Stoneman Road Educational Walkabout at Fraesfield Trailhead This interpretive walk covers the history of the area prior to the construction of the Stoneman Military Road, the uses of the road, military life in Arizona during the 1870s, and the famous and infamous persons who traveled the road. At the conclusion of the walk, participants open […]

Ride with Ability360 at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Location: Brown's Ranch Trailhead- 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 This ride will be 2-2.5 hours and cover 12-12.5 miles with an elevation gain of 672ft and is suited for riders of an intermediate skill level.  We will follow Browns Trail , Vaquero Trail, Watershed Trail, […]

Mountain Bike Skills Clinic at Pima Dynamite Trailhead New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness, and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? We begin with a demonstration and presentation by experienced riders covering the basic things you need to know, equipment requirements, and trail etiquette. The […]

Twenty-Five Miler at Pima Dynamite Trailhead This ride is longer and more intense than our other rides. This is an intermediate skills and vigorous cardio ride, tracking the perimeter of the northern Preserve. Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~25 miles Time: ~4.5-5 hours Please, […]

Desert Surfaces Educational Walk 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 […]

Lecture- Nature as Therapy at Mustang Library or Virtual Lost your mojo?  Not as creative as you used to be?  Do you have a feeling of malaise? Learn how to apply the latest international research on the benefits of spending time in nature to improve your overall well-being.  Specific tools and a prescription will be […]

Nature as Therapy Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Learn how to use nature as a prescription to improve your overall well-being, and why time in nature makes happier, healthier, and more creative. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Easy Time: ~1.5 hours Bathrooms are available at the […]

Trailside Naturalist - Arthropods at Gateway Trailhead Spiders, scorpions, and bugs! Learn about the fascinating world of arthropods. Did you know that about 84% of all animals are arthropods? Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Time: ~3 hours

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Gateway Trailhead Join us on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various pertinent topics are discussed during the walk in the desert. The material will depend on the season, animals, plants, and will cover whatever is happening in this wonderful environment. Location: Gateway […]

Crested Saguaro Ride at 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 is an advanced skills and vigorous cardio ride. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead -  30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Advanced Distance: ~10 […]

Ride with Ability360 at Pima Dynamite Trailhead Location: Pima Dynamite Trailhead - 28777 N Pima Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 This ride will be 2-2.5 hours and cover 12-12.5 miles for riders of an intermediate skill level. Starting on Hawknest Trail then sliding over to Sidewinder to see the crested saguaro up through West Express and […]

Bird Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Join the expert on this walk to view our year-round resident birds. We may also see some that only spend the winter in our area. Possible sightings include: phainopepla, black-throated sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, black-tailed gnatcatcher, or northern mockingbird. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ […]

All About Arizona Educational Hike at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead This hike is a celebration of Arizona, the state flower, state tree, state mineral, and more. Join us on this hike with beautiful views and some uphill sections with rocky terrain. Location: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead - 12601 N. 124th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85259 Skill […]

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 this area. Note: If you have the iNaturalist application on your phone, it would be a helpful tool to identify different flora. […]

South Diablo Trail Explorer Fitness Hike at Brown's Ranch Trailhead This hike will head to the South Diablo Trail where you will experience several interesting boulder formations. There will be stops at Cathedral Rock and the Amphitheater along the way. Experienced hikers suggested. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 […]

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Granite Mountain Trailhead Join us on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various pertinent topics are discussed during the walk in the desert. The material will depend on the season, animals, plants, and will cover whatever is happening in this wonderful environment. Location: […]

Noteworthy and Notorious Arizonans Educational Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead Join a former City of Scottsdale archaeologist in a hike of discovery and hear tales, some taller than others and some of our lesser known Arizona heroes, heroines, and villains. Not so notables include a woman prospector (The Miner’s Angel), Arizona Rangers, a lady bandit, a […]

Learn the Line at Granite Mountain 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 […]

Nature's Medicine Cabinet Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead Take a global look of the importance of plants and their physical properties and how they were used throughout the centuries to aid in man’s wellbeing. We will start globally but then move to look at some of medicinal plants found in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. […]

Arthropods at Gateway Trailhead Did you know that 84% of all animal species are Arthropods and they have a major role in maintaining ecosystems as pollinators, recyclers of nutrients, scavengers and food for other animals? Join Legacy Steward Rich Cochran, an expert on arthropods, for an in-depth talk on some of the fascinating insects and […]

Women's Bike Ride at Brown's Ranch Trailhead This all women’s bike ride is an intermediate skills and moderate cardio ride. This is a step up in intensity from the previous women’s ride. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead - 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Intermediate Distance: ~12 miles Time: ~3 hours Please, […]

Intermediate Ride at Granite Mountain Trailhead Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead - 31402 N. 136th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Distance: 12-15 miles Time: 2-2.5 hours Join us for a beautiful single-track ride from Granite Mountain. This is an intermediate skill level ride with some climbing and fun winding downhills. If there is a short technical section […]

Walk with Natural Resources Coordinator at Pima Dynamite Trailhead Join us on an easy walk with a City of Scottsdale Natural Resources Coordinator as various pertinent topics are discussed during the walk in the desert. The material will depend on the season, animals, plants, and will cover whatever is happening in this wonderful environment. Location: […]

Lifecycle of the Saguaro Educational Hike at Granite Mountain 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, over some rolling hills. Location: Granite Mountain Trailhead - 31402 N. 136th St., […]

Desert 101 Educational Walk at Gateway Trailhead The Conservancy has a mission to help sustain the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. 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. Location: Gateway Trailhead - 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy. Scottsdale, AZ […]

Mammoth Hunters to Canal Builders Educational Hike at Fraesfield Trailhead Travel back in time in the Preserve with our PastFinders expert and former City of Scottsdale archaeologist to learn how historic and ancient peoples survived and thrived in this desert area. Location: Fraesfield Trailhead - 13400 East Rio Verde Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: […]

Taliesin, Old Jeep and Ringtail Fitness Hike at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Come hike some of the original trails in the Preserve with great views of Scottsdale and the desert. Location: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead - 12601 N. 124th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85259 Skill level: Difficult Distance: ~5.5 miles Time: ~3 hours Bathrooms are available […]

Pastfinders Lecture – Listening to the History of the Preserve & Conservancy at Mustang Library or Virtual Explore the history of the Preserve through the voices of the citizens, stewards, scientists, and political leaders who collaboratively built the movement that led to the Conservancy. The presentation will share short curated clips of oral histories collected […]

Expedition Days Live: Family Day at Lost Dog Wash Trailhead Join us for a day of fun interactive experiences in the Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Learn about your place in the Sonoran Desert and how the choices you make in your daily life affect the future of our environment. Location: Lost Dog Wash Trailhead - […]

Lecture- Flora of the MSP Part 2, Wildflowers and Shrubs at Mustang Library or Virtual An exploration of the plant life found in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. We live in the most diverse desert in the world. Learn more about the vegetation found in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. This lecture will focus on Wildflowers and […]