Join Ranger Steve to learn more about the venomous animals that inhabit the Sonoran Desert! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Steve for a fun and informative live display of venomous animals! Bring your questions and curiosity as you learn things such as the difference between venom and poison, common myths about [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Join park volunteer Chris Reed on this easy two mile hike to discover the hidden treasures of the Waterfall Trail. Join park volunteer Chris Reed on this easy 2 mile hike up the Waterfall Trail and step back in time to see the hidden treasures along this partially barrier-free interpretive trail. See ancient Hohokam petroglyphs [...]
Join Ranger Eric for a moderate hike while learning about the Sonoran Desert, including wildflowers and butterflies! Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Eric for a guided 3.5-mile moderate-rated loop of the Dragonfly Trail while learning about the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, with a special emphasis on late-spring [...]
Join Ranger Steve on a 2.5-mile easy-moderate hike to look for nocturnal wildlife. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Steve on a 2.5-mile easy to moderate hike to look for signs of nocturnal desert wildlife such as reptiles, bobcats, coyotes, bats, and others. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water and a flashlight. MEETING [...]
Take a leisurely stroll with Ranger Nikki to enjoy the sunset and learn about some of the plants and animals in our Sonoran Desert Take a leisurely stroll with Ranger Nikki to enjoy the sunset and learn about some of the plants and animals in our Sonoran Desert. This is an out-and-back walk on easy [...]
Come join us for a quiet walk along our easy to moderate scenic trails in search of local and migratory birds. "Thrushes or Ratites" program will follow inside the Nature Center. Meet for the bird walk on the back patio of the Cave Creek Regional Park Nature Center at 7:00am. No dogs allowed. Registration is required for this program. [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and common spring pollinators – butterflies. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Nikki on a 4-mile moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and common spring pollinators – butterflies. You can learn about the MCPRD butterfly monitoring initiative and receive an [...]
Learn about the resident and migrant birds of desert riparian areas on this guided walk with Ranger Eric. Click on program title for more details. 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 [...]
Stop by the Nature Center to see Ranger Nikki’s display of desert plants that have been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Click 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 [...]
Join Ranger Eric to learn about desert plants to attract pollinators to your garden! Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Eric to learn about native desert plant options for your garden to attract and help pollinators such as hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other insects. Some free printed resources will be available to take [...]
Join Ranger Steve for a presentation on the history, climate, wildlife, and geology of the Sonoran Desert. Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Steve for a classroom presentation on the wonderful Sonoran Desert! What makes our desert special? What sets it apart from other deserts in the USA? Why do cacti have [...]
Starting from the covered tables just passed the entry station, we will head out in the Dragonfly Trail for 4 miles. This trail is considered moderately challenging and will gain 500 ft of elevation. The trail will take you past towering saguaro cacti and offers sweeping views of the Phoenix Valley and the neighboring Tonto [...]
Learn about the geology and streams of the Spur Cross region on an easy two-mile walk with nationally known earth science author and park docent Thomas McGuire. Visit an abandoned gold mine, Nutcracker Rock, and a Hohokam rock art site along Cottonwood Wash. Bring plenty of water and your natural curiosity. No dogs on this hike. [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on an easy walk to look for and identify our desert feathered friends and signs of their homes. Join Ranger Nikki for a 2-mile walk on easy trails near the Nature Center. Watch for birds and see if you can spot their homes camouflaged among the cacti and trees. Perhaps see a [...]
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 north end of the park. We will be hiking approximately 3 miles, with very little elevation change. Please bring plenty of [...]
Hike with Ranger Derik along Lake Pleasant as you learn about the common plants found in the Sonoran Desert. Click on program title for more details. We will be easy hiking 3.5 miles out and back on the Wild Burro Trail starting from the Wild Burro Day Use Area. The trailhead offers a bathroom as [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on an easy/moderate hike to look for cactus blooms and common spring pollinators – butterflies. Click on program title for more details. 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 Parks Department butterfly monitoring initiative and receive [...]
An easy/moderate hike with Ranger Derik to take in the views along the Hassayampa River. Click program title for more details. We will hike from the Visitor Center down along the River Ramble Trail and up to Lykes Lookout for a 1.3-mile hike. The trail is gradual until the short but steep climb up Lykes [...]
Stop by the Nature Center to see a display of desert plants that have been used medicinally for hundreds of years. 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 more that were [...]
Join Ranger Steve on a 2.5-mile easy-moderate hike to look for nocturnal wildlife. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Steve on a 2.5-mile easy moderate hike to look for signs of nocturnal desert wildlife such as reptiles, bobcats, coyotes, bats, and others. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water and a flashlight. MEETING LOCATION: [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 2-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 Spur Cross and Metate Trails. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring water, a hat [...]
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 [...]
Moderate hike with Ranger Derik to learn about the native Sonoran Desert plants and animals. Click on program title for more details. This will be a 4-mile hike through the foothills of the Estrella Mountains and learn about the native plants and animals that call the Sonoran Desert home. We will meet for the hike [...]
Stop by the Spur Cross Trailhead 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 more that were used to ease various ailments from bug bites to toothaches. MEETING LOCATION: Main Trailhead at the map kiosk, covered seating [...]
This is not a park sponsored event A permitted running event will be occurring in the park. There will be a short sprint run in the evening on 4/21 and a longer race the full day on 4/22. The event will be staged out of the Four Peaks Staging Area and use the following trails: Escondido, Pemberton, [...]
Join Ranger Steve on an easy-moderate hike to look for nocturnal wildlife. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Steve on a 2.5-mile easy-moderate hike from the Pemberton Trailhead down to Pemberton Pond to look for signs of nocturnal desert wildlife such as reptiles, bobcats, coyotes, bats, and others. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring [...]
Join experienced birder Joe Ford for a morning bird walk followed by a special presentation! Join experienced local birder Joe Ford for a morning bird walk on the park trails followed by a special presentation inside the Nature Center entitled "Bird Weirdness II." Please meet on the south patio of the Nature Center at 7am. [...]
Join Ranger Nikki on a 2.5-mile Earth Day stroll to learn about our fascinating Sonoran Desert. Click on program title for more details. Join Ranger Nikki on a 2.5-mile Earth Day stroll to explore our fascinating Sonoran Desert. Identify various plants and animals and learn how they survive in our extreme environment. The route includes [...]
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