The AZT VETS Program and Coronado National Forest Service will host this Veteran Volunteer Work Weekend near the famous High Jinks Ranch just outside Oracle's town. During this hitch, our main objective will be to improve the lower section of Passage 12c of the Arizona Trail (also known as Oracle Ridge Trail), which has been [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an afternoon hike in search of seasonal beauty. Join Ranger Kevin for a roughly 3.5-mile hike along the Spur Cross and Dragonfly Loop Trails. We’ll be pausing to look at wildflowers and butterflies as well as a variety of desert plants and animals along the way. The trail is rated moderately [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for a morning hike along the banks of the Gila River. Join Ranger Kevin for a roughly 2-mile hike along the Plant Research Trail and the south bank of the Gila River. We’ll explore the riparian habitat for interesting plants and animals while we discuss the importance of rivers like the Gila [...]
Hassayampa River Preserve Trail Grooming Volunteers will assist park staff with trail raking and other light trail maintenance on 2.5 mile easy trail system. Work may also include pulling invasive weeds to help protect our native vegetation and reduce the threat of wildfire. Please meet at the Visitor Center for orientation and safety briefing. Work [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an afternoon hike in search of seasonal beauty. Join Ranger Kevin for a roughly 3-mile hike on the Blevins Trail. We’ll be pausing to look at wildflowers and butterflies as well as a variety of desert plants and animals along the way. The trail is rated easy with very little change [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an evening hike under the stars. Join Ranger Kevin for an approximately 2-mile loop on the Blevins and Noso Trails. Trail segments are rated easy, with little elevation change over the course of the hike. We’ll enjoy the beauty of a quiet outdoor evening, walking through a desert landscape silvered by [...]
The Insomniac Night Trail Run Series consists of six night runs throughout the Maricopa County Regional Parks from April through September. It's our way of escaping the summer heat while continuing to race and experience both familiar and unfamiliar trails in a different light. Distances range from 5 kilometers to 75 kilometers. Save 20-25% on registration when [...]
Join Ranger Eric to learn about desert plants to attract pollinators to your garden! Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Eric to learn about native desert plant options for your garden to attract and help pollinators such as hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Some free printed resources will be available to take [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an easy hike while learning some fascinating things about desert trees. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Kevin for a roughly 2.5-mile hike along the Spur Cross, Metate and Fairy Duster Trails. We’ll discover how some of the most common desert trees are related to each other. We’ll also [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an evening of fun and adventure as we set off in search of desert wildlife. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Kevin for an exciting evening hike along the Spur Cross and Dragonfly Loop Trails. We’ll be on the lookout for all kinds of evening-active critters, from skunks to [...]
Limit 10. Join Ranger Eric for an after-hours prowl of the Preserve trails to look for nocturnal animals and scorpions! Click on this program title for more details. Join Ranger Eric for an after-hours trail walk to look for and learn about the nocturnal critters of the Preserve! Wildlife seen on past walks have included [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an easy hike while learning some fascinating things about desert trees. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Kevin for a roughly 2.6-mile hike along the Cottonwood Trail. We’ll discover how some of the most common desert trees are related to each other. We’ll also dig into some of the [...]
Join Ranger Steve for a moderate round trip hike on the Dragonfly Loop Trail as we learn about the uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert. Click program title for more details. What makes the Sonoran Desert special? Why do cacti have spines? What’s inside a rattlesnake rattle? Join Ranger Steve on a short 3-mile hike along [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for a hike to the Yavapai Trail summit and a beautiful nighttime view of the lake! Click program title for more details. Come join Ranger Kevin for a 3.2-mile round-trip hike along the Yavapai Trail. We’ll immerse ourselves in a desert landscape silvered by moonlight as we make our way towards the [...]
Join Ranger Eric for a challenging hike while learning about the Sonoran Desert, including wildflowers and butterflies! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Eric for a guided 7.5-mile difficult-rated loop hike of the Pass Mountain loop trail through Usery Mountain Regional Park and the adjacent Tonto National Forest while learning about the [...]
Join Ranger Kevin on a moderate hike as we explore the Sonoran Desert. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Kevin for a 4-mile hike on the easy-moderate terrain of the Pemberton, Scenic, Cinch and Shallmo Wash Trails. Learn the basics of our incredible Sonoran Desert, from the powerful forces that combined to create [...]
Join us for a day of trail clearing on passage 7. The focus of this work event will be digging out catclaw, whitethorn acacia, and other pricklies from the corridor. We will brush and complete other maintenance tasks as needed to support a pain-free course for Scramble runners. Please wear long pants, long sleeves, and [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an easy hike while learning some fascinating things about desert trees. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Kevin for a 2.7-mile hike along the North Trail. We’ll discover how some of the most common desert trees are related to each other. We’ll also dig into some of the truly [...]
Join Ranger Eric for a moderate hike while learning about the Sonoran Desert, including wildflowers and butterflies! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Eric for a guided 3.5-mile moderate-rated loop of the Dragonfly Trail while learning about the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, with a special emphasis on late-spring [...]
What makes a cactus a cactus? How can plants survive scorching temperatures? Can you eat Cactus? Get the answers to these questions on Ranger Evan’s Crazy for Cacti walk. This loop begins at the north end of the park. We will be hiking approximately 3 miles, with very little elevation change. Please bring plenty of [...]
Hike with Ranger Derik along Lake Pleasant as you learn about the common plants found in the Sonoran Desert. Click on program title for more details. We will be easy hiking 3.5 miles out and back on the Wild Burro Trail starting from the Wild Burro Day Use Area. The trailhead offers a bathroom as [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 2-mile easy/moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and common spring pollinators – butterflies. You can learn about the MCPRD butterfly monitoring initiative and receive an identification handout to help with your own observations. The route includes Spur Cross and Metate Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, a hat [...]
Moderate hike with Ranger Derik to learn about the native Sonoran Desert plants and animals. Click on program title for more details. This will be a 4-mile hike through the foothills of the Estrella Mountains and learn about the native plants and animals that call the Sonoran Desert home. We will meet for the hike [...]
Join Ranger Steve on an easy-moderate hike to look for nocturnal wildlife. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Steve on a 2.5-mile easy-moderate hike from the Pemberton Trailhead down to Pemberton Pond to look for signs of nocturnal desert wildlife such as reptiles, bobcats, coyotes, bats, and others. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 4.5-mile moderate hike to learn about the park’s geology and some of the earth processes the created our Phoenix Valley area. This hike includes portions of Goldmine, Dynamite and San Tan Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, snacks, a hat and sunscreen. MEETING LOCATION: Main Entrance Trailhead map kiosk/picnic [...]
Join Ranger Evan on this fantastic hike through the Sonoran Desert looking at wildflowers! Though we may only do a little frolicking ourselves; we hope to see some Sonoran Desert fauna frolicking their way into summer. Please enter the park through the NORTH ENTRANCE of Lake Pleasant (about 1.5 miles north of the main entrance). [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 3-mile easy/moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and common spring pollinators – butterflies. You can learn about the MCPRD butterfly monitoring initiative and receive an identification handout to help with your own observations. The route includes Rainbow Valley, Quail, Saddle, Baseline and Toothaker Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring [...]
Hike along the 2-mile Waddell trail and learn about the native plants and animals as well as see petroglyphs carved by the Native Americans that once called the White Tank Mountains home. The trail is labeled as easy, though it can be uneven and rocky in some places. Make sure your students wear sturdy shoes [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and look for common spring pollinators – butterflies. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Nikki on a 3.5-mile easy moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and common spring pollinators – butterflies. You can learn about the MCPRD butterfly monitoring initiative [...]
Join Ranger Evan on this climb up to Yavapai Point as we take in the view of the lake and flowers! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Evan on with this fantastic hike through the Sonoran Desert looking at wildflowers! Though we may only do a little frolicking ourselves; we hope to [...]
Join Ranger Evan on this joyous loop hike through the Sonoran Desert! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Evan on this fantastic 3-4-mile hike through the Sonoran Desert looking at wildflowers! Though we may only do a little frolicking ourselves; we hope to see some Sonoran Desert fauna frolicking their way into [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for a 3.7-mile hike along the Go John, Quartz, Slate and Jasper Trails. We’ll be pausing to look at what’s blooming in the desert (shrubs, cactus, trees, and maybe even some wildflowers) as well as butterflies and other animals along the way. The trail is rated moderate with some sections of loose [...]
Join Ranger Eric for a guided, hike along the Black Rock and Waterfall Trails to look for reptiles of the Sonoran Desert. Along the way, we will discuss identification tips, their ecological roles, and safety around venomous animals. We will hike 2 miles roundtrip on easy to moderate terrain, meaning occasionally rocky or uneven surfaces. [...]
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