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 [...]
To celebrate the second year of Aravaipa's iconic 250-mile trail race, the Cocodona 250, we're bringing a slice of Arizona to you! Inspired by the week-long in-person event, the Cocodona Virtual Experience is your chance to rack up 250+ miles on your local trails or treadmill, starting the same day the in-person racers hit the [...]
This hike will be a long, but very rewarding hike with elevation change and rocky terrain. Please bring lots of water, hiking shoes/boots, and sun protection. MEETING LOCATION: Pass Mountain Trailhead at trailhead staging area. Limit 15 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at (602) 506-2930 ext. 4 with your name, phone number [...]
Join Ranger Kevin on one of the toughest trails in the park and learn about the desert along the way. We will meet at the Go John Trailhead to start this hike. The Go John Trail is nearly 5.8 miles, so make sure you bring plenty of water and pack a snack for this one. [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 3.5-mile hike to learn about desert plants, shrubs and legume trees. The loop route includes South, Mule Deer and Bajada Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, a hat and sunscreen. Restrooms are available at the trailhead and water is available at the Nature Center. MEETING LOCATION: Area 1 at [...]
Ranger Nikki will lead a talk on coyotes that live in our desert and sometimes visit our neighborhoods. Learn about their life cycle, diet, habitat and more. This talk takes place in the Nature Center classroom. Water and restrooms are available at the Nature Center. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center No registration required.
Come to the Nature Center and meet Ranger Kevin from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. The theme is Sonoran Desert Artifacts, so bring your curiosity and your questions! A table full of interesting objects will be on hand for you to inspect. No registration required, just drop on in! MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center main lobby.
Have you ever wondered what is crawling under your feet when you’re out on the trail or what might be calling your backyard home? Head to the critter room in the back of the Nature Center and stop by a discover table featuring living and preserved insect and arachnid species that can be found throughout [...]
Join Ranger Derik on the 3-mile loop North Trail in the heart of McDowell Regional Park. The trail is a mix of small rolling hills and washes on sandy and rocky trail. It is encouraged that you wear sturdy shoes and bring plenty of water with you. Limit 20 participants. To register, please call the [...]
Join Ranger Steve for an after hours trail walk to look for and learn about the nocturnal critters of the Sonoran Desert! Wildlife seen on past walks have included snakes, bats, ringtails, foxes, skunks, javelinas, deer, owls, scorpions, insects, and other cool creepy crawlies! Please bring your own flashlights and blacklights if you have them. [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 3-mile easy to moderate hike to hear and see the desert come to life. We will watch for birds, jackrabbits, coyotes, lizards and more. The route follows San Tan, Stargazer and Moonlight Trails plus the park’s Service Road. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. [...]
Come join Ranger Kevin as we hike approximately 2.6 miles along the Spur Cross, Metate and Fairy Duster Loop Trails. Trails are rated easy, with a few sections of loose, rocky terrain and some elevation change. We'll be stopping to look at various plants and animals and talk about Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. Be [...]
Join Ranger Evan on a 2-mile moderate hike to learn all about cacti: saguaro, cholla, prickly pear, barrel and more. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, a hat and sunscreen. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center Limit 20 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at (602) 506-2930 ext. 6 with your name, phone number and [...]
Take some time away from the water and get immersed in the surrounding desert with Ranger Derik as you learn about the native plant and animal species that call the Sonoran Desert home. Hike the 3-miles Yavapai Point Trail through saguaro and teddy bear cholla cacti. The trail is rocky and uneven at times, so [...]
Come learn about cacti of the Sonoran Desert and Phoenix area! Ranger Eric will host this discovery station table at the San Tan Nature Center. Nearby there are live examples of a variety of cacti to see on the trails next to the center. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center No registration required. Just drop in anytime [...]
Come meet Ranger Kevin from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm. The theme is Sonoran Desert Artifacts, so bring your curiosity and your questions! A table full of interesting objects will be on hand for you to inspect. MEETING LOCATION: Covered Picnic Tables in front of the trailer at the trail kiosks. No registration required, just [...]
Snakes!! Scorpions!! Black Widows!! Are you scared yet? If you said yes, then this program is perfect for you to come learn the benefits of these critters, and why we would want to learn how to live with them. MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center Limit 15 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at (602) [...]
Want to watch the sunset with a great view? Want to learn more about the desert environment? Want to go for a splendid evening hike? If the answer is yes, then this hike is perfect for you! Join Ranger Evan as we hike along the quail and baseline trails for a total 2.2 miles. Wear [...]
The AZT VETS (Veteran Engagement / Trail Stewardship) and Coronado National Forest Service are hosting this Veteran Volunteer Work Weekend on Passage 11A of the Arizona Trail, working to improve the tread from Gordon Hirabayashi Campground to Sycamore Reservoir. This is also a sacred time for our veteran community as we celebrate the lives [...]
Join experienced birder Joe Ford for a morning bird walk followed by a special presentation! Meet on the south patio of the Nature Center. Program to follow in the Nature Center “Bird Weirdness I, II, III, or Parrots”
May 27, Saturday, 6:30 AM White Tank Regional Park, Program to Follow, “Birds of History and Animation”
Come walk among some of the White Mountain’s most beautiful wildflowers in a forest setting and around a beautiful spring. Each month’s hike promises new surprises! Suggested donation of $10 for adults Kids and Members FREE
Fine art photographer, Lloyd Pentecost, will present a program for beginning nature and wildlife photographers at the Nature Center. His program will be on Saturday, May 27th at 11 am. Members are admitted free and non-members are asked to make a $10 donation to help support the Nature Center.
Snakes!! Scorpions!! Black Widows!! Are you scared yet? If you said yes, then this program is perfect for you to come learn the benefits of these critters, and why we would want to learn how to live with them. MEETING LOCATION: Usery Nature Center Limit 20 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at [...]
Learn about the adaptations and life cycles of plants and animals of our Sonoran Desert on a moderate to easy hike with Ranger Nikki. The route is just over 2 miles and follows Quail, Saddle, Baseline and Gila Trails and part of Casey Abbott Drive (paved) back to the Nature Center. Wear closed-toe shoes and [...]
National Trails Day is June 3 but we will be celebrating all weekend long with a backcountry work event on passage 1. Nestled in the Huachuca Mountains, this is beautiful land of aspens, firs, and pines with sweeping views across grasslands into Mexico! We will meet at the Sunnyside Canyon Trailhead Thursday morning. From there, [...]
Join Ranger Nikki for a fun bat chat to bust some popular myths and set the record straight on an important member of our desert ecosystem. Learn where bats live, what they eat, why you shouldn’t be afraid of them and more! Bring water and snacks to this indoor classroom presentation. Restrooms and water are [...]
Join Ranger Eric to look for and learn about the resident and migratory birds of the Sonoran Desert on this easy to moderate 1-2 mile roundtrip hike (distance will depend on heat and participant interest). Along the way, we will also discuss ecology of the desert and how birds are adapted to this arid environment. [...]
8AM Registration, Donuts and Coffee 8:15 - 9:30AM Leace No Trace Ice Breaker Activity (20 min. per group) 8:30 AM - Noon Service Project – Trail Building Demo, Safety talk, Trail Building Activity (need to pre-register volunteers into 15 min. time slots, 10 people per slot) 9:30 AM - Noon Leave No Trace Presentation for [...]
The Spotlight program creates opportunities for communities to be the solution to conservation issues. Be part of this on the ground action to protect and preserve the White Mountains. Programming details are being formulated now, but you will not want to miss this chance to learn about Leave No Trace and its impact on conservation [...]
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