Boojada Adventure Walk at Gateway Trailhead When you think about Halloween, it's normal to think of spooky and scary symbols like spiders, spider webs, and bats. But if you learn a little more about these creatures in the Sonoran Desert, you may discover that there is not much to be afraid of! So, join us […]
Sonoran Desert 101 - The Hidden Desert at Fraesfield Trailhead. Walking through the desert gives you half the story. There is a hidden world of nocturnal critters. If you look carefully, you can see the evidence of their middens, burrows, and holes. What else is concealed around you? Let us unlock those mysteries on the […]
Walk Like a Tortoise Educational Walk at Brown's Ranch Trailhead. Join us as we learn about and look for signs of the Sonoran Desert Tortoise. This leisurely walk of less than 1 mile on the Jane Rau Trail will give us plenty of time to tell stories about the tortoise. We will talk about their […]
Geology is Ecology’s Destiny Speakers: Dan Gruber / Mike Nolan Date: Saturday November 8, 2025 Time: 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM When most people think of an ecosystem, they think of the relationship between plants and animals in an area. But the most fundamental ecological relationship is between the environment and everything that lives there. […]
Veterans Day Hike at Lost Dog Trailhead. To honor our Veterans, an easy loop on gently rolling terrain is planned. We will hold a special ceremony at the trailhead at the end of the hike. Join us for 3 miles over about 2.5 hours with elevation gain of about 250 ft. Restrooms and water are […]
Desert Connections Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead. Everything in the desert is connected and always changing. We'll explore how the environment--the mountains, the rocks, the climate, the washes--affects the plants and animals that live here, how living things in turn change the environment, and how climate change and increasing development may impact what we see […]
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. […]
Rattlesnakes! Fact & Fiction (Guest Presenter: Rattlesnake Solutions) Few animals spawn mythology and fish stories like they do. In working with thousands of rattlesnakes and people in the valley, Bryan Hughes from Rattlesnake Solutions has heard it all. Learn to stay safe in the outdoors, what to do if you see a rattlesnake, and most […]
Crested Saguaro Hike from Granite Mt. Trailhead. Join us on this 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. Restrooms are available at the trailhead but no water. Bring water and snacks for […]
Sonoran Desert 101 at Gateway Trailhead. 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. Restrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start of […]
Sonoran Desert Life (Guest Presenter: Phoenix Zoo Educators) Join Phoenix Zoo for a fascinating look at why the best thing we can do for desert animals like snakes and tortoises is often… nothing at all. Learn what to do (and not to do) when you encounter these creatures in the wild, and why well meaning […]
The World of Arthropods at Gateway Trailhead Spiders, scorpions, bees, and wasps are just the beginning--there are more species of Arthropods in the world than any other group of animals. Join us 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 101 at Tom's Thumb Trailhead. 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. Restrooms and water are available at the trailhead. Please bring water and snacks for the trail. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before start […]
Secrets of the Preserve Educational Walk at Fraesfield Trailhead. Ready to discover more about what is in the Preserve? Join us to explore the Preserve’s hidden treasures, from the plants and animals to the recent and ancient history in a stunning geological setting. There are restrooms available at the trailhead but no water. Bring water, […]