Bootlegger & Coyote Canyon Fitness Hike

Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Bootlegger/Coyote Canyon Fitness Hike at Granite Mt Trailhead This Difficult hike explores the more remote part of the Preserve via Bootlegger, Granite Mountain Loop, Coyote Canyon, Renegade and 136th St. Express trails. Experienced hikers suggested.  7 miles in about 4.5 hours with rolling ups and downs. There are bathrooms available at the trailhead.  Bring water,

Trailside Naturalist – Desert Trees and Shrubs

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Did you know that saguaros have boots?  Stop by the Trailside Naturalist station at Gateway Trailhead between 9-11 am to learn about cactus, trees, and shrubs found in the Preserve.

Crested Saguaro Ride

Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Crested Saguaro Ride from Granite Mountain Trailhead.   Ever noticed the Crested Saguaros in the preserve?  Come ride with us to see a large number scattered throughout the north.  This 3.5 hour ride will cover more than 10 miles and is rated Advanced Skill and Vigorous Cardio.  A bike with wide knobby tires is required.  Please,

Bird Walk

Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Bird Walk from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead: Join Kathe Anderson and Rick Pearce for about 2 hours to see some of our cool weather resident birds such as phainopepla, white-crowned sparrow, black-throated sparrow, Brewer's sparrow, and ruby-crowned kinglet, in addition to year-round birds such as thrashers, wrens, verdins, gnatcatchers, and towhees.  Restrooms available at the trailhead.

Sonoran Sundays: Just Roughin It

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

New to hiking? Want to get in shape in the New Year? Come meet Ray and Debbie Hendricks, lifelong hiking guides and owners of Just Roughin’ It Adventure Company. The Hendricks will cover the basics of hiking, including desert hiking techniques and essential equipment. They’ll also provide a guide to some easy beginner trails in

Cathedral Rock, Amphitheater, Cholla Loop Fitness Hike

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Cathedral Rock, Amphitheater, Cholla Loop Fitness Hike at Brown’s Ranch This Difficult hike will take us to several of the iconic granite formations in the preserve.  7 miles in about 3.5-4 hours. Experienced hikers suggested. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks and even a lunch for the trail. No dogs please.  Arrive 15

Learn the Line

Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Learn the Line at Pima Dynamite Trailhead  Have you felt nervous or unsure about how to ride over that rock or around that technical corner?  Come out and ‘learn the line’ to gain confidence on technical pieces, both up and down hills, speed control, body position and moving your weight around. This is an Intermediate

New Trails Fitness Hike

Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ

New Trails Fitness Hike at Pima Dynamite Trailhead   This Very Difficult hike due to its 9 miles over about 4.5 hours covers some rolling hills for Experienced hikers. Explore the impressive new trails with nice views and granite formations. Arrive 15 minutes before start of hike.  Bathrooms and water available at the trailhead.  Bring

Botany Educational Hike

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Botany Educational Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead  Have you ever wondered what that plant is, or why it only grows in certain locations? Join botanist Steve Jones to learn this and a 1000 other things.  This is a Moderate hike of 3 miles in about 2 hours with frequent stops. Bathrooms available at the trailhead.

Women’s Bike Ride

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Women’s Bike Ride from Brown's Ranch Trailhead.  This all woman’s bike ride is an Intermediate Skill level ride and Moderate Cardio.  This is 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 12

East End Fitness Hike

Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

East End Fitness Hike at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead This Very Difficult hike takes us up Tom’s Thumb Trail and down the steep East End Trail with its switchbacks and beautiful views. Then returns via the same trails.  It will take us about 4 hours to cover the about 6.4 miles with climbs over of over

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator

Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Pima Dynamite Trailhead  Spend about 2 hours on an easy hike with Madison Barasha, the Natural Resources Coordinator, as she 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

Stoneman Road Educational Hike

Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZ

Stoneman Road Educational Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead The Stoneman Road was created as an “expressway” between Ft. McDowell and Ft. Whipple (near Prescott) in the 1870's. Join PastFinders Len Marcisz and Chris Crum as we walk portions of the actual route and discuss its origin, namesake and value to our history. This is a Moderate

Granite Mtn. Loop and Balanced Rock

Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Granite Mountain and Balanced Rock from Granite Mt Trailhead Join us on this Difficult hike on one of the classic paths in the preserve and a side trip to Balanced Rock. About 3.5 hours to cover 6.5 miles. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please.  Arrive

Arthropods of the Desert Family Educational Hike

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Arthropods of the Sonoran Desert Family Educational Hike at Gateway Trailhead  Scorpions, Spiders, Bees and Wasps are just the beginning – there are more species of Arthropods in the world than any other group of animals. Join Dr. Rich Cochran on this easy approximately 2 mile walk to discover the fascinating and diverse world of

Stagecoach, West Express, Malpais Fitness Hike

Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Stagecoach, West Express, Malpais Fitness Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead. This Very Difficult hike goes to some of the newer northern trails of Stagecoach, Western Express and Malpais See several of the iconic granite formations in the preserve.  This hike is rated Difficult because it is 10 miles in about 5 hours. Experienced hikers suggested.

Cowpoke-Granite Mtn. & Bootlegger Fitness Hike

Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZ

Cowpoke-Granite Mtn. & Bootlegger Fitness hike from Granite Mt Trailhead. This Moderate hike covers some beautiful areas of the eastern preserve with some of the most impressive Saguaro stands in the preserve.  4.5 miles over about 3 hours. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please.  Arrive

Trailside Naturalist Station: Reptiles

Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZ

Stop by the Trailside Naturalist station at the Gateway Trailhead between 9-11 A.M. to learn about the various reptiles of the Sonoran desert, their unique behavior, eating habits and benefit to the ecosystem

Bike the North Trails at Pima Dynamite

Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ

Bike the New North Trails at Pima Dynamite Trailhead.  Experience the more technical new trails in the north of the Preserve. This is an Advanced skill and Vigorous Cardio level ride for 12-15 miles in 3- 3.5 hours. We will explore some of the more aggressive recent additions to the northwest trails in the Preserve.

Dixie Mine, Prospector, Windmill Fitness Hike

Golden Eagle/Dixie Mine Trailhead 14425 E. Golden Eagle Blvd., Fountain Hills, AZ

Dixie Mine, Prospector, Windmill Area Fitness Hike from Golden Eagle Trailhead. This vigorous Very Difficult hike offers spectacular scenery on the seldom seen eastern preserve.  It covers 10 miles in about 5 hours with elevation changes of over 2000 ft. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead. Bring water for the trail and even a lunch.