Arthropod Educational Walk

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

Arthropod Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead  Spiders, scorpions, bugs!  6 legged, 8 legged, and many legged!  About 84% of all animal species are arthropods. Join Dr. Rich Cochran on an easy 2 hour walk to discover the fascinating and diverse world of Arthropods and their role in the ecology of the Sonoran Desert.  Bathrooms

Bike Ride with Natural Resources Coordinator

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

Bike Ride with Natural Resources Coordinator at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.  Ride to some great places with John Loleit as he discusses the wonders of the desert preserve. This Beginner+ Skills and Moderate Cardio ride will have numerous stops but still cover 6 miles in 2 hours.  Seeing it from a bike gives you a bigger

Missions, Massacres, and Plagues

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

Missions, Massacres & Plagues Educational Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead. Moderate level hike. Revisit three hundred years of European-Native American contacts and conflicts, from Coronado to the Alamo (1540-1850). Join Don Meserve, expert Archaeologist and Historic Preservationist for about 3 hours covering 4 miles. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail.

Tom’s Thumb to Lookout Mtn. Fitness Hike

Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Tom’s Thumb Trailhead to Lookout Mt. Fitness Hike This Very Difficult hike has a steep trail with amazing rock formations. For Experienced hikers.  5.8 miles including a 1,200 ft. elevation gain over about 3.5 hours. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please.  Arrive 15 minutes before start

Sensing the Desert Family Educational Hike

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Sensing the Desert Family Educational Hike at Gateway Trailhead  What do you see?  Can you smell that?  Did you hear something?  Use your senses to make the desert come alive on this fun and active Family Hike.  Be ready to really experience so much of what the desert has to offer.  Allow 1 1/2 to

Quartz Trail from Lost Dog Wash Fitness Hike

Lost Dog Wash Trailhead 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Quartz Trail from Lost Dog Trailhead Fitness Hike  This Very Difficult hike will visit the quartz formation that can be seen for miles all over Scottsdale. The hike covers 9 miles in about 5 hours with significant elevation gains on rocky trails. Experienced hikers suggested. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks and even

More Pie Please

Lost Dog Wash Trailhead 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

More Pie Please Fitness Hike at Lost Dog Trailhead  Join Steve Dodd on this Moderate hike to burn off some calories with family and friends and you won’t feel a bit guilty about having that second piece of pie!  2.5 miles over about 1.5 hours and some ups and downs. Bathrooms available at the trailhead.

Bike the South from Lost Dog Wash Trailhead

Lost Dog Wash Trailhead 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Bike the South from Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Come ride the southern preserve trails.  This is an Advanced Skill and Vigorous Cardio level ride of about 15 miles in 2.5 – 3 hours. We will ride over Taliesin Overlook to the Levee loop and possibly up the Quartz trail.  This is a good ride to

Lifecycle of the Saguaro

Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Lifecycle of the Saguaro Education Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join PastFinders Don Brockway and Chris Crum 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

Marcus Landslide Educational Ride

Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Marcus Landslide Educational Ride from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead We will ride to Marcus Landslide and into the County Park to see the landslide from various viewpoints.  This Intermediate Skills and Vigorous Cardio ride covers some significant elevation changes over 3.5 hours.  However, there will be numerous stops to discuss and observe the geology of the

Sonoran Sundays: Arthropods

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Master Steward Rich Cochran will present an in-depth talk on some of the fascinating insects and  arachnids that inhabit our Sonoran Desert. An expert on arthropods, Rich will provide an up-close look  at some fun and interesting species from his vast collection, including a Tarantula Wasp, a Giant Desert  Hairy Scorpion, and more.

Desert Origins and Adaptations Educational Hike

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

Desert Origins and Adaptations Educational Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead. Why is the Sonoran Desert here?  Join Frank Romaglia as he examines how climate and geomorphology interact to create a desert. He’ll compare and contrast North American deserts, then focus on our Sonoran home and some adaptations necessary to survive this harsh environment. This Moderate

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator

Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead  Spend about 2 hours on an easy hike with John Loleit, the Natural Resources Coordinator, as he discusses various pertinent topics while hiking in the desert.  The material will depend on the season, animals, plants, and will cover whatever is happening in this wonderful environment.   Bathrooms

High Desert – Broken Spoke – Hawksnest – Buckshot Trails

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

High Desert, Broken Spoke, Hawknest and Buckshot Trails Fitness Hike from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead This Very Difficult hike will allow you to explore some of the remote trails in the northwest area of the Preserve. 9.3 miles for about 5 hours with rolling hills. Experience hikers suggested.  Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks,

Trailside Naturalist Station: Predators

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Stop by the Trailside Naturalist station at the Gateway Trailhead between 9-11 A.M. to learn about the various predators found in the Preserve.

Sunrise Peak from Lost Dog Wash Fitness Hike

Lost Dog Wash Trailhead 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Sunrise Peak from Lost Dog Trailhead Fitness Hike  This Very Difficult Hike travels the beautiful and challenging west side of Sunrise Peak up to a great 360-degree view of the Valley of the Sun. Experienced hikers suggested. 6.2 miles in about 3.5 hours with elevation gain over 1,300 ft. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Fraesfield Trailhead  New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? Then come prepared with a mountain bike with knobby tires, helmet, water, and snacks. We begin with a demonstration and presentation by experienced riders covering

Gateway to TT9 Overlook Fitness Hike

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Gateway to Tom’s Thumb TT9 Overlook Fitness Hike from Gateway Trailhead.   This Very Difficult hike takes us to the seldom visited vistas west of Tom’s Thumb that makes you think you are in the Grand Canyon.  9.6 miles in about 5-6 hours with a big climb of 2100 ft! Bathrooms at the trailhead.  Bring water

Mistletoe and Holly Educational Hike

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

Mistletoe & Holly Educational Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead What do desert plants and animals have to do with the holidays? Join PastFinder Franco Farina on an Easy hike and discover the hidden, festive desert connections. 3 miles over about 2.5 hours with minimal elevation gain. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks

Fraesfield to Balanced Rock Fitness Hike

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

Fraesfield Trailhead to Balanced Rock Fitness Hike.  This Very Difficult hike will take us on a long journey thru the flatter part of the preserve to the amazing granite balancing rock formation. 10 miles over 4.5 hours.  Bring snacks and a lunch.  Experienced hikers suggested.  Bathrooms are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks