Name: Lifecycle of the Saguaro – Educational Walk
Start: 2026-02-12T10:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-02-12T12:00:00-07:00
Location: Fraesfield Trailhead

January 2026
Desert Surfaces – Educational Walk

January 29 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Desert Surfaces 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 soil crust. […]

Free
Sonoran Desert 101 – Educational Walk

January 31 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Sonoran Desert 101 at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead This walk provides a geological and ecological overview of what lives in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and how the flora and fauna survive and thrive. Restrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start […]

Free
February 2026
Ride to the Crested Saguaros and Lifecycle of Saguaros

February 1 @ 9:00 am - 12:30 pm

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Ride to the Crested Saguaros and Lifecycle of the Saguaro (Int.) from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead. Ever noticed the Crested Saguaros in the preserve? Come ride with us to see a large number scattered throughout the north. This 3 hour ride will cover 13-15 miles and is rated Advanced Skill and Vigorous Cardio. A bike with […]

Free
Marcus Landslide and Feldspar Trails Hike

February 3 @ 9:00 am - 11:30 am

Tom's Thumb Trailhead 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Marcus Landslide, Feldspar Trails at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. This Moderate hike visits the giant boulders on the Feldspar trail and continues to the Marcus Landslide geological site, second largest landslide in Arizona. The elevation gain is 400 ft. over 5 miles in about 2.5 hours. Restrooms available at the trailhead but no water. Bring water […]

Free
The World of Arthropods – Educational Walk

February 5 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

The World of Arthropods at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Spiders, scorpions, bees, and wasps are just the beginning--there are more species of Arthropods in the world than any other group of animals. Join us on an easy 2 hour walk to discover the fascinating and diverse world of Arthropods and their role in the ecology of […]

Free
Brown’s Ranch Homestead – Educational Hike

February 5 @ 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Brown’s Ranch Interpretative Trail Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead. Before the Preserve was a reality, part of this land was a ranch, the historic Brown’s Ranch. Join us to explore this historical place, full of memories of a different way of life and hear the stories of the people who lived here not long ago. […]

Free
Introduction To Mountain Biking: Session 1

February 7 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 1 (Beg.) at Pima Dynamite Trailhead. This program is designed to introduce participants to mountain biking by building foundational riding skills and confidence in a safe, supportive setting. It emphasizes the importance of proper bike setup, safety checks, and trail etiquette, while fostering an appreciation for outdoor activity and responsible […]

Free
Introduction to Preserve Trailheads and Trails Hike

February 7 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Introduction to Preserve Trailheads and Trails at Brown's Ranch Trailhead. This hike will be targeted to visitors or those fairly new to the Preserve trails. The hike will be about 7 miles, taking about 3 hours, and cover a variety of trails to highlight various aspects of the Preserve trails and point out key locations […]

Free
Hidden Desert – Educational Walk

February 7 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

The Hidden Desert at Fraesfield Trailhead. Walking through the Desert gives you half the story. There is a hidden world of nocturnal critters. If you look carefully, you can see the evidence of their middens, burrows and holes. What else is concealed around you? Let us unlock those mysteries on the Camino Campana and reveal […]

Free
Bird Walk

February 8 @ 8:00 am - 10:00 am

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Bird Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead. Join our bird experts on this 2-hour walk for a good chance to see some of our year-round bird residents such as: cactus wren, Gila woodpecker, ladder-backed woodpecker, Harris’s hawk, verdin or Say’s phoebe - as well as some seasonal arrivals. Restrooms available at the trailhead, but no water. […]

Free
More Noteworthy & Notorious Arizonans – Educational Hike

February 12 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

More Noteworthy and Notorious Arizonans Educational Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead. Join a City of Scottsdale historian on anther storytelling hike about influential Arizonans such as Mr. Scottsdale, a supreme court justice, the godfather of shock rock, the snake lady, the first female state senator and suffragette, and an Indian/non-Indian artist. All six have interesting tales […]

Free
Lifecycle of the Saguaro – Educational Walk

February 12 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, United States

Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Fraesfield 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 easy walk covers one mile in about 2 hours over easy paths. Restrooms […]

Free

January 2026

Desert Surfaces – Educational Walk

Sonoran Desert 101 – Educational Walk

February 2026

Ride to the Crested Saguaros and Lifecycle of Saguaros

The World of Arthropods – Educational Walk

Brown’s Ranch Homestead – Educational Hike

Introduction To Mountain Biking: Session 1

Hidden Desert – Educational Walk

Bird Walk

More Noteworthy & Notorious Arizonans – Educational Hike

Lifecycle of the Saguaro – Educational Walk

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January 2026

February 2026

We've got a new look!

We're excited about the changes!

Please contact us if you experience any technical issues.