Calendar of Events
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1 event,
Flora in the Preserve Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Flora in the Preserve Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Flora in the Preserve 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 Preserve is located in one of the most biodiverse areas of the Sonoran Desert. Learn about the plant life that thrives in this area. Note: […]
0 events,
2 events,
Taliesin, Old Jeep and Ringtail Hike at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
Taliesin, Old Jeep and Ringtail Hike at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
Taliesin, Old Jeep and Ringtail Hike at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Come hike some of the original trails in the Preserve with great views of Scottsdale and the desert. Experienced hikers suggested. Location: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead - 12601 N 124th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 Skill level: Difficult Distance: ~5.5 miles Time: ~3 hours Pets […]
Lecture- Architectural Design Principles for the Sonoran Desert at Mustang Library
Lecture- Architectural Design Principles for the Sonoran Desert at Mustang Library
Lecture- Architectural Design Principles for the Sonoran Desert at Mustang Library Doug Sydnor had an architectural practice in Scottsdale for many years. His presentation will explore the Sonoran Desert and the environmental conditions that suggest how an appropriate architecture should respond to these conditions. Such responses will include a series of passive energy saving concepts […]
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 […]
0 events,
1 event,
Expedition Days Homeschool Day at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
Expedition Days Homeschool Day at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
Expedition Days Homeschool Day at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Join us for a day of fun interactive experiences in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Learn about your place in the Sonoran Desert and how the choices you make in your daily life affect the future of our environment. Location: Lost Dog Trailhead - 12601 N. […]
1 event,
Expedition Days Family Day at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
Expedition Days Family Day at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
Expedition Days Family Day at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Join us for a day of fun interactive experiences in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Learn about your place in the Sonoran Desert and how the choices you make in your daily life affect the future of our environment. Location: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead – 12601 […]
2 events,
What’s in Your Backpack? Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead
What’s in Your Backpack? Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead
What's in Your Backpack? Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Time: 2 hours Our Preserve in the Sonoran Desert is beautiful. But most of the inhabitants, both flora and fauna, want to stick you, prick you or bite you. Your safety is important to […]
Sonoran Sunday: Back From the Brink – A Story of Recovery” the Mexican Gray Wolf at Brown’s Ranch
Sonoran Sunday: Back From the Brink – A Story of Recovery” the Mexican Gray Wolf at Brown’s Ranch
Sonoran Sunday: Back From the Brink – A Story of Recovery” the Mexican Gray Wolf at Brown's Ranch Do you know about Southwest Wildlife? Listen and learn as Robyn Moul, Lead Education Specialist, Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center talks about the only sanctuary in Arizona capable of rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing large predators, and their efforts […]
1 event,
Marcus Landslide Educational Hike at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Marcus Landslide Educational Hike at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Marcus Landslide Educational Hike at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Location: Tom’s Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4 miles Time: ~3 hours Open your eyes to the Marcus Landslide geological site, the second largest landslide in Arizona. Elevation gain of 400 ft. Pets are not permitted at our […]
1 event,
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 […]
1 event,
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Location: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead - 12601 N 124th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85259 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Join us on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various desert topics are discussed. The material will depend on what […]
2 events,
Return to Azatlan Educational Hike
Return to Azatlan Educational Hike
Return to Azatlan Educational Hike Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4 miles Time: ~4 hours Azatlan is the contemporary archaeological name given to a large Hohokam community that existed north of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Reservation and east of Rio Verde. Join PastFinders experts for a hike through one of the largest archeological sites in central […]
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 […]
0 events,
3 events,
CANCELLED- Axle Grease, Hackamore, and Hawknest Hike at Pima Dynamite Trailhead
CANCELLED- Axle Grease, Hackamore, and Hawknest Hike at Pima Dynamite Trailhead
Axle Grease, Hackamore, and Hawknest Hike at Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Difficult Distance: ~6.7 miles Time: ~3.5 hours Explore the impressive newer trails with nice views and granite formations. Experienced hikers suggested. Pets are not permitted at our activities due to safety […]
Women of the McDowells Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Women of the McDowells Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Women of the McDowells 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 Did you know that women comprised the majority of the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy's founders and incorporators? Who were they? What were their respective roles? How did […]
Lecture- Where did the Milky Way Go? at Mustang Library
Lecture- Where did the Milky Way Go? at Mustang Library
Lecture- Where did the Milky Way Go? at Mustang Library Light pollution – unnecessary artificial light at night – has increased dramatically over the past few decades to the point that it drastically reduces our view of the starry sky and threatens our environment. The advent of energy-efficient LED lighting has compounded the problem. However, […]
1 event,
Human History of the McDowells at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Human History of the McDowells at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Human History of the McDowells at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy | Time: ~2 hours Did you know that most of what is now Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve was formerly the Brown family's ranch, also known as DC Ranch? The area […]
0 events,
2 events,
Bird Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead
Bird Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead
Bird Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead Location: Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Join us to see some of our area’s full-time resident birds. It also gives us a chance to see spring migrants, for example: Wilson’s, Lucy’s, Townsend’s, or yellow warbler, or early-arriving summer […]
Women’s Bike Ride (Beginner ++) at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Women’s Bike Ride (Beginner ++) at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Women’s Bike Ride (Beginner ++) at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Skill level: Beginner ++ Distance: ~15 miles Time: ~3 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 […]
0 events,
0 events,
1 event,
Wildflower Educational Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Wildflower Educational Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Wildflower Educational Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead - 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~3 miles Time: ~3 hours Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join our knowledgeable stewards on this hike to discover the incredible […]
4 events,
Balanced Rock, Chuckwagon, Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine Trails at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Balanced Rock, Chuckwagon, Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine Trails at Granite Mountain Trailhead
Balanced Rock, Chuckwagon, Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine Trails at Granite Mountain Trailhead Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead - 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Difficult Distance: ~7.3 miles Time: ~3 hours We will hike to Balanced Rock along the very scenic south side of Granite Mountain, to Whiskey Bottle Trail, and return via the […]
Trailside Naturalist – What Bird was that? at Gateway Trailhead
Trailside Naturalist – What Bird was that? at Gateway Trailhead
Trailside Naturalist – What Bird was that? at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead – 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Time: ~2.5 hours Stop by anytime between 8:30 and 11:00 A.M. to find out what birds fly and live in the Preserve. The Conservancy, with the help of our research partners, has identified 189 […]
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 on this easy walk to discover the incredible […]
Ride Secrets of the Preserve Educational Ride at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Ride Secrets of the Preserve Educational Ride at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Ride Secrets of the Preserve Educational Ride at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~11 miles Time: ~3.5 hours Ready to discover more about what is in the Preserve, besides the excitement of trail riding? This is the ride for you! […]
3 events,
Ride from Pima Dynamite Trailhead
Ride from Pima Dynamite Trailhead
Ride from Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Time: ~3 hours Join us for a fun adventure ride. This is an intermediate skill and high cardio ride. This ride includes some moderate climbing and twisty downhills. We will make short stops to regroup […]
Desert Surfaces Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Desert Surfaces Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Desert Surfaces Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead What really covers the desert – little organisms can make a big difference! Some of the most common sights in the desert – and indeed the living things that probably cover more of the desert than any single kind of plant – are lichen, desert varnish, and […]
Sonoran Sunday: Rattlesnakes, King Snakes & Gopher Snakes at Gateway Trailhead
Sonoran Sunday: Rattlesnakes, King Snakes & Gopher Snakes at Gateway Trailhead
Sonoran Sunday: Rattlesnakes, King Snakes & Gopher Snakes at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead –  18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Do you want to know what these 3 snakes have in common? Come hear Darrell Woolf, Exhibits Curator, Center for Native and Urban Wildlife at Scottsdale Community College and one of their […]
0 events,
1 event,
Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead
Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead
Phenology: Introduction to Plant Phenology Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours This leisurely walk along the Gateway Bajada Trail will introduce the study of the phases of plant reproduction, how and why the data are collected, and how […]
1 event,
Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine & Black Hill Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead
Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine & Black Hill Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead
Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine & Black Hill Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead Location: Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4.5 miles Time: ~2 hours This hike has a moderate uphill portion on the north side of Fraesfield Mountain with nice views of Granite Mountain and beyond, but the […]
0 events,
1 event,
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Tom's Thumb 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: Tom’s Thumb Trailhead – 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 […]
2 events,
Wildflower Educational Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Wildflower Educational Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Wildflower Educational Walk at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Location: Tom's Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 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 on this easy walk to discover the incredible variety […]
Secrets of the Preserve Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead
Secrets of the Preserve Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead
Secrets of the Preserve Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead Location: Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Ready to discover more about what is in the Preserve? This is an experience for you! Join us to explore the Preserve’s hidden treasures, from the plants and […]
1 event,
Ride Hawknest and Axle Grease at Pima Dynamite Trailhead
Ride Hawknest and Axle Grease at Pima Dynamite Trailhead
Ride Hawknest and Axle Grease at Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~15 miles Time: ~3 hours Join us on this ride up Axle Grease to West Express, Hawknest, and Basalt Ridge, ending with an exciting flowy downhill on Hawknest back to […]
0 events,
1 event,
Lecture- Dozen Ways to Die in the Desert at Mustang Library
Lecture- Dozen Ways to Die in the Desert at Mustang Library
There are many unusual ways in which humans end up ten toes in the air in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. This presentation and audience discussion provide information on how to deal with rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, scorpions, mountain lions, bees, heat stroke, hypothermia, and the occasional hostile cactus, just to name a few.  The […]
1 event,
Wildflower Educational Hike at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Wildflower Educational Hike at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
Wildflower Educational Hike at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Location: Tom's Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4 miles Time: ~3.5 hours Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join our knowledgeable stewards on this hike to discover the incredible […]
0 events,
0 events,
1 event,
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 […]
1 event,
Granite Mountain Loop Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead
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,
Ride to the Crested Saguaros at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
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 […]
CANCELLED- Ride Geology 201 (Int.) from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
CANCELLED- 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, […]
1 event,
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 […]
0 events,
0 events,
0 events,
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 […]