Calendar of Events
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1 event,
CANCELED – Granite Mountain Loop Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead
CANCELED – Granite Mountain Loop Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Granite Mountain Loop Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead - 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Difficult Distance: ~6 miles Time: ~3 hours This is one of the classic paths in the Preserve and a side trip to Balanced Rock. Experienced hikers suggested. Pets are not permitted at our […]
2 events,
CANCELED – Ride to the Crested Saguaros at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
CANCELED – Ride to the Crested Saguaros at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Ride to the Crested Saguaros at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Ever notice the crested saguaros in the Preserve? Come ride with us to see a large number scattered throughout the north. This is an advanced skill and vigorous cardio ride. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate […]
CANCELED – Ride Geology 201 (Int.) from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
CANCELED – Ride Geology 201 (Int.) from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Ride Geology 201 (Int.) from Tom's Thumb Trailhead This ride leaves from Tom's Thumb Trailhead and heads into the McDowell Mountain County Park to view the landslide from a different perspective. This will be a 10-12 mile, intermediate level, high cardio ride over about 3 hours. Location: Tom's Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, […]
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Ride the Heart of the North at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Ride the Heart of the North at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Ride the Heart of the North at Granite Mountain Trailhead Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~12 miles Time: ~3.5 hours This woman’s bike ride is an intermediate skill level ride and moderate cardio. This ride is perfect for women or those who identify as women. It is a step up in intensity from the previous Woman’s […]
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2 events,
Desert 101 South Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead
Desert 101 South Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead
Desert 101 South Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours The Conservancy has a mission to help sustain the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This walk provides a geological and ecological overview of what lives in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and […]
Trailside Naturalist – Big Cats in the Preserve at Gateway Trailhead
Trailside Naturalist – Big Cats in the Preserve at Gateway Trailhead
Trailside Naturalist – Big Cats in the Preserve at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead Time: ~2.5 hours Stop by anytime between 8:30 and 11:00 A.M. to learn about mountain lions that live in the Preserve. Mountain Lions, also known in North America as the puma, cougar, catamount or panther live in the Preserve. They are […]
2 events,
Gateway Loop Hike at Gateway Trailhead
Gateway Loop Hike at Gateway Trailhead
Gateway Loop Hike at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4.5 miles | Time: ~2.5 hours Finish out our hike season on the Gateway Loop that will take you into the heart of the McDowells. Challenging in the spring heat. Elevation gain of […]
Ride the Divide at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Ride the Divide at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Ride the Divide at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~16 miles Time: ~3 hours Ride to the trails from the east side of Cholla Mountain to the Divide Trail on the north. We will travel to Hawknest Trail where we start […]
1 event,
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead Spend about 2 hours on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various desert topics are discussed. The material will depend on what we see in this wonderful environment. Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead – 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 […]
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Lecture- Photographing Nature in the Desert at Mustang Library
Lecture- Photographing Nature in the Desert at Mustang Library
Lecture- Photographing Nature in the Desert at Mustang Library Location: Mustang Library - 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Join award-winning photographer Kathryn Dannay to learn how to improve your desert photography. Focusing on photographing nature, Kathryn will review composition guidelines, and then walk through the different nuances of photographing landscapes, versus flora versus […]
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Tour de Scottsdale Packet Pickup at WestWorld of Scottsdale
Tour de Scottsdale Packet Pickup at WestWorld of Scottsdale
Tour de Scottsdale Packet Pickup and Kickoff Event at WestWorld of Scottsdale The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is bringing back the Tour de Scottsdale. After a short hiatus due to COVID, this prestigious annual event, originally developed by DC Ranch, will host cyclists from all over the globe as they embark on a thrilling journey through […]
1 event,
Tour de Scottsdale at WestWorld of Scottsdale
Tour de Scottsdale at WestWorld of Scottsdale
Tour de Scottsdale at WestWorld of Scottsdale The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy is bringing back the Tour de Scottsdale. After a short hiatus due to COVID, this prestigious annual event, originally developed by DC Ranch, will host cyclists from all over the globe as they embark on a thrilling journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Scottsdale, […]
2 events,
Bird Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Bird Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Bird Walk at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Location: Tom's Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Join us to see some of our cool weather resident birds such as phainopepla, white-crowned sparrow, black-throated sparrow, Brewer's sparrow, and ruby-crowned kinglet, in addition to year-round birds such as thrashers, […]
Wildflower Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Wildflower Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Wildflower Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Distance: ~1 mile Time: ~2 hours Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join us to discover the incredible variety of flowers on […]
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Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Pima Dynamite Trailhead
Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Pima Dynamite Trailhead
Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Beginner Distance: ~3 to 5 miles Time: ~3 hours New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness, and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? Then […]
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Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Distance: ~0.5 mile Time: ~2 hours Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join us to follow the growth of a saguaro […]
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Nature as Therapy Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Nature as Therapy Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Nature as Therapy Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Learn why time in nature makes you happier, healthier, and more creative. Join us on this easy walk where you will learn how to use nature as a […]
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2 events,
Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours This leisurely walk along the Brown's Ranch Jane Rau Trail will introduce the study of the phases of plant life cycles, how and why the […]
Lecture- The Backstory of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Conservancy at Mustang Library
Lecture- The Backstory of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Conservancy at Mustang Library
Lecture- The Backstory of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Conservancy at Mustang Library The McDowell Sonoran Preserve - covering over 30,000 acres - can be described as the ‘crown jewel’ of Scottsdale. Residents and visitors alike may take it for granted, but it is the result of a hard-fought, two-decades-long citizen campaign. The creation of […]
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Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead Spend about 2 hours on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various desert topics are discussed. The material will depend on what we see in this wonderful environment. Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead – 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 […]
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Desert 101 North Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Desert 101 North Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Desert 101 North Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours The Conservancy has a mission to help sustain the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This walk provides a geological and ecological overview of what lives in the McDowell Sonoran […]