10 Tips For a Successful Visit
If You will be Visiting State Land, Buy a Permit First
Some areas within the proposed Preserve boundary are state land and require a permit to enter. The purple areas of the map to the right are state land. Click here to purchase a permit
Know if There are Restrooms Available
The Lost Dog Wash Trailhead is the only Preserve trailhead with restroom facilities. We recommend that you carry a Ziploc bag with toilet paper. Place the used toilet paper back in the Ziploc, to be thrown away at home. Do not leave toilet paper in the Preserve. Park Appropriately
Parking lot sizes vary at the different trailheads. Lost Dog Wash Trailhead has the largest lot. Please park only in designated areas. If a trailhead lot is full, vehicles can be accommodated on the shoulders of adjacent roads. Avoid parking on plants because this can spark wildfires. Watch signage to be sure you aren’t parking where you shouldn’t.
Know the Trail
Plan your route ahead of time. Learn the trail’s distance and difficulty, major intersections, and access points. Trail maps for the Preserve are available at MSC’s office and the City of Scottsdale’s Convention and Visitors Bureau Visitor Center. The Preserve map on this website is provided for planning purposes; It is not drawn to scale for use as a trail map. Trail markers in the Preserve are numbered. In case of an emergency, these numbers can help rescuers find you.
Pace Yourself
Don’t hike in one direction until you are tired or dehydrated and then turn back; you don’t want to be at the half-way point exhausted and without water. Don’t hesitate to ask other trail users for water. Look for MSC Stewards in their light-blue shirts, or the yellow-shirted Bike Stewards.
Carry the Right Supplies
Water
Set out the amount of water that you think you’ll need and then double it; even when the weather is cool, the desert dryness causes evaporation. If your dog is accompanying you, remember that it needs just as much water as you do. Our volunteers regularly give their own water to hikers or their dogs. We cannot stress the importance of carrying water enough.Whistle
The sound of a whistle will travel farther than a cry for help. making it a valuable safety aid. When dehydrated or injured, people often can't shout or yell. There are documented cases of rescuers passing within yards of the person they are looking for yet weren't aware of their presence because the person was unable to call out.Trail Map
Preserve trail maps are available in MSC's office, the City of Scottsdale Website, the Scottsdale Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and numerous Arizona trail guides. There are map boards at many of the Preserve's trailheads.Cell Phone
The best thing to have in an emergency is a cell phone.
A GPS Unit
A regular outdoor recreationist should invest in a GPS unit. Even the most inexpensive one will serve the purpose of identifying your location. Our shop on this website offers a good quality, inexpensive unit.
Nails scissors, pliers, and tweezers
Cacti can't fly, shoot or in any way leap onto you, but if you brush against one chances are you will come away with spines. The worst offenders are members of the cholla family. The spines of these plants have barbs that can prevent them from being easily removed. Sometimes a stem will pull off with the spine.
Here are steps for removing cactus spines:
For small spines without cactus stems attached
•Pluck them out with the tweezers.
For large spines with cactus stems attached
•Use the nail scissors to cut the spines that are connecting the
cactus stem to you.
•Use the pliers to pull out the spines.
Tell someone where you are going
Before you hike, mountain bike, ride horseback or go rock climbing, make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to return. 
Wear the right clothing
It may seem contradictory, but the more coverage you wear, the less you will be affected by the heat. Lightweight pants and a long-sleeved shirt are the best things to wear while hiking. A lightweight hat with a wide brim is a must. Boots or heavy walking shoes are highly recommended.
Know what to do if you need help
Use your GPS unit to find exactly where you are. Call 911 on your cell phone and tell them the coordinates.
If you don’t have a GPS unit, the emergency markers on every trail sign will help guide rescuers to your location.
Know the warning signs of overheating or dehydration
If any of the following begins to occur, you are overheating and / or dehydrated:- Your face is bright red and your neck is white
- You stop sweating
- You are sweating and feel chills
- You are becoming slightly uncoordinated