7AM from Prescott Campus.*Chino Valley pickup available
View Refund/Cancellation Policy.

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.