McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

Trailside Naturalist - Wildflower Season - Gateway Trailhead
2025-02-08 08:30 - 11:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Wildflower Season
Find out about the many species of winter and spring wildflowers that grow in the Preserve.
The old maxim “April showers bring May flowers” does not apply to the Sonoran Desert. In fact, April marks the beginning of our dry season, and by May, most of our wildflowers have already flowered and set seed. A more accurate version of the maxim for the Sonoran Desert would read, “October showers bring March flowers.” Stop by and we will show you common flowers in the desert and when and where to find them.
*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.

Crested Saguaro Hike
2025-02-06 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Difficult hike as we pass by 3 crested saguaro cacti. This hike is for experienced hikers and will cover 7 miles with 255 ft. elevation gain in about 3 hours.

Venom in the Preserve - Educational Walk
2025-02-06 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Geology of the McDowells - Educational Hike
2025-02-05 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States

Desert 101 - Educational Walk
2025-02-01 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-04 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Lecture - Petroglyphs of the McDowell Mountains (at Mustang Library)
2025-01-28 17:00 - 18:30 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic
2025-01-28 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-01-04 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Women's Bike Ride
2025-01-27 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Southern View Hike
2025-01-25 09:00 - 13:30 (America/Phoenix) | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States
Very Difficult hike with 1,187 feet elevation gain. 6.8 miles in about 4 hours.

Cultural Resources Educational Hike - Brown's Ranch Interpretive Trail
2025-01-25 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Desert 101 - Educational Walk
2025-01-25 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Balanced Rock Hike
2025-01-20 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Difficult hike over 7.3 miles in 3 hours with rolling hills.

CANCELED Preserve Origins - Educational Walk
2025-01-18 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Trailside Naturalist - Big Cats in the Preserve - Gateway Trailhead
2025-01-18 08:30 - 11:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Big Cats in the Preserve
Mountain Lions, also known in North America as the puma, cougar, catamount or panther live in the Preserve. They are almost never observed because they mainly roam from dusk to dawn. During the day these apex predators are masters of camouflage doing their very best to avoid humans. The Conservancy’s Parsons Field Institute – Wildlife Camera Project has captured wonderful photos of these magnificent cats in the Preserve. Come learn about these elusive mammals that have been known to leap 23 feet in a single bound and their importance to a healthy desert ecology.
*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.

Mammoth Hunters to Canal Builders - Educational Walk
2025-01-16 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

North and South Diablo Hike
2025-01-14 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Very difficult hike over 10 miles in 4 hours with gradual elevation changes.

Sonoran Sundays - Owls, Hawks, and Falcons!
2025-01-12 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States

Lecture - Geology is Ecology's Destiny (at Mustang Library)
2025-01-11 14:30 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

Crested Saguaro - Educational Ride
2025-01-11 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Women of the McDowells - Educational Walk
2025-01-11 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States

Botany Educational Hike
2025-01-11 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Trailside Naturalist - What Bird Was That? - Gateway Trailhead
2025-01-11 08:30 - 11:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
What Bird Was That?
Learn to identify the common birds in the Preserve and some unique attributes of each including nesting, migration and parenting. We will demonstrate Merlin, a free phone app, which identifies birds by listening for their sounds so you can identify birds on your patio, in the Preserve and on trips. You will learn what crop milk is, when and where does the White-winged Dove come from and many more amazing things about the Preserve’s birds.
*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.

Women's Hike
2025-01-10 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Beginner's Next Step Ride
2025-01-10 09:00 - 12:00, 2024-12-29 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

History of the Stoneman Road - Educational Hike
2025-01-09 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Balanced Rock Hike
2025-01-05 09:00 - 12:30 (America/Phoenix) | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Difficult hike. Plan 3.5 hours for 8 miles with a elevation gain of 333 feet.

Twenty Miler - Wellness Ride
2025-01-03 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
