Desert 101 Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead.  Think the desert is a barren wasteland? Think again. Join Legacy Steward Marsha Lipps on a leisurely walk on the Bajada trail with frequent stops to discuss the wonders of the desert. About 1.5 hours for a distance of about 1.5 miles.  Bathrooms available at the trailhead.  Bring

Steve Thomas and Judy Agie from Wild at Heart, a local raptor rescue organization, will provide an upclose encounter with several rescued birds of prey. Learn why these remarkable birds are rescued, how they can be rehabilitated and released back into the wild, and what can be done to protect them and their natural habitats.

Wildflower Educational Hike from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead  Join botanist Steve Jones on this Moderate hike as you learn to identify and gain knowledge about the Sonoran Desert’s beautiful wildflowers. 4 miles in about 3 hours with rolling terrain. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail.  No dogs please. Arrive 15

Prefer a wildflower walk to a wildflower hike? Come celebrate spring in the desert and experience the Preserve dressed in its most beautiful colors.  Join Marsha Lipps on this easy walk to discover the incredible variety of flowers on the spectacular Jane Rau Interpretive Trail.  1 mile over about 1.5 hours.  YES, this walk is

Granite Mountain Loop Fitness Hike at 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 hours to cover 6 miles. Experience hikers suggested. Restrooms available at trailhead. Please being plenty of water and snacks for the trail.

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

Latigo, Cone Mountain Loop Fitness Hike from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead This scenic loop hike is rated Moderate but has some ups and downs needing about 2.5-3 hours to cover 4.2 miles. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead. Please bring plenty of water and snacks for the trail.  No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start

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

In the spring, the desert pops in a rainbow of colorful wildflowers.  Stop by the Trailside Naturalist Station at Gateway Trailhead between 9:00 and 11:00 am to learn about the various blooms and plants you may see on your hike.

Gateway Loop Fitness Hike from Gateway Trailhead.  Finish out our fitness hike season on the Gateway Loop that will take you into the heart of the McDowells. This Moderately difficult hike covers 4.5 miles, gains 700ft and takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. Challenging in the spring heat. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water

Bird Walk at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead Join Kathe Anderson and Rick Pearce for about 2 hours to see some of our area’s full-time resident birds, it also gives us a chance to see spring migrants, for example: Wilson’s, Lucy’s, Townsend’s, or yellow warbler, or summer residents white-winged dove, turkey vulture or ash-throated flycatcher. Restrooms available

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

Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead.  Native only to the Sonoran Desert, these giant cacti are a sight to see! Join Legacy Steward Marsha Lipps and Master Steward Roger Riepe to follow the growth of a Saguaro from seed to skeleton and view multi-armed, old Saguaros. This walk covers about 1.5 hours

Learn why time in nature makes us happier, healthier, and more creative.  An easy 1.5 hour walk at Brown’s Trailhead where Toni Vallee and Max Sukenik will teach you how to use nature as a prescription to improve your overall well being.  Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Pima Dynamite Trailhead  Spend 1 to 1.5 hours on an easy hike with John Loleit and Madison Barasha, Natural Resources Coordinators for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They will share their knowledge about the Preserve and the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead.  Bring water

Stop by the Trailside Naturalist station at Gateway Trailhead between 9-11:30 A.M. to learn about the diverse plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert.  Our steward guides will have fascinating displays and lots of fun facts to share.  Featuring reptiles, arthropods, packrats, and cacti!  Bathrooms and water are available at the trailhead.

Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead  Spend 1 to 1.5 hours on an easy hike with John Loleit and Madison Barasha, Natural Resources Coordinators for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. They will share their knowledge about the Preserve and the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead.  Bring water

Flora in the Preserve Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead The Preserve is located in one of the most biodiverse areas of the Sonoran Desert. Learn about the plant life that thrives in the Preserve. Download the iNaturalist app (inaturalist.org) on your smartphone and learn to identify different flora. Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours

Lecture - Desert Hacks and Facts at Arabian Library Len Marcisz, Legacy Steward for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, will share a potpourri of skills, techniques, tricks, and facts that make a walk in the desert enjoyable, interesting and survivable. Location: Arabian Library

Ride the Gooseneck at Fraesfield Trailhead A great sequel to the Bike Skills Clinic. It will travel over the flatter areas of the Gooseneck. The first 1/2 mile of the ride requires intermediate skills, but it is smooth sailing for the next 10-12 miles. This is an intermediate skills and moderate cardio ride. Location: Fraesfield