Fraesfield North to Balanced Rock Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead Location: Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Difficult Distance: ~8 miles | Time: ~3.5 hours This hike has a moderate rocky uphill portion on the north side of Fraesfield Mountain, but the remainder of the hike covers relatively flat

Conservancy Women Open House at Conservancy Office Interested in supporting the Conservancy, connecting with friends young and old, and enjoying new experiences? Come learn about Conservancy Women! Conservancy Women is a membership group committed to raising funds for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy while also appealing to the interests of a wide variety of women from

Lecture - Indigenous Rock Imagery of the Sonoran Desert at Mustang Library Location: Mustang Library - 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 Presenter: Aaron Wright, Archeology Southwest Petroglyphs and pictographs are integral to the cultural traditions of Indigenous communities the world over, and especially so in the Sonoran Desert where they abound on the

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead – 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Join us on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various desert topics are discussed. The material will depend on what we

Missions, Massacres & Plagues Educational Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead Location: Fraesfield Trailhead – 13400 E Rio Verde Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4 miles | Time: ~3 hours Join the expert archaeologist and historic preservationist and revisit three hundred years of European-Native American contacts and conflicts, from Coronado to Alamo (1540-1850). Pets

Feldspar and Mesquite Loop Walk at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Location: Tom's Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill level: Easy Distance: ~1.2 miles Time: ~1.5 hours Join us for a leisurely walk in the areas below Tom’s Thumb. Slower pace and frequent stops with time to admire the great views and

Trailside Naturalist – A Desert Time Machine at Gateway Trailhead Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Time: ~2.5 hours Stop by anytime between 8:30 and 11:00 A.M. to learn about the common pack rat. Ever wondered who lives in those piles of debris with cholla balls on top? The

Ethnobotany Walk: Surviving and Thriving in the Sonoran Desert at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Distance: 0.5 mile Time: ~2 hours Discover how native Americans used plants to fulfill their basic needs. Pets are not permitted at our activities due to

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead – 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Beginner Distance: ~3-5 miles | Time ~3 hours 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

Marcus Landslide Hike at Tom's Thumb Trailhead Visit the Marcus Landslide geological site, second largest landslide in Arizona. The elevation gain is 400 ft. Location: Tom’s Thumb Trailhead - 23015 N 128th St, Scottsdale, AZ, 85255 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~4 miles Time: ~2.5 hours Pets are not permitted at our activities due to safety

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Gateway Trailhead Join us on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various desert topics are discussed. The material will depend on what we see in this wonderful environment. Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Skill level: Easy

Desert Park to Gateway Loop Hike at Gateway Trailhead This hike will travel through the Silverleaf community, the Windgate Pass Trail and then a short, steep climb to the Gateway Saddle with its great views. Elevation gain of 700 ft. For experienced hikers. Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Ride Beginner + Skills Level at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Join us for a fun, moderate cardio, single-track, beginner + new intermediate skill level ride with some climbing and winding downhills. We will make stops to regroup if necessary. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Beginner Distance: ~10

Boo-jada Adventure Walk at Gateway Trailhead When you think about Halloween, it's normal to think of the most well known symbols of Halloween – Spiders, Spider Webs and Bats as spooky and scary. But, if you look at their existence in the Sonoran Desert, you may discover that sometimes the things you fear the most

Bird Walk at Granite Mountain Trailhead Join us on this 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. Bring your binoculars. Location: Granite Mountain trailhead - 31402 N 136th

Desert Origins and Adaptations Educational Hike at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Why is the Sonoran Desert here? Join us as we examine how climate and geomorphology interact to create a desert. The presenter will compare and contrast North American deserts, then focus on our Sonoran home and some adaptations necessary to survive this harsh environment. Location:

Arthropods Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead Spiders, scorpions, bees, and wasps are just the beginning – there are more species of arthropods in the world than any other group of animals. Join us to discover the fascinating and diverse world of arthropods and their role in the ecology of the Sonoran Desert. Location: Gateway Trailhead

Ride from Granite Mountain Trailhead at Granite Mountain Trailhead Join us for a beautiful single-track ride of intermediate skill level with some climbing and fun, winding downhills. If there is a short technical section on a trail, you may walk it. We will make short stops to regroup. Rugged handcycles with a support rider are

Veterans Day Hike at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead To honor our veterans, an easy loop on gently rolling terrain is planned. We will hold a special ceremony at the trailhead at the end of the hike. Elevation gain of about 250 ft. Location: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead - 12601 N 124th St, Scottsdale, AZ 852

Vaquero, Whiskey Bottle & Latigo Hike at Brown's Ranch Trailhead This hike on three picturesque trails will take you to a crested saguaro and then continue through a diverse landscape. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~5 miles Time: ~2.5 hours Pets are not permitted