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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 Steve for an evening of fun and adventure as we set off in search of desert wildlife. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Steve for an exciting evening 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, [...]
Join Ranger Steve for a moderate round trip hike on the Dragonfly Loop Trail as we learn about the uniqueness of the Sonoran Desert. Click program title for more details. What makes the Sonoran Desert special? Why do cacti have spines? What’s inside a rattlesnake rattle? Join Ranger Steve on a short 3-mile hike along [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an evening of fun and adventure as we set off in search of desert wildlife. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Kevin for an exciting evening hike along the Spur Cross and Dragonfly Loop Trails. We’ll be on the lookout for all kinds of evening-active critters, from skunks to [...]
Join Ranger Kevin for an easy hike while learning some fascinating things about desert trees. Click program title for more details. Join Ranger Kevin for a roughly 2.5-mile hike along the Spur Cross, Metate and Fairy Duster Trails. We’ll discover how some of the most common desert trees are related to each other. We’ll also [...]
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 Ranger Kevin for an afternoon hike in search of seasonal beauty. Join Ranger Kevin for a roughly 3.5-mile hike along the Spur Cross and Dragonfly Loop Trails. We’ll be pausing to look at wildflowers and butterflies as well as a variety of desert plants and animals along the way. The trail is rated moderately [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
Come join Ranger Evan for this splendid hike through the Westside of Spur Cross and Jewel of the creek preserve! Want to get a great workout in? Want to learn about wildlife while hiking? If the answer to those questions is yes, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Come hike through the desert with [...]
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 Ranger Kevin as we look at the plants and animals that live in the riparian area along a perennial stretch of Cave Creek including the Chuckwalla lizard, Maricopa County’s Eco Blitz animal of the month. This loop hike will take us through the Jewel of the Creek Preserve and along the lower Dragonfly Trail [...]
The conservation area is a different experience when seen softly illuminated by the silver moon. While we will attempt to minimize the use of flashlights, bring one in case you need it. Meet at the main trailhead area where restrooms and picnic tables are located. Please bring exact amount for the park entry fee as [...]
Maricopa County Parks-Native Seed Harvest Maricopa County Parks is hosting several native seed harvest events in April and May at several parks. The native seed harvested will later be used to help in park restoration projects and will be planted in invasive species removal areas and parks impacted by wildfires. Collecting and planting local seed [...]
Join us for this 2.5-mile hike that will introduce you to the rich archaeological history of the area. See evidence of prehistoric Hohokam dwellings and learn about their culture as we trek up to one of their mesa-top compounds. Bring plenty of water. No dogs on this hike. Meet at the main trailhead area where restrooms [...]
Join Ranger Kevin on a hike through Spur Cross and the Jewel of the Creek Preserve in search of butterflies and wildflowers. This easy walk will cover the butterfly species you can find in the conservation area, when to look for them, and which native plants you can grow to attract and support their populations. [...]
Maricopa County Parks-Native Seed Harvest Maricopa County Parks is hosting several native seed harvest events in April and May at several parks. The native seed harvested will later be used to help in park restoration projects and will be planted in invasive species removal areas and parks impacted by wildfires. Collecting and planting local seed [...]
Join us as we look at some of the more common species of plants in the conservation area including the Foothill Palo Verde, Arizona's state tree as well as this month's featured plant on Maricopa County's Eco-blitz. This morning's walk will take us through the Fairy Duster/Metate Trails loop for a total of about three miles. No dogs [...]
Come hike with Ranger Kevin in celebration of Earth Day. The hike will take us through the beautiful riparian stretch of Cave Creek on the lower Dragonfly Trail for approximately two miles. Bring plenty of water. No dogs on this hike. Meet at the main Spur Cross parking area. Registration is required for this program. Attendance is [...]
Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our park’s ecosystem health. They outcompete native plants, decrease biodiversity, increase wildfire occurrences, and magnitude. Join the new Desert Defenders program to help us find and remove these plants! Desert Defenders is a citizen science program focused on finding, mapping, and removing invasive species while hiking [...]
The conservation area is a different experience when seen softly illuminated by the silver moon. While we will attempt to minimize the use of flashlights, bring one in case you need it. Meet at the main trailhead area where restrooms and picnic tables are located. Please bring exact amount for the park entry fee as [...]
Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our park’s ecosystem health. They outcompete native plants, decrease biodiversity, increase wildfire occurrences, and magnitude. Join the new Desert Defenders program to help us find and remove these plants! Desert Defenders is a citizen science program focused on finding, mapping, and removing invasive species while hiking [...]
Join us for this 2.5-mile hike that will introduce you to the rich archaeological history of the area. See evidence of prehistoric Hohokam dwellings and learn about their culture as we trek up to one of their mesa-top compounds. Bring plenty of water. No dogs on this hike. Meet at the main trailhead area where restrooms [...]
Invasive species are one of the biggest threats to our park’s ecosystem health. They outcompete native plants, decrease biodiversity, increase wildfire occurrences, and magnitude. Join the new Desert Defenders program to help us find and remove these plants! Desert Defenders is a citizen science program focused on finding, mapping, and removing invasive species while hiking [...]
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