Gateway Trailhead

Name: The World of Arthropods – Educational Walk
Start: 2025-12-04T09:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-12-04T11:00:00-07:00
Location: Gateway Trailhead

18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy.
Scottsdale, AZ 85255 United States Get Directions

https://www.mcdowellsonoran.org/gateway

Events at this venue

March 2026
March 8 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sonoran Sundays – The World of Arthropods

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

The World of Arthropods in the Sonoran Desert 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 Conservancy Steward Rich Cochran, an expert on arthropods, for an in-depth talk on some of the […]
March 7 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

Sonoran Desert 101 – Educational Walk

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

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 […]

Free
February 2026
February 22 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sonoran Sundays – Arizona Birds (Guest Presenter: Arizona Game & Fish)

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

Arizona Birds (Guest Presenter: Arizona Game & Fish) Arizona Birds is a program that educates the public about the various raptors that can be found here, whether as permanent residents or migrating through the state. The program focuses on their natural history and best places to find them in the wild. Nancy Kreuder, Wildlife Education […]
January 2026
January 24 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Venom in the Desert – Educational Walk

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

Venom in the Desert from Gateway Trailhead. Some reptiles and arthropods in the Sonoran Desert use venom or other poisons to defend themselves or subdue their prey. Learn how to recognize these animals that bite and sting and the effect of their venom. Join us on an easy 1.5 hour walk. Restrooms and water are […]

Free
January 18 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sonoran Sundays – Mammals of the Sonoran Desert (Guest Presenter: Maricopa Parks and Recreation)

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

Sonoran Sundays - Mammals of the Sonoran Desert (Guest Presenter: Maricopa Parks and Recreation) Want to learn more about the Sonoran Desert’s amazing mammals? Would you like some tips to increase your chances of seeing wildlife while hiking? Then you’re going to want to join Ranger Kevin of Maricopa Parks and Recreation for a closer […]
January 10 @ 9:00 am - 1:30 pm

Windgate Pass/Bell Pass Loop Hike

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

Windgate Pass/Bell Pass Loop from Gateway Trailhead. Ready for a great workout? Then this Very Difficult hike in the heart of the southern McDowells is for you. We go to Windgate Pass and around to Bell Pass before returning to the trailhead. 9.3 miles for about 5 hours with over 2000 ft. of elevation gain. […]

Free
January 8 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Poisonous Arthropods in the Preserve – Educational Walk

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

Poisonous Arthropods in the Preserve at Gateway Trailhead. Arthropods are the most diverse of all animals, comprising over 85 percent of all living animal species! A variety of arthropods in the Sonoran Desert use poisons for defense against predators or to kill or immobilize prey. Some of these animals are also venomous, like scorpions, but […]

Free
January 3 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sonoran Desert 101 – Educational Walk

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

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 […]

Free
December 2025
December 25, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Christmas Day Hike

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

Christmas Day Hike at Gateway Trailhead. Embrace the spirit of the holiday on this picturesque hike on the Gateway Loop that will take you into the heart of the McDowells. This is a moderate hike of 4.5 miles in about 2.5 hours with significant elevation gain of 700 ft. Restrooms and water available at the […]

Free
December 9, 2025 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Gateway to Inspiration Point Hike

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

Gateway to Inspiration Point at Gateway Trailhead. This Moderate hike has above average elevation gains and will be geared for those that do not frequently do elevation hikes. For this 6-mile hike with about 750 feet of elevation gain up to the Point, we plan on taking 2.5 to 3 hours with frequent stops and […]

Free
December 7, 2025 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Sonoran Sundays – Sonoran Sparing: Desert Birds of Prey (Guest Presenter: Wild at Heart)

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

Sonoran Sparing: Desert Birds of Prey (Guest Presenter: Wild at Heart) Enjoy an up-close meeting with native birds of prey by Wild at Heart, a local raptor rescue, rehabilitation and release center for these kinds of bird. Learn why these remarkable birds are rescued, how they can be rehabilitated and released back into the wild, […]
December 4, 2025 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 am

The World of Arthropods – Educational Walk

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

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 […]

Free

Gateway Trailhead

Events at this venue

March 2026

Sonoran Sundays – The World of Arthropods

Sonoran Desert 101 – Educational Walk

February 2026

Sonoran Sundays – Arizona Birds (Guest Presenter: Arizona Game & Fish)

January 2026

Venom in the Desert – Educational Walk

Sonoran Sundays – Mammals of the Sonoran Desert (Guest Presenter: Maricopa Parks and Recreation)

Poisonous Arthropods in the Preserve – Educational Walk

Sonoran Desert 101 – Educational Walk

December 2025

Christmas Day Hike

Sonoran Sundays – Sonoran Sparing: Desert Birds of Prey (Guest Presenter: Wild at Heart)

The World of Arthropods – Educational Walk

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