Recreational Activities
The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy offers many public activities between September and April each year. We believe that connecting with nature is critical for our mental and physical health, especially in our modern age of technology. Our public activities and adult & youth education programs inspire people of all ages to care about natural open space, and brings them outdoors to experience it themselves!
Self-Guided Hikes
Looking for a great place to go hiking in Scottsdale? The McDowell Sonoran Preserve offers many of the best trails in Arizona, with trailside experts who can answer your questions. For more information contact the Conservancy at (480) 998-7971.
Download a trail map at the bottom of this page. Even if you are hiking close to home, always be conservative. Turn around before you are halfway through your water or you feel tired. Ask other trail users for water if you run out. Please choose a hike that matches the fitness level of your group. McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Stewards in their blue shirts are always ready and able to provide assistance if you need it.
Guided Hikes
Hike with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy! Our Stewards can point out things that you may not notice on your own. Guides explore all Preserve trails and share information about a variety of topics.
There are hikes for almost every interest and hiking level. Stewards lead hikes focused on primarily on education and wellness, We take our time, stop often to talk about what we see and admire the beauty of our surroundings. Guided hikes are scheduled from October through April. Check dates and times on the events page (link at the top of the page). We also offer hikes for families and private guided hikes for adult and youth groups. Contact the Conservancy for more information at (480) 998-7971.
Please note: Only service dogs are permitted on public guided hikes. Contact our office to request accommodation two weeks in advance of the event you wish to attend. Please wear appropriate shoes and bring plenty of water!
Our hikes often explore the more remote areas of the Preserve. The difficulty of the hikes varies. Please choose hikes that match your fitness level.
Private Hikes
The McDowell Mountains and surrounding Sonoran Desert are a source of beauty and wonderment. From the earliest hunter-gathers through the ranching era and on to today’s modern Preserve, the region has maintained its majesty and mystery. Those who experience Private Guided Interpretive Hikes hosted by McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Stewards will see the desert in a new perspective.
Our Stewards provide information about the history of the area, unique cacti and desert vegetation and the unique adaptions of animals that make the desert their home. We will point out seasonal blooms, migratory birds and describe how those who settled this land thrived.
Bring your camera and your curiosity and leave with memories and images of this majestic landscape.
Private Guided Interpretive Hikes for small to large groups range from one to two-hour moderate nature walks to three-hour challenging mountain hikes. Separate hikes are offered for families. For more information contact the Conservancy at (480) 998-7971.
Biking
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve offers many trails to enjoy a great mountain bike ride. Below is a comparison of the North and South Preserve areas that are often frequented by mountain bikers.
SOUTHERN REGION – LOST DOG WASH and GATEWAY TRAILHEAD
Terrain: Very rough and rocky, some loose gravel.
Characteristics: Steep climbs, fast descents, some exposure (steep drops on side of trail).
Difficulty: Intermediate/Advanced – need good cardio and bike handling skills.
NORTHERN REGION – PIMA DYNAMITE, BROWN’S RANCH, TOM'S THUMB, FRAESFIELD, AND GRANITE MOUNTIAN TRAILHEADS
Terrain: Compacted soil with loose, crushed granite, some sandy washes.
Characteristics: Flowing, winding trails with moderate climbs and fun descents.
Difficulty: Beginner+/Intermediate – need good bike handling skills to ride in loose terrain and good cardio for certain trails with steeper climbs.
Make sure you take a Trail Map available for download at the bottom of this page for mileage stats and elevation gain.
Horseback
Most trails in the Preserve are available for equestrian use, although some are more challenging than others. Equestrian staging areas are available at all major trailheads. Trailhead Riding is a great way to visit some of the remote areas of the Preserve. While your horse is doing most of the watching for safe footing, you are free to enjoy the wide vistas of surrounding beauty.
Rock Climbing
Of all the recreational pursuits that visitors can enjoy in the Preserve, rock climbing is likely the most dramatic and the least understood. Climbers follow a rock climbing plan that includes designated trails to historic climbing crags, associated parking lots and clear and accurate signage.
Preserve climbers use fixed bolts, which are safety devices drilled into the hard granite rock that provide a secure anchor for climbers’ ropes. Most of these bolts and climbing routes were placed long before the McDowell Mountains became part of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Preserve climbers are wilderness advocates who promote the adoption within the Preserve of the National Parks’ regulations for rock climbing. These regulations include prohibitions against new installations of permanent climbing hardware, the intentional removal of lichen or plants from rocks and physical alterations of rock faces, among other guidelines. In addition, local climbers promote a small-group ethic. Classes and social climbs of more than eight people are discouraged.
Regional Maps
