High Desert – Broken Spoke – Hawksnest – Buckshot Trails
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZHigh Desert, Broken Spoke, Hawknest and Buckshot Trails Fitness Hike from Brown’s Ranch Trailhead This Very Difficult hike will allow you to explore some of the remote trails in the northwest area of the Preserve. 9.3 miles for about 5 hours with rolling hills. Experience hikers suggested. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks,
Trailside Naturalist Station: Predators
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZStop by the Trailside Naturalist station at the Gateway Trailhead between 9-11 A.M. to learn about the various predators found in the Preserve.
Sunrise Peak from Lost Dog Wash Fitness Hike
Lost Dog Wash Trailhead 12601 N. 124th Street, Scottsdale, AZSunrise Peak from Lost Dog Trailhead Fitness Hike  This Very Difficult Hike travels the beautiful and challenging west side of Sunrise Peak up to a great 360-degree view of the Valley of the Sun. Experienced hikers suggested. 6.2 miles in about 3.5 hours with elevation gain over 1,300 ft. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring
Mountain Bike Skills Clinic
Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZMountain Bike Skills Clinic at Fraesfield Trailhead New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? Then come prepared with a mountain bike with knobby tires, helmet, water, and snacks. We begin with a demonstration and presentation by experienced riders covering
Gateway to TT9 Overlook Fitness Hike
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZGateway to Tom’s Thumb TT9 Overlook Fitness Hike from Gateway Trailhead.  This Very Difficult hike takes us to the seldom visited vistas west of Tom’s Thumb that makes you think you are in the Grand Canyon. 9.6 miles in about 5-6 hours with a big climb of 2100 ft! Bathrooms at the trailhead.  Bring water
Mistletoe and Holly Educational Hike
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZMistletoe & Holly Educational Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead What do desert plants and animals have to do with the holidays? Join PastFinder Franco Farina on an Easy hike and discover the hidden, festive desert connections. 3 miles over about 2.5 hours with minimal elevation gain. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks
Fraesfield to Balanced Rock Fitness Hike
Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZFraesfield Trailhead to Balanced Rock Fitness Hike. This Very Difficult hike will take us on a long journey thru the flatter part of the preserve to the amazing granite balancing rock formation. 10 miles over 4.5 hours. Bring snacks and a lunch. Experienced hikers suggested. Bathrooms are available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks
Ride the Gooseneck
Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZRide the Gooseneck from Fraesfield Trailhead. This easier ride is a great sequel to the Skills Clinic. The ride is low Intermediate Skills and Moderate Cardio level ride. It will travel over the flatter areas of the Gooseneck. The first ½ mile of the ride requires intermediate skills, but it is smooth sailing for the
Christmas Day Fitness Hike
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZChristmas Day Hike Fitness Hike at Gateway Trailhead. Embrace the spirit of the holiday on this picturesque hike on the Gateway Loop that will take you into the heart of the McDowells. This is a Moderate hike of 4.5 miles in about 2.5 hours with significant elevation gain of 700 ft. Bathrooms available at the
Vaquero – Whiskey Bottle – LatigoTrails Fitness Hike
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZVaquero, Whiskey Bottle & Latigo Fitness Hike at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead This hike on three picturesque trails will take you to a crested saguaro and then continue through a diverse landscape. Moderate hike of 5 miles for about 2.5 hours. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please.
Gateway TH to “Silver” Bell Pass Fitness Hike
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZGateway Trailhead  to “Silver” Bell Pass Fitness Hike.  Celebrate the coming New Year on this Very Difficult but rewarding hike! Experienced Hikers suggested. The views along this challenging path will make the miles go faster. 7.2 miles in about 4 hours and gains 1,500 ft. Bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water, snacks and even
Jane Rau Trail Walk
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZJane Rau Trail Educational Walk at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead Join us for a leisurely walk on the awe-inspiring Jane Rau Trail. A slower pace will allow us time to stop for various discussions of the desert. Benches to sit are on the trail. About 1.5 miles over about 90 minutes.  Bathrooms available at the trailhead.
Tom’s Thumb Long Loop Fitness Hike
Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZTom’s Thumb Trailhead and Long Loop Fitness Hike This Very Difficult hike explores the rugged and scenic views of the preserve. End the year with a bang as we will go up Tom’s Thumb to East End and return via the McDowell Regional Park. In 9.3 miles there is over 1,500 ft. elevation change in
Marcus Landslide Fitness Hike
Tom’s Thumb Trailhead 23015 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale, AZMarcus Landslide Fitness Hike at Tom’s Thumb Trailhead This Moderate hike visits the Marcus Landslide geological site, second largest landslide in Arizona. The elevation gain is 400 ft. over 4 miles in about 2.5 hours. Restrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water and snacks for the trail. No dogs please. Arrive 15 minutes before start
Brown’s Mtn. Cone Mtn. Loop Fitness Hike
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZBrown’s Mt & Cone Mtn. Loop Fitness Hike at Brown’s Ranch Join us for a trip around Brown’s Mtn. and Cone Mtn. We travel on Upper Ranch, Wrangler, Brown’s Mtn., Cone Mt. and finally the scenic Latigo trail. This is a Difficult hike of 6 miles over about 3 hours with rolling ups and downs.
Hike with Natural Resources Coordinator
Brown's Ranch Trailhead 30301 N. Alma School Road, Scottsdale, AZHike with Natural Resources Coordinator at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead Spend about 2 hours on an easy hike with John Loleit, the Natural Resources Coordinator, as he discusses various pertinent topics while hiking in the desert. The material will depend on the season, animals, plants, and will cover whatever is happening in this wonderful environment. Bathrooms
Twenty Miler from Pima Dynamite
Pima Dynamite Trailhead 28777 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZTwenty Miler from Pima Dynamite Trailhead. This ride is longer and more intense than our normal rides. It will be 2.5-3 hours and cover 20 miles with a Skill level of Intermediate and a Cardio level of Vigorous in the north eastern area of the preserve. All our rides are “No Drop”, meaning we will
Mountain Bike Skills Clinic
Fraesfield Trailhead 13400 East Rio Verde Drive, Scottsdale, AZMountain Bike Skills Clinic at Fraesfield Trailhead New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? Then come prepared with a mountain bike with knobby tires, helmet, water, and snacks. We begin with a demonstration and presentation by experienced riders covering
Bootlegger & Coyote Canyon Fitness Hike
Granite Mountain Trailhead 31402 N. 136th Street, Scottsdale, AZBootlegger/Coyote Canyon Fitness Hike at Granite Mt Trailhead This Difficult hike explores the more remote part of the Preserve via Bootlegger, Granite Mountain Loop, Coyote Canyon, Renegade and 136th St. Express trails. Experienced hikers suggested.  7 miles in about 4.5 hours with rolling ups and downs. There are bathrooms available at the trailhead. Bring water,
Trailside Naturalist – Desert Trees and Shrubs
Gateway Trailhead 18333 N. Thompson Peak Pkwy., Scottsdale, AZDid you know that saguaros have boots? Stop by the Trailside Naturalist station at Gateway Trailhead between 9-11 am to learn about cactus, trees, and shrubs found in the Preserve.