McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

Desert 101 - Educational Walk
2025-01-25 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-02-22 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

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

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.

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

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

Desert 101 - Educational Walk
2025-02-01 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

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

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.

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.

Flora of the Preserve - Educational Walk
2025-02-08 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Crested Saguaro - Educational Ride
2025-02-08 09:00 - 12:30 UTC | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Bird Walk
2025-02-09 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Phoenix) | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

All About Arizona - Educational Hike
2025-02-09 09:00 - 12:00 UTC | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States

Who Was Here Before Us? Explore Our Past - Educational Hike
2025-02-10 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Desert Connections - Educational Walk
2025-02-13 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Hunter Gatherers - Educational Hike
2025-02-13 09:00 - 11:30 (America/Phoenix) | Lost Dog Wash Trailhead, 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, United States

Women's Hike
2025-02-14 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Beginner's Next Step Ride
2025-02-14 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Romance in the McDowells - Educational Walk
2025-02-15 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Windgate Pass, Bell Pass Loop Hike
2025-02-15 09:00 - 13:30 (America/Phoenix) | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
Very Difficult hike in the heart of the southern McDowells. 9.3 miles for about 5 hours with over 2000 ft. of elevation gain.

Biodiversity in the Sonoran Desert - Educational Walk
2025-02-20 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix) | Fraesfield Trailhead, 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Lifecycle of the Saguaro - Educational Hike
2025-02-20 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Phoenix) | Granite Mountain Trailhead, 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Trailside Naturalist Table - A Desert Time Machine - Gateway Trailhead
2025-02-22 08:30 - 11:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
A Desert Time Machine
Learn about the Pack Rats and their desert time machines. Ever wondered who lives in those piles of debris with cholla balls on top? The white-throated wood rat, aka the pack rat. This industrious little rodent has been collecting stuff and taking it home to nests for thousands of years. Join us and see an actual 11,000-year-old piece of amberrat (nest material) from a packrat nest. This golden colored nugget tells us what our Sonoran Desert used to look like. We will explain how it was formed by the small but mighty pack rat.
*Trailside Naturalist Table is a family-friendly educational display on some Saturday mornings. The table features hands-on materials and specimens and covers 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.

Thirty Mile - Wellness Ride
2025-02-22 09:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Pima Dynamite Trailhead, 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States

Lecture - Wildflowers: The Beautiful Building Blocks of Life (at the Mustang Library)
2025-02-22 14:30 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Scottsdale Public Library – Mustang Library, 10101 N. 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ, 85260, United States

High Desert and Stagecoach Hike
2025-02-23 09:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix) | Brown’s Ranch Trailhead, 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ, 85262, United States
Difficult hike will take you into the High Desert trail area with a stop at Cathedral Rock. 7.4 miles in about 4 hours with rolling hills, 280 ft. elevation change.

Sonoran Sundays - Volcanoes, Earthquakes & Landslides? Oh My!
2025-02-23 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Gateway Trailhead, 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ, 85255, United States
