Introduction To Mountain Biking: Session 2
2026-01-17 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-14 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 2 at Pima Dynamite Trailhead.
This program is aimed at helping riders build confidence and control across beginner-level terrain, reinforcing foundational skills while introducing essential techniques for handling small obstacles, climbs, descents, and corners. By the end, riders are expected to demonstrate improved balance, control, and maneuverability, effectively apply braking, shifting, and body positioning across varied terrain, and show increased confidence when tackling obstacles and technical features. Emphasizing trail etiquette and safe group riding, the program aspires to boost participants’ sense of accomplishment and encourage their continued enthusiasm for riding.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Restrooms available at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

True Grit - Educational Walk
2026-01-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
True Grit at Fraesfield Trailhead.
Join us on a leisurely one mile, two hour walk and we will talk about what life was like for women who settled in the McDowells in the 19th and early 20th centuries making their lives with the military, working the land, ranching and in the office.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Please bring water and plan to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the walk. No dogs please.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Ride the Four Peaks
2026-01-18 09:00 - 12:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Ride the Four Peaks (Int.) from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
Experience all 4 peaks in the Brown’s Ranch area of the Preserve on this 3-hour 16-mile ride. We will ride to Cone Mountain where we will have an exhilarating ride down Cloudburst, then we will head east to The Divide. From The Divide, we will have flowy downhill runs on Branding Iron and the west side of Granite Mountain. We will see the beautiful rock formations and wildflower fields on the south side of Granite Mountain then head toward Fraesfield Mountain and back toward the Trailhead. This ride will require moderate cardio and some intermediate technical skills.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks and even a lunch. There are restrooms and water at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine, Black Hills, 136th Express and Dixileta Hike
2026-01-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Whiskey Bottle, Turpentine, Black Hills, 136th Express and Dixileta from Fraesfield Trailhead.
Let’s explore the Fraesfield Trails. This Difficult 7.5-mile hike with minimal elevation gain will cover 8 different trails accessible from the Fraesfield trailhead which most hikers do not visit. We may add the Campana Interpretive trail also .
Bring a snack or light lunch and water for the trail. There are bathrooms at the trailhead but no water. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Sonoran Sundays - Mammals of the Sonoran Desert (Guest Presenter: Maricopa Parks and Recreation)
2026-01-18 15:00 - 16:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Sonoran Sundays – Mammals of the Sonoran Desert (Guest Presenter: Maricopa Parks and Recreation)
Want to learn more about the Sonoran Desert’s amazing mammals? Would you like some tips to increase your chances of seeing wildlife while hiking? Then you’re going to want to join Ranger Kevin of Maricopa Parks and Recreation for a closer look at our native mammals. Whether it’s the diminutive Kangaroo Rat, the elusive Mountain Lion, or the majestic Desert Bighorn Sheep, we’ll look at some ways mammals manage not just to survive, but to thrive in the desert. We’ll also have a variety of skulls, bones, pelts and more to examine up close.

A Meditation Walk
2026-01-22 13:00 - 15:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
A Meditation Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
Step away from the day to day and discover inner peace as you immerse yourself in the beauty and power of the Sonoran Desert on a mindful ½ mile journey on the gentle and beautiful Jane Rau Trail.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to start of the walk. Restrooms and water at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs, please.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Marcus Landslide - Educational Hike
2026-01-23 10:00 - 13:00 | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Marcus Landslide Educational Hike from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead.
Open your eyes to the Marcus Landslide geological site, second largest landslide in Arizona. This Moderate educational hike will be about 4 miles in about 3 hours with 400 ft, of elevation gain.
Bathrooms at the trailhead but no water. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike. No dogs please.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 3 - Graduation Ride
2026-01-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 3 – Graduation Ride at Pima Dynamite Trailhead.
This 10 to 12-mile ride from Pima Dynamite is for people who have completed the Introduction to Mountain Biking Sessions 1 & 2. This is an instructional ride to practice the skills taught with instruction at various points on the ride.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Restrooms available at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Venom in the Desert - Educational Walk
2026-01-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Venom in the Desert from Gateway Trailhead.
Some reptiles and arthropods in the Sonoran Desert use venom or other poisons to defend themselves or subdue their prey. Learn how to recognize these animals that bite and sting and the effect of their venom. Join us on an easy 1.5 hour walk.
Restrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Latigo, Scorpion, Snake Eyes, Dare A Sarah Trails Hike
2026-01-24 10:00 - 13:30 | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Latigo, Scorpion, Snake Eyes, Dare A Sarah Trails from Pima Dynamite Trailhead.
This Difficult hike winds through many boulder formations in the northwest Preserve in an area mostly seen only by mountain bikers. Let your imagination run wild as you visualize familiar shapes in the formations. Although the terrain is rolling, the trails occasionally traverse the flat tops of some boulders as we make our way to Scorpion Point and Sidewinder Overlook. 7 miles with 238 ft. elevation gain in about 3.5 hours. Experienced hikers suggested.
There are restrooms and water at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Lecture - The Story of Historic Brown’s Ranch and the Creation of the Brown’s Ranch Interpretive Trail
2026-01-27 17:00 - 18:30 | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States
The Story of Historic Brown’s Ranch and the Creation of the Brown’s Ranch Interpretive Trail
Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Mustang Library, 10101 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
The Brown family developed our region’s most iconic ranch in what is now part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale. Join us in exploring the rich history of this land, home to several cultures over millennia. Learn about the Brown family and the creation of their ranch. The latest chapter of the story is The Browns Ranch Interpretive Trail, the Preserve’s first trail dedicated to cultural resources.
RSVP below to let us know you are coming!

Desert Surfaces - Educational Walk
2026-01-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Desert Surfaces at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
What really covers the desert – little organisms can make a big difference! Some of the most common sights in the desert – and indeed the living things that probably cover more of the desert than any single kind of plant – are lichen, desert varnish, and soil crust. These organisms actually have much in common. Among other things, they’re all alive (yes, even varnish), they have some components that are neither plants nor animals, and living filaments are crucial to their existence. Come learn more in this introduction to what really covers the desert.
Water and restrooms are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Sonoran Desert 101 - Educational Walk
2026-01-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Sonoran Desert 101 at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
This walk provides a geological and ecological overview of what lives in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and how the flora and fauna survive and thrive.
Restrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Ride to the Crested Saguaros and Lifecycle of Saguaros
2026-02-01 09:00 - 12:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Ride to the Crested Saguaros and Lifecycle of the Saguaro (Int.) from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
Ever noticed the Crested Saguaros in the preserve? Come ride with us to see a large number scattered throughout the north.
This 3 hour ride will cover 13-15 miles and is rated Advanced Skill and Vigorous Cardio.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks. There are restrooms at the trailhead. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to start.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Marcus Landslide and Feldspar Trails Hike
2026-02-03 09:00 - 11:30 | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Marcus Landslide, Feldspar Trails at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead.
This Moderate hike visits the giant boulders on the Feldspar trail and continues to the Marcus Landslide geological site, second largest landslide in Arizona. The elevation gain is 400 ft. over 5 miles in about 2.5 hours.
Restrooms available at the trailhead but no water. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

The World of Arthropods - Educational Walk
2026-02-05 09:00 - 11:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
The World of Arthropods at Brown’s Ranch 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 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 and water are available at the trailhead. Bring water for the trail. No dogs, please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Brown's Ranch Homestead - Educational Hike
2026-02-05 10:00 - 12:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Brown’s Ranch Interpretative Trail Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
Before the Preserve was a reality, part of this land was a ranch, the historic Brown’s Ranch. Join us to explore this historical place, full of memories of a different way of life and hear the stories of the people who lived here not long ago. The hike is about 3.0-mile round trip on a comfortable trail with moderate elevations over about 2.5 hours.
Restrooms and water available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before the start of the hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Introduction To Mountain Biking: Session 1
2026-02-07 09:00 - 12:00 | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Introduction to Mountain Biking: Session 1 (Beg.) at Pima Dynamite Trailhead.
This program is designed to introduce participants to mountain biking by building foundational riding skills and confidence in a safe, supportive setting. It emphasizes the importance of proper bike setup, safety checks, and trail etiquette, while fostering an appreciation for outdoor activity and responsible trail use. Upon completion, participants are expected to demonstrate basic bike handling abilities, understand essential principles such as body position, balance, and braking, and apply correct procedures for mounting, dismounting, and stopping on varied terrain, alongside practicing essential safety and etiquette on the trails.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Restrooms available at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Introduction to Preserve Trailheads and Trails Hike
2026-02-07 09:00 - 12:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Introduction to Preserve Trailheads and Trails at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
This hike will be targeted to visitors or those fairly new to the Preserve trails. The hike will be about 7 miles, taking about 3 hours, and cover a variety of trails to highlight various aspects of the Preserve trails and point out key locations of each trailhead. The hike is labelled as Difficult due to the mileage, but the pace will be moderate with frequent stops for discussions.
Bathrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before the start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Hidden Desert - Educational Walk
2026-02-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
The Hidden Desert at Fraesfield Trailhead.
Walking through the Desert gives you half the story. There is a hidden world of nocturnal critters. If you look carefully, you can see the evidence of their middens, burrows and holes. What else is concealed around you? Let us unlock those mysteries on the Camino Campana and reveal the Hidden Desert.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Bird Walk
2026-02-08 08:00 - 10:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Bird Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
Join our bird experts on this 2-hour 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.
Restrooms available at the trailhead, but no water. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Bring your binoculars. Arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

More Noteworthy & Notorious Arizonans - Educational Hike
2026-02-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
More Noteworthy and Notorious Arizonans Educational Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead.
Join a City of Scottsdale historian on anther storytelling hike about influential Arizonans such as Mr. Scottsdale, a supreme court justice, the godfather of shock rock, the snake lady, the first female state senator and suffragette, and an Indian/non-Indian artist. All six have interesting tales behind their local or state history. 3 miles over about 2 hours.
Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Lifecycle of the Saguaro - Educational Walk
2026-02-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead.
Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join us to follow the growth of a saguaro from seed to skeleton and view multi-armed, old Saguaros. This easy walk covers one mile in about 2 hours over easy paths.
Restrooms available at the trailhead, but no water. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of walk.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

All About Arizona - Educational Hike
2026-02-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States
All About Arizona Educational Hike from Lost Dog Trailhead.
This hike is a celebration of Arizona; the state flower, state tree, state mineral, and more. Join us on this Moderate hike with beautiful views and some uphill sections with rocky terrain. 3 miles over about 3 hours.
Bathrooms and water available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Geology of Tom's Thumb - Educational Walk
2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, 23015 N 128th St., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Geology of Tom’s Thumb at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead.
Enjoy a 90-minute walk near the Tom’s Thumb trailhead to learn about the geology we see around us. Geology basics will be discussed as well as the processes that shaped the McDowells and nearby mountain ranges. We will talk about mineralogy, weathering processes and volcanism in Arizona as well as geology’s impact on the people, plants and animals in the area.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to start of the walk. Restrooms at the trailhead but no water. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs, please.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Love is a Many-Splendored Thing - Educational Hike
2026-02-14 10:00 - 12:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Love is a Many-Splendored Thing at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Enjoy a pleasant 2.5 hour, 3 mile walk and imagine love and passion for the Women of the McDowells in the 1800-1900s.
Please arrive 15 minutes start of the walk. Restrooms and water at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs, please.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

North and South Diablo Trails Hike
2026-02-14 10:00 - 14:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
North and South Diablo Hike from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead.
This hike will visit the unique trails of North and South Diablo north of Cholla Mountain. This Very Difficult hike will take us past the iconic formations of the Amphitheater and Cathedral Rock on the Cholla Loop and return on the Corral Trail near the new Brown’s Ranch Interpretive Trail. The hike will travel about 10 miles with only gradual elevation changes over 4 hours. Bring plenty of water and snacks. Due to the distance, this hike is suggested for Experienced hikers.
There are restrooms and water at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Geology - Educational Ride
2026-02-15 09:00 - 12:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Ride (Int.) 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 on a bike.
A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, or folding bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Restrooms and water at the trailhead. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to start.
No electric assist bikes. To inquire about an accommodation from the City of Scottsdale, please call 480-312-4444.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.

Brown's Ranch Stories - Educational Walk
2026-02-19 09:00 - 10:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Brown’s Ranch Stories at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead
Join us on a half mile 90-minute walk on the Jane Rau trail where we will talk about the people and events that shaped the history of the Brown’s Ranch area. We will discuss the Indigenous people who lived here, the role of the military in the region, the ranching history of the region and some of the people who laid the groundwork for what Brown’s Ranch is today.
Please arrive 15 minutes start of the walk. Restrooms and water at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs, please.
Space is limited! Please save your spot with the RSVP below.
