Hassayampa River Preserve Mesquite Festival. Discover all the “Tree of Life” has to offer at this free, family-friendly community event. Click program title for more details. Discover all the “Tree of Life” has to offer at this free, family-friendly community event. There will be cooking tips, food sampling, kids games, and information on the ecology, [...]
Stop by the Nature Center to see Ranger Nikki’s display of desert cacti specimens. Click on program title for more details. Stop by the Nature Center to see a display of desert cacti specimens, including saguaro, barrel, hedgehog, pincushion and varieties of cholla; learn about efforts to catalog plant species in the County Parks using [...]
This Earth Day, join Ranger Steve to walk in the footsteps of the Ancient Hohokam and learn about their culture and their relationship with nature! Celebrate Earth Day and join Ranger Steve on a 3-mile easy-moderate hike on the Black Rock and Waterfall Trails as we search for signs of the ancient Hohokam Culture and [...]
Take a break from the lake and join Ranger Derik on a 4-mile hike through the less traveled parts of the park on the Beardsley Trail. During the hike you will have to opportunity to learn about amazing wildlife that call the Sonoran Desert home. The hike will start from the Frog Tanks Trailhead on [...]
Join Ranger Derik on a strenuous hike through the rugged White Tank mountains and look for unique plant species. Click on program title for more details. Come on a strenuous 4.5-mile hike through the white tank mountains on the search for great views and the unique elephant trees that dot the hillsides. The trail is [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 4.5-mile moderate hike to learn about the park’s geology and some of the earth processes the created our Phoenix Valley area. This hike includes portions of Goldmine, Dynamite and San Tan Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, snacks, a hat and sunscreen. MEETING LOCATION: Main Entrance Trailhead map kiosk/picnic [...]
Come to the Nature Center any time from 9am- 12 Pm and get up close and personal with several snake species native to the Sonoran Desert. Ranger Derik will be available to answer any questions about the snakes. There will be a hands-on display table with snake sheds, rattle snake rattles, snake skins and coloring [...]
Join Ranger Evan on this fantastic hike through the Sonoran Desert looking at wildflowers! Though we may only do a little frolicking ourselves; we hope to see some Sonoran Desert fauna frolicking their way into summer. Please enter the park through the NORTH ENTRANCE of Lake Pleasant (about 1.5 miles north of the main entrance). [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 3-mile easy/moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and common spring pollinators – butterflies. You can learn about the MCPRD butterfly monitoring initiative and receive an identification handout to help with your own observations. The route includes Rainbow Valley, Quail, Saddle, Baseline and Toothaker Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring [...]
Hike along the 2-mile Waddell trail and learn about the native plants and animals as well as see petroglyphs carved by the Native Americans that once called the White Tank Mountains home. The trail is labeled as easy, though it can be uneven and rocky in some places. Make sure your students wear sturdy shoes [...]
Join Ranger Evan on this fantastic hike through the Sonoran Desert looking at wildflowers! Though we may only do a little frolicking ourselves; we hope to see some Sonoran Desert fauna frolicking their way into summer. Please enter the park through the NORTH ENTRANCE of Lake Pleasant (about 1.5 miles north of the main entrance). [...]
Ranger Nikki shares a display of desert plants that have been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Click on program title for more details. Stop by the Nature Center to see a display of desert plants that have been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Learn about common plants such as brittlebush, bursage, creosote and [...]
Join Ranger Evan for some fun with Arthropods! Click on program title for more details. 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
Join Ranger Nikki on a moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and look for common spring pollinators – butterflies. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Nikki on a 3.5-mile easy moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and common spring pollinators – butterflies. You can learn about the MCPRD butterfly monitoring initiative [...]
Invasive species are one of 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 mapping, and removing invasive species within the parks. The Invasive plant species have severely impacted our park's natural ecosystems and contributed [...]
Visit Ranger Derik at the visitor center to learn about the native trees that call the Sonoran Desert home. On display at the nature center will be tables with samples of native tree species, pictures, as well information on the benefits and services that these native plants provide us and the natural ecosystem.
Join Ranger Evan on this climb up to Yavapai Point as we take in the view of the lake and flowers! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Evan on with this fantastic hike through the Sonoran Desert looking at wildflowers! Though we may only do a little frolicking ourselves; we hope to [...]
Stop by the Nature Center to see Ranger Nikki’s display of desert cacti specimens including saguaro, barrel, hedgehog, pincushion and varieties of cholla. Stop by the Nature Center to see a display of desert cacti specimens and learn about efforts to catalog plant species in the County Parks using the iNaturalist citizen science app. MEETING [...]
Join Ranger Evan on this joyous loop hike through the Sonoran Desert! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Evan on this fantastic 3-4-mile hike through the Sonoran Desert looking at wildflowers! Though we may only do a little frolicking ourselves; we hope to see some Sonoran Desert fauna frolicking their way into [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a moderate hike to learn all about cacti. Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Nikki on a 3.5-mile moderate hike to learn all about cacti: saguaro, cholla, prickly pear, barrel and more. The route includes Moonlight, San Tan and Goldmine Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, a [...]
Join Ranger Evan on this easy hike around the serene south end of the park! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Evan on with this fantastic 3-4-mile hike through the desert looking at wildflowers! Though we may only do a little frolicking ourselves; we hope to see some Sonoran Desert fauna frolicking [...]
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. Date- Every Monday from 4/10/23-10/30/23 Time – April 7:00am-9:00am May-Oct 6:00am-8:00am Location – Park at Castle Hot Springs dirt lot near the entry station. Meet with Park Assistant Doug [...]
Learn about birds of Sonoran Desert riparian areas during this guided hike with Ranger Eric. Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Eric for a guided hike along the Dragonfly Trail at Spur Cross and adjacent Jewel of the Creek Preserve to look for birds of the Sonoran Desert and riparian habitats. Along [...]
Join Ranger Eric for a guided hike along the Dragonfly Trail at Spur Cross and adjacent Jewel of the Creek Preserve to look for reptiles of the Sonoran Desert and riparian habitats. Along the way, we will discuss identification tips, as well as their ecological roles and safety around venomous animals. We will hike about [...]
Join Ranger Nikki for a 3-mile hike on the easy to moderate terrain to learn about a variety of plant life, including brittlebush and bursage shrubs, cacti and legume trees. The route follows Butterfield, Dysart and Coldwater Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. Restrooms are available at the trailhead [...]
Maricopa County Parks is hosting several native seed harvest events in April and May at several of our parks. The native seed harvested will be planted in habitat enhancement projects, invasive species removal areas, and parks impacted by wildfires. Collecting and planting local seed genotypes will help maintain the park's biodiversity and sustainability through climate [...]
What makes a cactus a cactus? How can plants survive scorching temperatures? Can you eat Cactus? Get the answers to these questions on Ranger Evan’s Crazy for Cacti walk. This loop begins at the Blevins Trailhead located at the Trail Staging Area (east side of the park). We will be hiking approximately 3 miles, with [...]
The hike will follow sections of the Spur Cross and Metate Trails for 3 miles as the path moves from desert landscape down into riparian habitat. Hikers will be rewarded with impressive Saguaro Cacti and a variety of cholla species. The trail is rated as easy, but it can be sandy and rocky at times [...]
Join Ranger Nikki to learn all about desert tortoises and watch Tierra the Tortoise enjoy her breakfast. Learn all about desert tortoises during an indoor class and activity session with Ranger Nikki. You can also watch as Estrella’s resident tortoise ambassador, Tierra, enjoys her leafy green breakfast. Meeting Location: Nature Center Classroom Limit 25 participants. [...]
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 Tortoise and Hilltop trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water. [...]
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