Balanced Rock Hike from Granite Mountain Trailhead. This moderate hike to Balanced Rock and back is one of the most popular from this trailhead and is a gradual uphill on rolling terrain. Plan on 2 hours for 4.5 miles with 300 ft. of elevation gain. Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Please […]
Flora in the Desert/Wildflowers Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead. 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: If you have the i-Naturalist application on your phone, it would be a helpful tool to identify different flora. There […]
Bootlegger, Coyote Canyon, Renegade Trails at Granite Mountain Trailhead. This Difficult hike explores the more remote part of the Preserve via Bootlegger, Granite Mountain Loop, Coyote Canyon, Renegade and 136th St. Express trails. Experienced hikers suggested. 6.8 miles in about 3.5 hours with 255 ft. elevation gain and rolling ups and downs. Restrooms are available […]
Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 3 - Graduation Ride at Pima Dynamite Trailhead. This 10 to 12-mile ride from Pima Dynamite is for people who have completed the Introduction to Mountain Biking Sessions 1 & 2. This is an instructional ride to practice the skills taught with instruction at various points on the ride. A […]
Flora in the Desert/Wildflowers Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead. 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: If you have the i-Naturalist application on your phone, it would be a helpful tool to identify different flora. There […]
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 […]
Master Planned Developments in Scottsdale Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 A large portion of Scottsdale residents live in master planned developments. Most of the later development in Scottsdale was contained in such developments, but few know that some of the earliest […]
Flora in the Desert/Wildflowers Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead. 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: If you have the i-Naturalist application on your phone, it would be a helpful tool to identify different flora. There […]
From Rocks to Humans: Ecological Foundations Saturday, April 11, 2026, 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90 th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85258 We live in a stunning part of the Sonoran Desert, a unique and vibrant ecosystem. Despite high temperatures and limited rainfall, myriad species of plants and animals call this […]
Bird Walk at Tom's Thumb 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. […]
The Desert is a Dotted Line: Connecting Taliesin West and Early Scottsdale Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Beginning in 1938, the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his apprentices built a winter camp (a home and professional studio) at the foot of […]
Lecture: Scottsdale’s Lost and Saved Architecture Tuesday, May 26, 2026, 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Presenter: Doug Sydnor, FAIA, Architect Since 1888 Scottsdale has been evolving from a small farming community into a 21st century city of 240,000 residents. Douglas Sydnor, FAIA will share some […]
