This trail marathon, half-marathon and 10K traverses the valley between the Santa Rita and the Rincon Mountains. It offers spectacular, sweeping views and while the marathon has plenty of challenging ups and downs, the half-marathon and 10K courses offer mostly a gentle, winding descent through ocotillo, prickly pear cactus, creosote, and mesquite.

The Sierra Vista Environmental Operations Park (EOP) is open to public bird watching tours on Sunday mornings year round. Group size is limited to 15 people, first come, first served. Arrive before the starting time (7:00am) to sign a waiver and secure a spot. The 2-2.5 hours walk is behind locked gates and you must [...]

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area Join Ranger Nikki on a 2-mile moderate hike to look for flowering plant life and a variety of pollinators, including butterflies.

Cave Creek Regional Park If you love taking pics of nature and the desert around you, then this is the program for you! Stop by an information table where Ranger Jacque will teach you how to use your phone to identify and document your nature findings to help the scientific community.

Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area Stop by an information table where Ranger Nikki will teach you how to use your phone to identify and document your nature findings to help the scientific community. Click program title for more details.

Lake Pleasant is creating a Monday clean-up crew.  If you are available on any Monday, please join us as we pick up litter along the shoreline. Location – Park at Castle Hot Springs dirt lot near the entry station. Meet with Park Assistant Doug Robertson at main building at entry. Volunteers needed - Up to [...]

Higley Ponds - Monday April 15th, 7:00 a.m. with our President, Theona Vyvial.  Higley Ponds is located on the NEC of  Higley and Ocotillo.  The parking area is at the 1/2 mile north of Ocotillo.  The ponds are frequented by a wide variety of shorebirds, hawks, hummingbirds, roadrunners, flycatchers, Abert’s towhee and Curved-billed Thrashers. We [...]

Take a gentle 2.5 mile walk with an interpretive guide through the Sonoita Creek riparian area Birding Trail. Visitors will learn about the park's history and ecology of this unique and fragile natural area.

Join a ranger on a ~1 mile, mostly paved, walk through some of the most biodiverse terrain in central Arizona. A combination of plant communities and habitats surrounding the world’s largest travertine bridge supports a wide variety of bird species that call the park home and we will be searching for. Meets between the Waterfall [...]

Ranger Shaun’s headed out to the charming 2.1-mile metate loop for April’s gibbous moon. Weather allowing, we’ll see an always enjoyable Arizona sunset light up the sky as we make our way down into the river valley, and then explore walk among the mesquites looking for wildlife using flashlights, blacklights, and the light of the moon. [...]

Bird walk at the San Pedro House led by docents from the Friends of the San Pedro River and other local organizations.

Over the Hump” Mountain Bike Ride:  Interrupt your work week with a good ole fashioned trail ride.  Trails are flowy with some moderate climbs and downhill descents, a few technical areas: advanced-beginner to Intermediate skill level. First trail spin at night? Our rides are No Drop.  Bring mountain or gravel bike, helmet, lights (at least [...]

Willow Bend Environmental Education Center invites educators and students to join the annual KidWind Challenge 2024. The event, held at Coconino Center for the Arts on Thursday, April 18th, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, requires student teams to design and test small-scale wind turbines to generate electricity. The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on [...]

Watch and interact with fossil preparators as they prepare paleontological specimens found throughout Petrified Forest National Park. Open to the public every Thursday, everyone is invited to observe this fascinating and painstaking process, ask questions, and learn more about the fossils found here. All ages are welcome. Located on the northeast side of the Painted [...]

Explore ways for youngsters to become more involved with the natural world through Citizen Science projects that take place globally, locally and even in your own backyard. Learn how to observe and collect data on plants and animals in your yard to monitor changes. Discover phone-based apps* like iNaturalist and Seek that identify and document [...]

Swing by the Mcdowell Mountain Regional Park Nature Center today and kick off the City Nature Challenge! Learn about some of the apps the Rangers use to help us identify plants and critters on the fly as well as help build a citizen science database that can be used by researchers to help understand biodiversity [...]

INTRODUCTION TO COMPETITIVE SPORTING CLAYS is an 8-week program of FUN SHOOTS for those not ready for leagues or tournaments. This is NOT for beginners, but is specifically designed for those with shotgun shooting experience and want to develop better shotgun shooting skills through weekly fun shoots. * Participants will be on 3-5 member squads. [...]

Watch and interact with fossil preparators as they prepare paleontological specimens found throughout Petrified Forest National Park. Open to the public every Thursday, everyone is invited to observe this fascinating and painstaking process, ask questions, and learn more about the fossils found here. All ages are welcome. Located on the northeast side of the Painted [...]

Take a walk on the wild side. Experience the Chandler Nature Center on a 30-minute tour and learn about Arizona’s various ecosystems, animals, and plants. Drop in every third Friday of the month.

Interpretive walk led by docents of the Friends of the San Pedro River. The San Pedro House, a 1930’s-era converted ranch house operating as a gift and bookstore, leads guided interpretive walks/hikes along the river and throughout the adjacent area, presents educational programs to schools and community groups, and assists the BLM in a variety [...]

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 [...]

We are elated to offer you a serene escape from daily life through our monthly yoga class for all levels. Skillfully guided by certified yoga instructor Deb McClarnon, this transformative session unfolds in our garden’s idyllic surroundings. You’ll move through tranquil postures, harmonizing breath and body to enhance flexibility and circulatory health. Space is limited, [...]

Join us for a FREE community fishing event featuring first responders from Gilbert’s Fire, Police, & Park Rangers as we partner with Arizona Game & Fish for a morning of fishing fun! Learn proper casting and reeling techniques from the pros in a safe, friendly environment. Fishing poles and tackle will be available to check [...]

Watch and interact with fossil preparators as they prepare paleontological specimens found throughout Petrified Forest National Park. Open to the public every Thursday, everyone is invited to observe this fascinating and painstaking process, ask questions, and learn more about the fossils found here. All ages are welcome. Located on the northeast side of the Painted [...]

Learn all about this iconic desert tree: its use throughout history; harvesting, preparation and storage; food preparation and nutritional and medicinal uses; and much more.  Free samples of food prepared with mesquite! Mini seminars will be presented: 9:30 - 10:00 Desert Legumes 10:15 - 10:45 Medicinal uses 11:00 - 11:30 Nutrition  ​Event is hosted by [...]

Show Mother Earth some love and do a world of good. Discover ways to live an eco-friendly lifestyle through crafts, activities, and information booths featuring a variety of organizations promoting “green” products, conservation, and sustainability. Outdoor activities may be canceled due to inclement weather.   *Be Outdoors Arizona will be there too!

Join Chispa AZ and AZ AANHPI in elevating the movement for environmental justice at their Earth Day celebration! This event aims to foster collaboration and community spirit in a vibrant and safe space. Gather, eat, learn, and have fun honoring Madre Tierra. ATA is excited to have a booth at this event and is in need of volunteers [...]