Granite Mountain Loop Fitness Hike at Granite Mt Trailhead Join us on this difficult hike on one of the classic paths in the preserve and a side trip to Balanced Rock. About 3 hours to cover 6 miles. Experience hikers suggested. Restrooms available at trailhead. Please being plenty of water and snacks for the trail.

Geology Educational Ride from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead  When, how and why did all those different rocks get into the Preserve?  How about our own earthquake fault?   This Intermediate Skills and Moderate Cardio Ride for about 3 hours over 11-12 miles will take us thru the various geological formations of the area. Get the big picture

Latigo, Cone Mountain Loop Fitness Hike from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead This scenic loop hike is rated Moderate but has some ups and downs needing about 2.5-3 hours to cover 4.2 miles. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead. Please bring plenty of water and snacks for the trail.  No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start

Women’s Bike Ride from Brown's Ranch Trailhead.  This all woman’s bike ride is an Intermediate Skill level ride and Moderate Cardio.  This is a step up in intensity from the previous Woman’s Ride.   It is a “No Drop” ride meaning no one will be left behind.  Plan on about 3 hours to cover approximately 12

In the spring, the desert pops in a rainbow of colorful wildflowers.  Stop by the Trailside Naturalist Station at Gateway Trailhead between 9:00 and 11:00 am to learn about the various blooms and plants you may see on your hike.

Gateway Loop Fitness Hike from Gateway Trailhead.  Finish out our fitness hike season on the Gateway Loop that will take you into the heart of the McDowells. This Moderately difficult hike covers 4.5 miles, gains 700ft and takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. Challenging in the spring heat. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water

Bird Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead Join Kathe Anderson and Rick Pearce for about 2 hours 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 summer residents white-winged dove, turkey vulture or ash-throated flycatcher. Restrooms available

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

Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead.  Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join Legacy Steward Marsha Lipps and Master Steward Roger Riepe to follow the growth of a Saguaro from seed to skeleton and view multi-armed, old Saguaros. This walk covers about 1.5 hours

Learn why time in nature makes us happier, healthier, and more creative.  An easy 1.5 hour walk at Brown’s Trailhead where Toni Vallee and Max Sukenik will teach you how to use nature as a prescription to improve your overall well being.  Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Pima Dynamite Trailhead  Spend 1 to 1.5 hours on an easy hike with John Loleit and Madison Barasha, Natural Resources Coordinators for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They will share their knowledge about the Preserve and the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead.  Bring water

Stop by the Trailside Naturalist station at Gateway Trailhead between 9-11:30 A.M. to learn about the diverse plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert.  Our steward guides will have fascinating displays and lots of fun facts to share.  Featuring reptiles, arthropods, packrats, and cacti!  Bathrooms and water are available at the trailhead.

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead  Spend 1 to 1.5 hours on an easy hike with John Loleit and Madison Barasha, Natural Resources Coordinators for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They will share their knowledge about the Preserve and the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead.  Bring water

Flora in the Preserve Educational 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 the Preserve. Download the iNaturalist app (inaturalist.org) on your smartphone and learn to identify different flora. Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours

Lecture - Desert Hacks and Facts at Arabian Library Len Marcisz, Legacy Steward for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, will share a potpourri of skills, techniques, tricks, and facts that make a walk in the desert enjoyable, interesting and survivable. Location: Arabian Library

Ride the Gooseneck at Fraesfield Trailhead A great sequel to the Bike Skills Clinic. It will travel over the flatter areas of the Gooseneck. The first 1/2 mile of the ride requires intermediate skills, but it is smooth sailing for the next 10-12 miles. This is an intermediate skills and moderate cardio ride. Location: Fraesfield

Trailside Naturalist - Packrats at Gateway Trailhead Sonoran Desert packrats have been collecting and preserving things found on the ground for 40,000 years! Stop by the Trailside Naturalist Station at the Gateway Trailhead between 8:00 and 11:00 A.M. to learn how ancient packrats and their distinctive behavior assist today’s scientists who study the history of

Lecture - Watching Wildlife: Biodiversity Monitoring in the Preserve at Mustang Library All over the world, biodiversity is declining due to human impacts. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy conducts multiple long-term ecological research projects in order to monitor biodiversity in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Learn how the Conservancy’s bat project and wildlife camera project demonstrate the importance

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Pima Dynamite Trailhead  New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness, and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? We begin with a demonstration and presentation by experienced riders covering the basic things you need to know, equipment requirements and trail etiquette. The

Sonoran Sundays - Create a Butterfly Garden with Native Plants at Gateway Trailhead Learn how to create a butterfly garden using only native plants from our partners at Butterfly Wonderland. The goal is to achieve a garden that will provide a haven for butterflies to feed, rest and reproduce. Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 North