Join us for San Tan Mountain Regional Park’s Open House! Stop by anytime between 10:00am – 2:00pm at our Main Trailhead where staff, volunteers and local affiliates will be available. Some of our affiliates include MD Ranch, San Tan Shredders, San Tan Runners, Master Gardner’s and Rural Metro Fire Department. In addition, Ranger Nikki will [...]
The walk with cover a 2-mile section of the Dragonfly Trail with Ranger Derik. Some of the topics covered during the hike will be native plants and animals found in the park as well as the history of the native peoples that called the park home. The trail is rocky and uneven in spots and [...]
Bring a lunch and get ready to learn all about backpacking! Ranger Derik will have a PowerPoint on the basics of backpacking and camping covering topics of gear, clothing, trip planning, picking a route, best food for trips, training, tips and tricks. After the presentation a full gear list of a single overnight trip will [...]
Enjoy a moderate to extremely difficult hike up ~3.3 miles of Ford Canyon Trail to the old dam site while learning about the Sonoran Desert ecosystem and the White Tank Mountains. We may see early wildflowers in places, depending on how much winter precipitation falls and how cold it is then. We will meet at [...]
Join our expert archaeologist as we explore the challenges of the Archaic hunter and gatherer to survive and thrive in the Sonoran Desert of 2,000 years ago. See important desert flora and fauna, hunting sites and their importance to the survival of an Archaic band. Skill level: Moderate Distance: ~3 miles Time: ~2.5 hours Pets [...]
Hike the scenic riparian forest of the Hassayampa River Preserve before scaling Lyke’s Lookout for a stunning view! This is a 1.15-mile, moderate difficulty hike featuring a steep 90-foot ascent at the end. Please dress appropriately with closed toed shoes and layers as temperatures can fluctuate near the river and in the sun at the mountain [...]
Desert Foothills Land Trust presents "Desert Dreams," a stunning documentary showcasing the beauty and biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert. This internationally award-winning film will transport you through five seasons of one of the world's most awe-inspiring landscapes. Educational, entertaining, and fun for all ages, you won't want to miss this special experience. There will also [...]
Join Ranger Eric to look for and learn about resident and migratory birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy 1-1.5 mile walk (roundtrip). Along the way, we will learn how to identify birds by sight and sound. We will also discuss citizen science, including the eBird app. Today is also part of the Great Backyard Bird Count [...]
Participants will hike for 3 miles through rolling hills and sandy washes on the North Loop trail. The trail is rated as easy and only has a few spots that could be described as rocky. Ranger Derik will talk about the native edible plants as well as medicinal plants that are found along the trail. [...]
This will be an opportunity for beginner riders to review the skills learned in the Mountain Bike Skills Clinic and be exposed to new adventures. If you have not attended one of the clinics, you should have solid basic skills on single-track to benefit from this class. We will practice setting up for single-track short [...]
Join Ranger Eric for a guided hike to learn about the animals, plants, and ecology of the Sonoran Desert. Wildflowers may be out, depending on how much precipitation we get this winter. We will hike a 7.4-mile loop of the Coldwater, Butterfield, Gadsden, and Flycatcher trails. The trails are easy-moderate with occasional inclines, and rocky [...]
Come chat about the creatures of desert that might make you uncomfortable. Spiders, scorpions, and snakes OH MY! No need to worry, Ranger Shaun has some specimens under glass, a few animal ambassadors who’d love to meet you, and a whole collection of animal artifacts to discuss. Come learn about these animals and see if [...]
Join one of our local bird enthusiasts for a guided bird walk through the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area! These walks are for everyone: experts, novices, and people who have never gone birding in their entire life. Bring water, and wear sunscreen and shoes for walking. Loaner binoculars and field guides are available for those [...]
Come join us for a quiet walk along our easy to moderate scenic trails in search of local and migratory birds. "Bird Weirdness II" program will follow inside the Nature Center. Meet for the bird walk on the back patio of the Cave Creek Regional Park Nature Center at 8am. No dogs allowed.
Join Ranger Eric for a 1.8-mile roundtrip hike in Rock Peak Wash at the south end of the park to look for resident and wintering birds. Along the way, we will learn identification tips and about their ecology in the Sonoran Desert. We will also discuss citizen science, including the eBird app. Today is also part [...]
There have been over 200 bird species seen at this water recharge facility, making this site one of the best birding spots in the east valley. This site has many rare birds. These free walks are sponsored by Desert Rivers Audubon, The Riparian Preserve of Gilbert, and Liberty Wildlife. We provide loaner binoculars, and expert [...]
Ranger Derik will lead you on moderate to difficult fitness hike on the 5.8 mile Go John Trail loop. The trail varies from even surfaces to those that are uneven and rocky. There is a 411-foot elevation difference from the lowest to the highest parts of the trail. Along the way we will talk about [...]
Saturday MTB “Shift into Saturday”: Shift your gears into Saturday with a good spin around the park. Grab your mountain or gravel bike and helmet then join SanTan Shredders for this No Drop pedal fest. Bring water, snacks, and an extra tube. Arrive 10-min early for check in. See you soon! http://santanshredders.com
When, how and why did all those different rocks get into the Preserve? How about our own earthquake fault? This is an intermediate skills and moderate cardio ride and will take us through the various geological formations of the area. Get the big picture on a bike. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead – 30301 N. Alma [...]
This hike will take you into the High Desert Trail area with a stop at Cathedral Rock. Experienced hikers suggested. Location: Brown’s Ranch Trailhead – 30301 N. Alma School Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85262 Skill level: Difficult Distance: ~7.4 miles Time: ~4 hours Pets are not permitted at our activities due to safety concerns. If you would [...]
Join docents from the Friends of the San Pedro River for a tour of the Murray Springs mammoth kill site. Vance Haynes led an expedition here in the 1970s that found the remains of megafauna that had been hunted, killed, butchered, and consumed by the Clovis Paleo-Indians 13,000 years ago. This is an easy walk [...]
Join Wickenburg Conservation Foundation to learn about the desert's wildlife, plants, geology, and hydrology as well as desert safety and Leave No Trace. This class is co-hosted by Wickenburg Parks and Recreation.
Join Ranger Eric for a 3.7-mile hike along a loop of Littleleaf, Gold Mine, San Tan, and Moonlight trails while we learn about the plants, animals, and ecology of the Sonoran Desert. Early spring wildflowers may be in bloom, depending on how much winter precipitation the area gets. Please dress in layers, wear sturdy footwear [...]
Join Ranger Eric for a guided bird walk to look and listen for resident and migrant species within the diverse desert riparian habitat of the Hassayampa River Preserve. Along the way we will discuss how to identify birds by sight and sound, and about the behavioral and ecological traits that make them unique. Some binoculars [...]
Would you like to learn more about birdwatching and community science? Join Ranger Eric for a "Big Sit" style bird count in the garden in front of the Visitor Center as we learn about birds and learn about community science, using eBird. Today is also part of the Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell, [...]
Come hike the Wild Burro trail and learn about the desert, we might even see a burro! This is a roughly 2-mile hike along a medium difficulty trail. Please bring water and wear layers as the trail may changes temperature rapidly. No pets please. Restrooms and water are available at the meeting point. MEETING LOCATION: [...]
Skill level: Easy Time: ~2 hours Everything in the desert is connected and always changing. We’ll explore how the environment – the mountains, the rocks, the climate, the washes, and more – affects the plants and animals that live here, how living things in turn change the environment, and how climate change and increasing development [...]
Are you looking to do a long hike, but can’t find anyone to go with you? Join Ranger Kevin for a 8.4-mile hike on the scenic Pemberton, Granite, Bluff, and Tonto Tank trails. We’ll keep an eye out for wildlife and springtime wildflowers as we go. Trail conditions are rated easy-moderate, so expect some stretches [...]
Come to the Nature Center and meet Ranger Kevin from 2:00pm to 3:30pm. Bring your burning desert questions! Try to stump the Ranger! Impress your friends and enemies alike with your new-found knowledge! We’ll also have a table full of interesting objects like bones, feathers, snake sheds, cactus boots and much more for you to [...]
Invasive species are among the biggest threats to our park’s ecosystem health. They outcompete native plants, decrease biodiversity, and increase wildfire occurrences and magnitude. Desert Defenders is a citizen science program focused on removing invasive species in parks. The Invasive plant species have severely impacted our park’s natural ecosystems and contributed to our most recent [...]
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