Brown's Ranch Interpretive Trail Grand Opening
2024-10-18 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Brown's Ranch Interpretive Trail Guided Hike
2024-10-19 07:00 - 10:30 (America/Phoenix) | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Ride Granite Mountain Loop
2024-10-19 08:30 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | AZ

Lecture - The Stones of Taliesin West (at Mustang Library)
2024-10-22 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
Lecture: The Stones of Taliesin West
Taliesin West, architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter camp and studio in Scottsdale, is a 20th Century Architecture World Heritage Site. It is also home to many ancient petroglyphs on stone. Noted archaeologist Aaron Wright did a comprehensive study of these Native American images and observed how Wright had incorporated a number of stones containing petroglyphs into his original site plan while leaving several stones in their original locations.

Cultural Resources Educational Hike - Missions, Massacres & Plagues
2024-10-24 08:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | AZ

Cultural Resources Educational Hike -Hunter/Gatherers
2024-10-26 08:00 - 10:30 (America/Phoenix) | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States

Stagecoach, West Express, Malpais Hike
2024-10-26 08:00 - 12:30 (America/Phoenix) | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Very Difficult hike of 10.4 miles over 4.5 hours with 190 feet elevation gain.

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic
2024-10-27 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | AZ

Gateway to Windgate Pass Hike
2024-10-30 08:00 - 11:30 (America/Phoenix) | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Marcus Landslide Hike
2024-10-31 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Phoenix) | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Trailside Naturalist - How to Survive in the Desert if You are a Plant - Gateway Trailhead
2024-11-02 08:30 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Trailside Naturalist – How to Survive in the Desert if you are a Plant – Gateway Trailhead
Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 8:30am to 11:00 am
Desert plants have adapted to our harsh desert environment. Learn how they do this by holding their breath during the day, reducing their surface areas and creating their own shade. We will show examples of parasitic and mutualistic relationships where plants steal from each other or help each other. You can learn more about these fascinating adaptations by joining us at the Trailhead, where we will point out some examples.
*Trailside Naturalist is a family-friendly educational offering on many Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up not necessary, stop by anytime.

Boojada Adventure Walk
2024-11-02 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Bird Walk
2024-11-03 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Cultural Resources Educational Hike - Brown's Ranch Interpretive Trail
2024-11-03 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Sonoran Sundays - Wings Unfurled: Let’s explore the world of butterflies
2024-11-03 15:00 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Desert Origins - Educational Hike
2024-11-05 08:00 - 10:30 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Return to Azatlan - Educational Hike
2024-11-07 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | AZ

Women's Hike
2024-11-08 08:00 - 10:00 UTC | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States

Ride Granite Mountain Area
2024-11-08 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Desert Surfaces - Educational Walk
2024-11-09 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Sonoran Sundays - Desert Wildlife and Safety
2024-11-10 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Veterans Day Hike
2024-11-11 08:00 - 10:30 (America/Phoenix) | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States

Granite Mountain to Hawknest Trail Hike
2024-11-12 09:00 - 13:30 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Very Difficult hike of 10.6 miles over 4.5 hours with 303 feet elevation gain.

Human History of the McDowells - Educational Walk
2024-11-14 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Expedition Days Homeschool Day
2024-11-15 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States
Expedition Days Homeschool Day
Join us for a day of free, fun, and interactive STEAM experiences in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve, from Scat Bingo to live animal ambassadors. Learn about your place in the Sonoran Desert and how the choices you make in your daily life affect the future of our environment.
The Kovach Family Nature Trail is stroller-accessible and there are water fountains as well as bathrooms at the Trailhead.
View our shareable flyer.
Register HERE

Trailside Naturalist - Protecting the Desert Tortoise - Gateway Trailhead
2024-11-16 08:30 - 11:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Trailside Naturalist – Protecting the Desert Tortoise – Gateway Trailhead
Saturday, November 16, 2024 from 8:30 am to 11:00 am
Learn about the Preserve’s desert tortoises who are long living but have a small chance to make it to adulthood. The Conservancy is tracking these animals with a radio backpack and we will share what has been learned about these slow but mighty animals.
*Trailside Naturalist is a family-friendly educational offering on many Saturday mornings. The presentations feature hands-on materials and specimens and cover a variety of topics about the flora and fauna of the Preserve. The informal setting allows visitors to ask questions and learn interesting information about the amazing biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. Sign up is not necessary, stop by anytime.

Walk Like a Tortoise - Educational Walk
2024-11-16 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Lecture - Living with Wildlife: How to Let Wildlife Be Wild (at Mustang Library)
2024-11-16 14:30 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic
2024-11-17 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Bootlegger and Coyote Canyon Hike
2024-11-17 09:00 - 12:30 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
