McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

Fraesfield to Balanced Rock Fitness Hike
2021-12-18 09:00 - 13:30 (America/Phoenix) | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Fraesfield Trailhead to Balanced Rock Fitness Hike. This Very Difficult hike will take us on a long journey thru the flatter part of the preserve to the amazing granite balancing rock formation. 10 miles over 4.5 hours. Bring snacks and a lunch. Experienced hikers suggested. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Mistletoe and Holly Educational Hike
2021-12-15 10:00 - 12:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Mistletoe & Holly Educational Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead What do desert plants and animals have to do with the holidays? Join PastFinder Franco Farina on an Easy hike and discover the hidden, festive desert connections. 3 miles over about 2.5 hours with minimal elevation gain.
Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before.

Gateway to TT9 Overlook Fitness Hike
2021-12-14 09:00 - 14:30 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Gateway to Tom’s Thumb TT9 Overlook Fitness Hike from Gateway Trailhead. This Very Difficult hike takes us to the seldom visited vistas west of Tom’s Thumb that makes you think you are in the Grand Canyon. 9.6 miles in about 5-6 hours with a big climb of 2100 ft! Bathrooms at the trailhead. Bring water and a lunch for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic
2021-12-12 09:00 - 12:00 | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
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 the basic things you need to know, equipment requirements and trail etiquette.
The instructional segment will be followed by a short, guided ride of 3 to 5 miles, where you can practice the techniques discussed. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, folding bikes, or electric assist bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Allow 3 hours for this introductory/refresher event. Bring water and snacks for the trail. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.
*****Please meet at the Equestrian Lot******

Sunrise Peak from Lost Dog Wash Fitness Hike
2021-12-11 09:00 - 12:30 | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States
Sunrise Peak from Lost Dog Trailhead Fitness Hike This Very Difficult Hike travels the beautiful and challenging west side of Sunrise Peak up to a great 360-degree view of the Valley of the Sun. Experienced hikers suggested. 6.2 miles in about 3.5 hours with elevation gain over 1,300 ft. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks and even a lunch for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Trailside Naturalist Station: Predators
2021-12-11 09:00 - 11:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Stop by the Trailside Naturalist station at the Gateway Trailhead between 9-11 A.M. to learn about the various predators found in the Preserve.

High Desert - Broken Spoke - Hawksnest - Buckshot Trails
2021-12-08 09:00 - 14:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
High Desert, Broken Spoke, Hawknest and Buckshot Trails Fitness Hike from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead This Very Difficult hike will allow you to explore some of the remote trails in the northwest area of the Preserve. 9.3 miles for about 5 hours with rolling hills. Experience hikers suggested. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks, and even a lunch for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator
2021-12-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead Spend about 2 hours on an easy hike with John Loleit, the Natural Resources Coordinator, as he discusses various pertinent topics while hiking in the desert. The material will depend on the season, animals, plants, and will cover whatever is happening in this wonderful environment. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Desert Origins and Adaptations Educational Hike
2021-12-07 09:00 - 11:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Desert Origins and Adaptations Educational Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead. Why is the Sonoran Desert here? Join Frank Romaglia as he examines how climate and geomorphology interact to create a desert. He’ll compare and contrast North American deserts, then focus on our Sonoran home and some adaptations necessary to survive this harsh environment. This Moderate hike will cover 4 miles in about 2.5 hours. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Sonoran Sundays: Arthropods
2021-12-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Master Steward Rich Cochran will present an in-depth talk on some of the fascinating insects and arachnids that inhabit our Sonoran Desert. An expert on arthropods, Rich will provide an up-close look at some fun and interesting species from his vast collection, including a Tarantula Wasp, a Giant Desert Hairy Scorpion, and more.

Marcus Landslide Educational Ride
2021-12-05 09:00 - 12:30 | AZ
Marcus Landslide Educational Ride from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead
We will ride to Marcus Landslide and into the County Park to see the landslide from various viewpoints. This Intermediate Skills and Vigorous Cardio ride covers some significant elevation changes over 3.5 hours. However, there will be numerous stops to discuss and observe the geology of the area. Be prepared to pay the Park entrance fee of $2. A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, folding bikes, or electric assist 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.

Lifecycle of the Saguaro
2021-12-05 09:00 - 12:00 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Lifecycle of the Saguaro Education Hike at Granite Mountain Trailhead Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join PastFinders Don Brockway and Chris Crum to follow the growth of a Saguaro from seed to skeleton and view multi-armed, old Saguaros. This Moderate hike covers 4 miles in about 3 hours over some rolling hills. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Bike the South from Lost Dog Wash Trailhead
2021-11-26 08:00 - 11:00 | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States
Bike the South from Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Come ride the southern preserve trails. This is an Advanced Skill and Vigorous Cardio level ride of about 15 miles in 2.5 – 3 hours. We will ride over Taliesin Overlook to the Levee loop and possibly up the Quartz trail. This is a good ride to extend your skills a bit with elevation and terrain that will test you. We will stop to discuss and demonstrate specific riding skills to use on various types of terrain along the way. All our rides are “No Drop”, meaning we will not leave you. A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, folding bikes, or electric assist bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks. Restrooms at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.

More Pie Please
2021-11-25 09:00 - 10:30 | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States
More Pie Please Fitness Hike at Lost Dog Trailhead Join Steve Dodd on this Moderate hike to burn off some calories with family and friends and you won’t feel a bit guilty about having that second piece of pie! 2.5 miles over about 1.5 hours and some ups and downs. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Quartz Trail from Lost Dog Wash Fitness Hike
2021-11-23 08:00 - 13:00 | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States
Quartz Trail from Lost Dog Trailhead Fitness Hike This Very Difficult hike will visit the quartz formation that can be seen for miles all over Scottsdale. The hike covers 9 miles in about 5 hours with significant elevation gains on rocky trails. Experienced hikers suggested. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks and even a lunch for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before.

Sensing the Desert Family Educational Hike
2021-11-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Sensing the Desert Family Educational Hike at Gateway Trailhead What do you see? Can you smell that? Did you hear something? Use your senses to make the desert come alive on this fun and active Family Hike. Be ready to really experience so much of what the desert has to offer. Allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours for this “sensational” hike, an educational hike geared toward children ages 6 and up. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Families will learn many things they can do together on their next desert hike. Please be sure to wear appropriate closed toe footwear for a rocky trail, sun protection and bring plenty of water. This is a group experience and we kindly request that you do not bring dogs. There are restrooms at the trailhead. The hike will be limited to 20 people on a first come basis. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the event.

Tom's Thumb to Lookout Mtn. Fitness Hike
2021-11-21 08:00 - 11:30 | AZ
Tom’s Thumb Trailhead to Lookout Mt. Fitness Hike This Very Difficult hike has a steep trail with amazing rock formations. For Experienced hikers. 5.8 miles including a 1,200 ft. elevation gain over about 3.5 hours. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Missions, Massacres, and Plagues
2021-11-20 08:00 - 11:00 | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Missions, Massacres & Plagues Educational Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead. Moderate level hike. Revisit three hundred years of European-Native American contacts and conflicts, from Coronado to the Alamo (1540-1850). Join Don Meserve, expert Archaeologist and Historic Preservationist for about 3 hours covering 4 miles. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Bike Ride with Natural Resources Coordinator
2021-11-19 08:00 - 10:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Bike Ride with Natural Resources Coordinator at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead. Ride to some great places with John Loleit as he discusses the wonders of the desert preserve. This Beginner+ Skills and Moderate Cardio ride will have numerous stops but still cover 6 miles in 2 hours. Seeing it from a bike gives you a bigger perspective. A bike with wide knobby tires is
required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, folding bikes, or electric assist bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks. Restrooms at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of bike ride.

Arthropod Educational Walk
2021-11-19 08:00 - 10:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Arthropod Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead Spiders, scorpions, bugs! 6 legged, 8 legged, and many legged! About 84% of all animal species are arthropods. Join Dr. Rich Cochran 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 are available at the trailhead. Bring water for the trail. No dogs, please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Women's Bike Ride
2021-11-17 08:00 - 11:30 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Women’s Bike Ride from Granite Mountain Trailhead. This all woman’s bike ride is a Intermediate Skill level ride and Vigorous Cardio around the Granite mountain loop and beyond. This is again 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 15 miles. A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, folding bikes, or electric assist bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks. Restrooms at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.

Granite Mountain to Hawknest Trail Fitness Hike
2021-11-16 08:00 - 13:30 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Granite Mountain Trailhead to Hawknest Trail Fitness This Very Difficult hike will travel 11 miles over about 5-6 hours from the trailhead to the Preserve’s border with the Tonto National Forest and back. Bring plenty of water and snacks or even a trail-appropriate lunch. Experienced hikers suggested. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator
2021-11-15 08:00 - 10:00 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead Spend about 2 hours on an easy hike with John Loleit, the Natural Resources Coordinator, as he discusses various pertinent topics while hiking in the desert. The material will depend on the season, animals, plants, and will cover whatever is happening in this wonderful environment. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Sonoran Sundays: Yvonne Massman, Scat and Skulls
2021-11-14 15:00 - 16:00 | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Come join Yvonne Massman for a fun and informative presentation as she gives us “the scoop on poop” and an exploration of animal skulls found in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. You’ll learn to identify various types of scat and discover key differences in the skulls of predators versus prey.

Nature as Therapy
2021-11-14 14:00 - 15:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Nature as Therapy Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead Lost your mojo? Not as creative as you used to be? Do you have a feeling of malaise? Join Toni Vallee and Katy Lindberg on a 1.5 hour easy walk where we provide tools and a prescription to help you use nature to improve your happiness, creativity and health. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Bird Walk
2021-11-14 08:00 - 10:00 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Bird Walk at Granite Mountain Trailhead Join Kathe Anderson and Rick Pearce 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. Bathrooms at trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs, please. Bring your binoculars. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Celebration Hike at Pima Dynamite
2021-11-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Join us in the celebration of the Grand Opening of the new Pima/Dynamite Trailhead by enjoying a hike to see the nearby majestic crested saguaro “up close and personal.” This short 2.5 mile, 1 hour hike will also afford opportunities for other scenic views this trailhead has in abundance: stately saguaros, majestic boulder formations and views of Cone Mountain and Pinnacle Peak. Restroom facilities and water are available at the trailhead. Bring water and a snack for the trail. No dogs please.
Starting time is approximate after the speakers’ presentations.

Lost Dog to Andrews - Kinsey Trail Fitness Hike
2021-11-13 08:00 - 13:00 | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States
Lost Dog to Andrews-Kinsey Trail Fitness Hike at Lost Dog Trailhead This is a Very Difficult Hike for experienced hikers because it will climb 1,200 ft. to a saddle and then continue on the Andrews-Kinsey Trail to a spectacular view overlooking the Fountain Hills Preserve. Distance: 7.8 miles. Duration: about 5 hours. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks and even a lunch for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.

Ride from Granite Mountain Trailhead
2021-11-12 08:00 - 11:30 | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Ride from Granite Mountain Trailhead Come on out and join a ride with us from Granite Mountain . We’ll ride through Coyote Canyon with beautiful swooping terrain and views you may never have known were there. See how you can connect these trails and others together to enjoy a completely awesome ride! We will cover approximately 13 miles in 3-3.5 hours. This is an Intermediate Skills and Moderate Cardio ride. All our rides are “No Drop”, meaning we will not leave you. A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, folding bikes, or electric assist bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks. Restrooms available at the trailhead. Arrive 15 minutes before start of ride.

Vaquero-Whiskey Bottle-Latigo Trails Fitness Hike
2021-11-12 08:00 - 10:30 | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Vaquero, Whiskey Bottle & Latigo Fitness 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. Moderate hike of 5 miles for about 2.5 hours. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.
