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 [...]
The fourth Annual AZTU-GCC Fish Camp for three one-week sessions starting June 4, 2023. The camp is limited to 12 campers per session, ages 13-18, and is open to both boys and girls. Although the camp is run in conjunction with GCC’s scout camp, the program is open to all. This limited size camp allows [...]
We will meet at the Gold Mine Trailhead to start the hike; there is a porta potty, but no water so please bring plenty of water with you. We will be hiking on sandy and rocky terrain and up and over hills for 3.5 miles so make sure to have sturdy shoes and if balance [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on an easy walk to see a variety of cacti along the trails and riparian plants near the creek. The route will be about 2 miles and use portions of Spur Cross and Metate Trails along with Fairy Duster and Towhee Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, a hat and sunscreen. [...]
Join Ranger Steve in the Nature Center for a drop-in informational session about the venomous creatures that inhabit the Sonoran Desert! Learn about popular myths surrounding rattlesnakes, Gila Monsters, and even meet a few of our wildlife ambassadors! MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center No registration required. Just drop in anytime between 12pm and 2pm!
Come learn all about arthropods...or as you might know them as spiders, mites, insects, centipedes, and millipedes. Stop by the Discovery Center at Lake Pleasant anytime between 12:30pm and 2:30pm. No registration is required. MEETING LOCATION: Discovery Center No registration required. Just drop in anytime between 12:30pm and 2:30pm!
Come join Ranger Kevin as we hike for roughly 2 miles on the Wild Burro Trail. Trail is rated mostly easy, but there are a few areas with loose rock/uneven terrain and some elevation change. Animals we may encounter on this evening hike include ringtails, raccoons, skunks, bats, owls, scorpions, spiders and snakes. Be sure [...]
Join Rangers Eric and Steve to look for and learn about the nocturnal animals on this guided hike. Wildlife we may see includes scorpions, spiders, insects, owls, nightjars, reptiles, and mammals! We will access the Butterfield Trail starting from Toothaker Trail and hike 1-2 miles roundtrip, depending on heat and participant interest. The hiking terrain [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on an easy to moderate terrain 2.2-mile hike to learn about and look for flowers and fruit of various cacti including saguaros, barrels, prickly pears, cholla and hedgehogs. Bring plenty of water and wear closed toe shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Restrooms and water are available at the Nature Center, near our [...]
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
Join Ranger Nikki for a talk about our desert’s majestic saguaro cacti. Learn about their life cycle from tiny seed to fallen skeleton and all of the beneficial things it provides in between. This program will take place inside the Nature Center and venture outside a short distance for firsthand observations. Wear closed-toe shoes and [...]
Come learn about cacti of the Sonoran Desert and Phoenix area! Ranger Evan will host this discovery station table at the Usery Nature Center. Nearby there are live examples of a variety of cacti to see on the trail next to the center. No registration required. Just drop in anytime between 12pm and 2pm!
Did you know that rattlesnakes give birth to live young? Did you know that Gila Monsters are the only venomous lizard in the US? Join Ranger Steve at the White Tank Nature Center to get all your venomous animal questions answered, and perhaps even meet a few animals! MEETING LOCATION: Nature Center Lobby No registration [...]
Join Ranger Evan for an exciting evening hike along the park Trails. We’ll be hoping to see all sorts of critters of the night! The trail is rated easy-moderate with some rocky, uneven surfaces and some elevation change. Please bring water and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Bring flashlights and black lights if you have them; [...]
Join Ranger Eric to look for and learn about the nocturnal animals on this guided hike. Wildlife we may see includes scorpions, spiders, insects, owls, nightjars, reptiles, and mammals! We will hike 1-2 miles roundtrip depending on heat and participant interest on the Rock Peak Wash Trail. The hike will be on easy, but sandy [...]
Bird walk at the Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park (EOP) led by docents from the Friends of the San Pedro River and other local organizations.
Come join Ranger Kevin as we hike approximately 2 miles on the Beardsley Trail, starting in a riparian area before rising into a more typical Sonoran Desert landscape. Trail is rated easy, with few sections of loose, rocky terrain, and little elevation change. We'll be stopping to look at various plants and animals, including birds, [...]
Want to get a good work out and learn a lot? If the answer is yes, then this program is perfect for you. Join Ranger Evan for a splendid 3.0-mile hike through the desert on Wind Cave Trail! On this difficult level hike, we will be discussing the unique ecology of the Sonoran Desert, adaptations [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 3-mile hike on easy to moderate terrain to see and learn about saguaros, cholla, palo verde trees and more. The route uses San Tan, Stargazer and Moonlight Trails plus the park’s Service Road trail. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen, snacks and plenty of water. Restrooms and water [...]
Bird walk at San Pedro House led by docents from the Friends of the San Pedro River and other local organizations.
Join Ranger Kevin for an approximately 1.5-mile night hike on the Quail Trail. We will be looking for all three species of scorpion native to our neck of the Sonoran Desert: Striped-tail, Bark, and, of course, the Giant Desert Hairy. Who knows what else we may see? Trail is rated easy, with some loose rock/uneven [...]
Join Ranger Steve for an exciting after-dark 2.5 mile hike along the Spur Cross and Metate Trails. We’ll be on the lookout for all kinds of evening-active critters, from skunks to scorpions, spiders, snakes, fox, coyote, deer, owls and more! The trail is rated easy-moderate with some rocky, uneven surfaces and some elevation change. Please [...]
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 eBird and citizen science, how to identify birds by sight and sound, and about the behavioral and ecological traits that make them [...]
The hike will cover 2.6 miles on the Blevins trail. This hike is rated as easy, plan to walk on rocky and sandy trail. It is encouraged that you water supportive shoes and if inclines or declines are an issue for you take along some trekking poles. Please bring your own flashlights and blacklights if [...]
Join Ranger Steve for an exciting evening hike along the park trails. We’ll be hoping to see all sorts of critters of the night! The trail is rated easy-moderate with some rocky, uneven surfaces and some elevation change. Please bring water and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Bring flashlights and black lights if you have them. [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 4.5-mile easy to moderate hike at sunrise to enjoy the sights and sounds of the morning desert. We will watch for birds, mammals and reptiles as the sun rises and the day warms up. The route follows San Tan, Hedgehog and Moonlight Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, [...]
This is a hands-on class. There will be a "classroom" session followed by putting theory into practice--actually paddling a kayak on the water. This course is designed to equip paddlers with basic skills to get from point A to point B successfully, understand the legal responsibilities that come with getting on the water, and what [...]
Stop by the Nature Center anytime between 8:30 and 9:30am to visit with Ranger Nikki and learn about San Tan’s permitted animal ambassadors. Meet Wally the Chuckwalla, Cleo the Kingsnake, Cherry the Tarantula and more. Informational handouts and coloring sheets will be available to take home. Meeting Location: Nature Center Critter Room No registration required.
A discovery table will be set up in the critter room in the Nature Center. The table will include natural history artifacts including cactus skeletons, insects, bones, as well as native American artifacts. You will have the opportunity to hold a snake and get up close to several other desert natives. Coloring pages will be [...]
Come learn about cacti of the Sonoran Desert and Phoenix area! Ranger Eric will host this discovery station table at the Lake Pleasant Discovery Center. Nearby there are live examples of a variety of cacti to see on the trail next to the center. MEETING LOCATION: Discovery Center No registration required. Just drop in anytime [...]
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