ARCHES & CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARKS
This morning we head into Utah to experience the wondrous beauty of two national parks. Geologic activity and the effect of swift river action have created the diverse landscapes of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. Arches contains the world's largest concentration of natural stone arches. The red desert ecosystem here is punctuated with fins, pinnacles, spires, balanced rocks and arches –– created from eroding sandstone. The Green and Colorado Rivers cut through Canyonlands, creating three distinct terrains: The Needles, the Maze and the Island in the Sky. Late afternoon, we return to the train for dinner and resume our trek, moving northwest. (B,L,D)

LAKE TAHOE & THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS
Cupped at the top of a volcanic mountain, the waters of Lake Tahoe are so clear that objects at 75-foot depths can be seen from the surface. Thin mountain air allows the crystalline liquid to reflect the brilliant blue sky or the red sunset. Created by lava, the lake –– the third deepest in North America –– never freezes due to the natural rise of warm water from the bottom. Fed by snow, rain, rivers and water from area marshes, Lake Tahoe and its surrounding basin, create beautiful natural scenes, which attract outdoor enthusiasts year round. We explore the lake via a guided boat cruise. Later, we board the train and trek deeper into the Sierras. The Sierra Nevada Mountains form the foundation for a vast bioregion that includes magnificent forests, rivers and lakes. Its serene mountain vistas are home to over half the plant species found in California and 400 wildlife species. Within various habitats –– chaparral, ponderosa pine, riparian and alpine meadow –– live wolverine, lodgepole chipmunk, Pacific fisher and big horn sheep. This area is also the site of California's historic Mother Lode of Gold Rush fame. (B,L,D)

SACRAMENTO / YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
We awake this morning in Sacramento, the capital city of California. We arrive in Yosemite after a motorcoach tour that brings us to 5,000 feet in elevation. Yosemite is known for its spectacular granite cliffs, towering waterfalls, unique rock formations, giant sequoia forests and pristine wilderness. Native Americans, particularly ancestors of the Southern Miwok tribe, have inhabited the region for 8,000 years. Today we tour the valley, with stops at Half Dome, Royal Arches and Bridal Veil Falls. Enjoy dinner and overnight at a Yosemite Lodge. (B,L,D)

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill granting Yosemite Valley as an inalienable public trust. And in 1890, with the efforts of naturalist John Muir, Yosemite National Park was created. This morning we are free to hike and stop by the visitors center to gain further knowledge of this geological wonder. Tonight, on board the train, we celebrate our journey with a farewell cocktail reception and dinner. (B,L,D)

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
After breakfast, our adventure comes to an end late morning in Oakland, the railway gate to the San Francisco Bay Area. Stay on for further exploration on your own, or arrange for individual flights home. (B)