True Grit – Educational Walk
A one-mile walk on how women lived and worked in the McDowell Mountains, with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Free; RSVP on the event page.
Free
30 events found.
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Events
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Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, United States
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Lifecycle of the Saguaro – Educational Hike
Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, United StatesA moderate 4-mile hike following a saguaro's growth from seed to skeleton, led by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Herb Walk at Mission Garden
Mission Gardens 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson,, AZ, United StatesA volunteer herbalist leads a guided walk through the Michael Moore Medicinal Garden at Mission Garden. Learn about the medicinal value of the plants, their traditional uses, and the knowledge surrounding them. Advance registration is required; see the Mission Garden event page for the sign-up link and price.
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Sonoran Desert Discovery – Educational Walk
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, United StatesA guided walk giving a geological and ecological overview of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve's plants and animals and how they survive. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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San Pedro River Nature Walk
San Pedro House Sierra Vista, AZ, United StatesA guided nature walk with the Friends of the San Pedro River through shaded cottonwood-willow groves, with stops along the San Pedro River and Green Kingfisher Pond. Look for butterflies, signs of wildlife and birdsong. The walk covers 1.5 to 2 miles on easy terrain and is suitable for most adults and children. Free; no [...]
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Fire in the Desert – Educational Hike
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, United StatesA moderate 2.2-mile hike on why destructive desert fires are increasing and how Conservancy research helps limit them. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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San Pedro River Bird Walk
San Pedro House Sierra Vista, AZ, United StatesA two-to-three-hour bird walk with the Friends of the San Pedro River in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, home to over 100 breeding bird species and a migration corridor for another 250 migratory and wintering birds. Walkers usually see 30-60 species. Bring water, a hat and binoculars. All are welcome, but the walk [...]
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Bird Walk at Mission Garden
Mission Gardens 946 W Mission Ln, Tucson,, AZ, United StatesA resident bird expert leads a walk through Mission Garden to observe the birds that live in or visit the garden. Take your time, explore the grounds, and learn about local birds. Everyone is welcome, whether you are an experienced birder or just curious. Bring binoculars and comfortable walking shoes. Meet at the front entrance. [...]
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Secrets of the Preserve – Educational Walk
Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, United StatesA walk into the McDowell Sonoran Preserve's plants, animals, and recent and ancient history. Bring your own water. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Cibola Youth Waterfowl Camp
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge - Visitor Center 66600 Cibola Lake Rd CibolThis mentored waterfowl hunt is for hunters between the ages of 11 and 17. This camp provides mentors, shooting instruction, waterfowl identification, calling, using blinds, field dressing, game processing and more. There will be centralized remote camping and some meals will be provided. Registration Opens: October 2, 2026 at 10:30am CDT Note: THIS EVENT REQUIRES [...]
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The World of Arthropods – Educational Walk
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, United StatesAn easy two-hour walk on the diversity of arthropods and their role in desert ecology. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Granite Mountain Loop, Balanced Rock, Black Hill Hike
Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N 136th St, Scottsdale, United StatesA difficult 6.5-mile loop past a scenic overlook and Balanced Rock, with a chance to see early spring flowers near the end. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Ride to the Crested Saguaros
Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, United StatesAn easier-paced, no-drop group ride to see crested saguaros, for advanced beginner to intermediate riders with good cardio and bike handling. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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History Walk at Fairbank
Fairbank Historic Townsite 2293 N Old Fairbank Rd, Huachuca City, AZ, United StatesTour the ghost town of Fairbank with the Friends of the San Pedro River. Fairbank dates to 1882, when it grew up around a train depot, the closest to Tombstone. An optional walk to the cemetery ends the tour; that trail is short but has an uphill section with poor footing and loose rock. The [...]
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Desert Discovery Ride
Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, United StatesA no-drop group ride (about 3 hours) with several rest stops and some moderate climbs, for advanced beginner to intermediate riders; no high technical skill needed. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Sonoran Sundays: Sonoran Soaring: Desert Birds of Prey
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, United StatesMcDowell Sonoran Conservancy's Sonoran Sundays series at the Gateway Trailhead: Sonoran Soaring: Desert Birds of Prey, presented by Wild at Heart. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Tom’s Thumb, East End, Regional Park Hike
Tom's THumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, United StatesA very difficult 9.3-mile hike (about 5 hours, 1,500+ ft elevation change) climbing to Tom's Thumb and East End, then returning through McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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All Afield Hike with AWF at Gilbert Riparian Preserve
Gilbert Riparian PreserveThe Gilbert Riparian Preserve is one of the Valley's most important urban wildlife habitats. This guided walk with park rangers from the preserve explores wetlands, birds, and the critical role riparian areas play in desert ecosystems. Part of the Arizona Wildlife Federation's monthly All Afield Hikes series. Registration was not yet open as of this [...]
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Call of the Wild – Educational Walk
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, United StatesA walk on how desert wildlife communicates through sight, sound, scent, movement and vibration. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Hidden Desert – Educational Walk
Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, United StatesA search for signs of nocturnal desert animals, such as middens, burrows and holes, along the Camino Campana. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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San Pedro River Nature Walk
San Pedro House Sierra Vista, AZ, United StatesA guided nature walk with the Friends of the San Pedro River through shaded cottonwood-willow groves, with stops along the San Pedro River and Green Kingfisher Pond. Look for butterflies, signs of wildlife and birdsong. The walk covers 1.5 to 2 miles on easy terrain and is suitable for most adults and children. Free; no [...]
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Cathedral Rock, Amphitheater, Cholla Mountain Hike
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, United StatesA difficult 7.5-mile hike (about 3.5 hours, 280 ft gain) past several of the Preserve's iconic granite formations, best for experienced hikers. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Mistletoe and Holly – Educational Hike
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, United StatesAn easy, roughly 3-mile hike on the connections between desert plants, animals and the holidays. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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San Pedro River Bird Walk
San Pedro House Sierra Vista, AZ, United StatesA two-to-three-hour bird walk with the Friends of the San Pedro River in the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, home to over 100 breeding bird species and a migration corridor for another 250 migratory and wintering birds. Walkers usually see 30-60 species. Bring water, a hat and binoculars. All are welcome, but the walk [...]
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Christmas Day Hike
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N Thompson Peak Pkwy, Scottsdale, United StatesA moderate 4.5-mile holiday hike on the Gateway Loop (about 2.5 hours, 700 ft gain) with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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History Walk at Murray Springs
Murray Springs Clovis Site 1700 S Moson Rd, Sierra Vista, AZ, United StatesJoin Friends of the San Pedro River docents for a tour of the Murray Springs mammoth kill site. Discovered by Dr. C. Vance Haynes of the University of Arizona in 1966, it held fossils of mammoth killed by the prehistoric Clovis people, plus projectile points and a bone tool believed to have been used to [...]
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Nature’s Medicine Cabinet – Educational Walk
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale, United StatesA look at how plants have been used for wellbeing, including medicinal plants found in the Preserve. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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North American Orienteering Championships 2026
Enjoy the fresh air, get some exercise, and test your navigation skills at this weeklong competition in Southeast Arizona. This event serves as the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) North American Orienteering Championships (NAOC), North American Junior Orienteering Championships (NAJOC), and North American Youth Orienteering Championships (NAYOC). There are three Event Venues, spread roughly 100 miles [...]
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Hawknest, Basalt Ridge, Cone Mountain, Latigo Hike
Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, United StatesA very difficult 9.7-mile hike (about 4.5 hours, 322 ft gain) with views and granite formations, for experienced hikers. Free; RSVP on the event page.
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Sonoran Desert Discovery – Educational Walk
Tom's THumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, United StatesA guided walk giving a geological and ecological overview of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve's plants and animals. Free; RSVP on the event page.
Free
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