Lifecycle of the Saguaro - Educational Hike
2026-02-27 10:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Granite Mountain Trailhead.
Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join us to follow the growth of a saguaro from seed to skeleton and view multi-armed, old Saguaros. This Moderate hike covers 4 miles in about 3 hours over some rolling hills.
Restrooms and water available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Geology and Flora - Educational Hike
2026-02-28 09:00 - 11:00 | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Geology and Flora–Whiskey Bottle and Black Hill at Fraesfield Trailhead.
On this hike you’ll see the direct connection between the environment and the desert ecosystem as the plant communities change distinctly when the local geology and terrain changes. The hike is 3 miles long and starts with a moderate climb but then eases into modest ups-and-downs. Expect to spend about 2 hours on the trails.
There are restrooms at the trailhead but no water. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Wildflowers and Flora of the Desert - Educational Hike
2026-03-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Wildflower Educational Hike from Granite Mountain Trailhead.
Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors. Join our knowledgeable stewards on this Moderate hike to discover the incredible variety of flowers in this area of the Preserve. 3 miles over about 3 hours.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Brown's Mountain Lookout to Interpretive Trail Hike
2026-03-15 09:00 - 11:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Brown’s Mountain Lookout to Interpretive Trail at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
This “combo” hike/education event will take us up the Brown’s Ranch Trail to the Lookout and then head over to the Brown’s Ranch Interpretive Trail to be introduced to the history of the Brown’s Ranch. For this 4.3-mile Moderate hike with about 450 feet of elevation gain up to the Lookout, we will plan on taking 2 to 2.5 hours.
Bathrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before the start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Return to Azatlan - Educational Hike
2026-03-21 09:00 - 13:00 | AZ
Return to Azatlan – Educational Hike.
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 our archeological experts for a hike through one of the largest archeological sites in central Arizona, which lies right next door to the Preserve along the Verde River. The hike will include visits to the ancient ‘ball courts’ used by the native peoples, traces of their canals and other evidence of their civilization. This is a slow paced Moderate hike of 4 miles over about 4 hours with no shade.
Attendance is limited and reservations are absolutely required. Please save your spot with the RSVP below. Meeting location will be emailed to registered participants a week before the hike.
Bathrooms available at the start. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
