As the hiking season kicks off, and in time for the Fountain Hills Hiking Challenge this November, join us for a really fun, eye-opening review of What's in My Pack. Whether you're new to hiking or have had the same contents in your backpack for years - it's time to refresh. In addition, your introduction to desert safety will include an overview of CPR and hands-on use of an AED. This information can be life saving in the desert, at home, and in public spaces. You will also receive a link to a 20 minute video on our YouTube channel with useful Desert First Aid practices.

You'll learn about first aid and saving lives in the desert from two professional instructors, Yvonne Massman, Natural Resources Coordinator, McDowell Sonoran Preserve and Lori Stauffer, Public Information Officer, Community Relations, Scottsdale Fire Department.

Note: SCFH volunteers are welcome, but this is not as in-depth as the Desert First Aid classes offered exclusively for volunteers in December & January each season.

Dessert in the Desert returns with another incredible line-up. It is a series of hour-long, hands-on introductions to lesser-known aspects of our unique Sonoran Desert. This program is hosted at the Adero Canyon Trailhead so bring a chair, family, friends, your favorite dessert or snack, and join us for an unusual experience. All ages welcome, and everyone must be registered. No pets or alcohol, please.

Saguaros! As the sun dips and the desert air cools, you’ll gather beneath the silhouettes of the towering Saguaro cactus, the living icons unique to the Sonoran Desert. This engaging presentation explores how these remarkable giants grow, survive, and support an entire community of desert life, from nesting birds to blooming night flowers. Learn what gives saguaros their iconic shape, how long they live, and the surprising ways they adapt to heat, drought, and time.

Tim Schoenfelder and Becky Collman are both SCFH Steward volunteers and Arizona Master Naturalists.

Looking to stretch your creative horizons? Join Jennifer Ramm, 1st place winner in the 2024 FH photography contest for the category of Digitally Altered Artistic Photography, as we explore how to turn your desert landscape, vacation, and favorite photos into stunning works of art worthy of hanging on the walls in your home.

We will use the free Prisma app on our iPhones, iPads, or Android phones to explore tips and techniques in this hands-on workshop-format class.

Dessert in the Desert returns with another incredible line-up. It is a series of hour-long, hands-on introductions to lesser-known aspects of our unique Sonoran Desert. This program is hosted at the Adero Canyon Trailhead so bring a chair, family, friends, your favorite dessert or snack, and join us for an unusual experience. All ages welcome, and everyone must be registered. No pets or alcohol, please.

Join us for a spooktacular presentation where we unmask the desert's mammals by examining their skulls! Discover how to tell a mountain lion from a javelina and learn more about the lives of these and other desert wildlife just by looking at the shape, size, and placements of key skull features. Prepare to sink your teeth into the secrets of the McDowell Mountains.

Lisa Miller is a SCFH Steward volunteer, Naturalist, and a Legacy Steward with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. She is also a volunteer with the Dark Sky Discovery Center.

Join the Town of Fountain Hills and SCFH leaders and volunteers to kick off the hiking season and the Fountain Hills Hiking Challenge. Stop by at 8:00 a.m. for coffee and cookies and to chat with SCFH leaders. At 9:00 a.m. we will hike the 2 mile Lake Overlook Trail. Those who wish to do more can add a mile by walking the circumference of Fountain Park.

Bring a liter of water, a hat and wear shoes with grippy soles. Hiking poles are recommended. No dogs please.

This hike is included in the 2026 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes in the Challenge is required!

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Nature offers adventures with every step from changes in soil type and geology to birds and wildflowers that grace the experience of walking in our Sonoran Desert. A Naturalist is someone trained to observe plants, animals and ecosystems in their natural environment. Whether you are an experienced observer or want to learn about our amazing desert, you are guaranteed to enjoy this experience with two Naturalists. Come with open eyes ready to exercise your mind on this leisurely paced, 2 mile hike with frequent stops on the Promenade Trail in the Preserve.

Bring water, snacks, poles if needed, and wear a hat and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. No dogs please.

Tim Schoenfelder and Becky Collman are both SCFH Steward volunteers and Arizona Master Naturalists.

Dessert in the Desert returns with another incredible line-up. It is a series of hour-long, hands-on introductions to lesser-known aspects of our unique Sonoran Desert. This program is hosted at the Adero Canyon Trailhead so bring a chair, family, friends, your favorite dessert or snack, and join us for an unusual experience. All ages welcome, and everyone must be registered. No pets or alcohol, please.

How did indigenous people survive and thrive in the Sonoran Desert? Learn how people gathered, processed, and consumed indigenous plants such as, Saguaro, Prickly Pear, Buckhorn Cholla, Mesquite and Palo Verde, all commonly found today in our backyards. These plants were critical for survival, nutrition and cultural traditions for the people whose lives are rooted in the Sonoran Desert. Today many plants are being cultivated and reintroduced into desert permaculture systems as sustainable food sources. You will be able to test your own senses (but not sample indigenous foods!).

Bernie Finkel is a Legacy Steward for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, as well as a SCFH and FH Desert Botanical Garden Steward volunteer.

The Mesquite Hollow Trail is one of the favorite trails in the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve. Named for the nearly 100 year old Mesquite tree located on the trail just beyond the spur, this newer trail is receiving rave reviews from hikers and is a fine example of trails hand built by Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills Trailblazers. This will be a 5.1 mile moderately difficult hike at a moderate pace. We will follow the Promenade Trail to the Mesquite Hollow Trail and return to the trailhead via the Lower Sonoran Trail.

Bring 2 liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy boots; hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the 2026 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes in the Challenge is required!

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Did you know we have a natural Desert Botanical Garden gem of an oasis in Fountain Hills? Established in 1975, the 8-acre site is located on Fountain Hills Blvd near Kingstree Blvd. Join us on this easy, 1 mile trail which winds through lichen-covered granite boulders to the historic P-Bar Ranch dam. With views of the surrounding mountains, you'll learn about the flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert. The introductory morning hike will also feature the history of the P-Bar ranch, up close sightings of unusual saguaros, and wildlife habitats.

If you are interested in learning to identify plants and birds using the iNaturalist and Merlin apps, download the free apps before coming to the Garden. Bring water, a snack, a hat, and binoculars if possible. Wear a hat & shoes or boots with grippy soles. Hiking poles recommended. Parking is available at the trailhead and on the west side of Fountain Hills Blvd as marked. No dogs, please.

Dessert in the Desert returns with another incredible line-up. It is a series of hour-long, hands-on introductions to lesser-known aspects of our unique Sonoran Desert. This program is hosted at the Adero Canyon Trailhead so bring a chair, family, friends, your favorite dessert or snack, and join us for an unusual experience. All ages welcome, and everyone must be registered. No pets or alcohol, please.

Experience the three stages of twilight and witness the desert’s transition from the day shift to the night shift. You’ll engage your five senses to connect with the Sonoran Desert as the stars twinkle on one by one. The evening will culminate with a laser-guided tour of the constellations and a peek through the telescope at some deep space objects.

Vicky Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast and website and owns a local stargazing business. She is also an SCFH Steward Volunteer. You can find her online at Night Sky Tourist.

Are you an early riser looking for an earlier hike that won't last all morning? This season there will again be monthly hikes at a moderate pace that have an earlier start. This month we hike the North Leg Trail which will be a 2.5 mile moderate hike at a moderate pace. We will follow the Promenade Trail to the North Leg Trail and return to the trailhead the same way. The North Leg Trail, one of the newer trails in the Preserve, follows a ridge about 1 mile, descending almost the entire way. So even though this hike is short, be prepared for an uphill hike on the return!

Bring 2 liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat and sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the 2026 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Hike with your children ages 5+ on this school holiday to spend time in nature. The group will walk on the 1 mile Overlook Trail at the Adero Canyon Trailhead, which includes some ups and downs that take us to great views at the top. (No strollers, please.) At 10:00am, at the end of the hike, a representative from the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center will be at the trailhead to talk about the work of the sanctuary and share a few animals, such as a tortoise, for children to visit with while enjoying cookies and refreshments. Parents may also bring children directly to the trailhead for refreshments and to visit the animals at 10:00 am.

Please make sure everyone wears grippy closed-toe shoes, hats and has plenty of water. No dogs, please. Each child must be accompanied by an adult and all participants attending the hike & meeting the animals or just meeting the animals must be pre registered.

Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, located in Scottsdale, Arizona, rescues and rehabilitates native wildlife that has been injured, displaced and orphaned. Once rehabilitated, they are returned to the wild. Sanctuary is also provided to animals that cannot be released back to the wild. Visit https://southwestwildlife.org for more information.

This is a very rewarding moderately difficult 5.8 mile, out and back hike starting from the Adero Canyon Trailhead. The trail climbs as it winds through the Adero Canyon to the Sunrise Trail with its hitching post. Those who want an extra challenge may opt to continue another 1/2 mile and climb to the top of Sunrise Peak.

Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the 2026 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

This moderately difficult hike will take in the entire 4.5 mile Ridgeline Loop. The Ridgeline trails are accessed by the Overlook Trail and follow the top of a ridge overlooking Adero Canyon while the Lower Ridgeline and the spur to a scenic overlook provide views to the east. Ridgeline Trail features frequent ups and downs as it follows the ridge and some rocky sections. Hikers will see plenty of interesting rock formations and vegetation indigenous to the Sonoran Desert.

Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the 2026 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Want to start birding but don't know where to begin? This introductory class will give you the foundation you need! You'll discover the five keys to bird identification: size, shape, behavior, habitat and sound. Plus, you'll learn how to use essential tools like binoculars and birding apps. The class culminates in a practical field session where you'll put your new skills to use!

Wear a hat and bring water. Bring binoculars if you have them. There will be extras to share.

Lisa Miller is a SCFH Steward volunteer, Naturalist, and a Legacy Steward with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. She is also a volunteer with the Dark Sky Discovery Center. Pete Herstein is a 30 year avid birder. He is also a Naturalist for the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden where he leads birding hikes both in the Garden, at Fountain Park and other interesting birding locations around the area.

On this 4.9 mile hike, we take on the challenge of the Wilderness trail, the newest, most difficult trail in the Preserve. This hike will be led by SCFH Trailblazer DJ Willard who envisioned, designed and played an active role in building this trail. This unique trail is unlike any others in the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve. The trail was designed to feel like a true backcountry experience and is a narrow, rocky, and primitive path that was intentionally designed to be more demanding than any other trail in the Preserve. It is also the highest trail in the Preserve reaching elevations above 3,000 feet.

On this hike, we follow the Promenade to the Western Trail. About two thirds of the way up Western Trail, we connect to the Wilderness Trail. After the junction of the Wilderness Trail with the Sonoran Trail, we meet the Mesquite Hollow Trail and follow it back to the Promenade to return to the Trailhead. Along the way, you will hear from DJ Willard about the challenges with the design and construction of the Wilderness Trail - another trail hand built by the Trailblazers, all volunteers of SCFH!

Bring two to three liters of water and snacks or lunch. Wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles strongly recommended. No dogs, please.

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Discover the fascinating waterbirds that visit Fountain Park! Join birders Pete Herstein and Lisa Miller for a leisurely walk around the lake as you learn to identify common (and perhaps uncommon) ducks, coots, herons, grebes, cormorants, and other seasonal visitors. Along the way, you'll learn about their behaviors, habitats, and the important role Fountain Park plays as an oasis for wildlife.

Pete & Lisa will also demonstrate the use of the ebird and Merlin apps. In addition, a spotting scope will be available and its value in spotting birds on the lake will be demonstrated. Bring water, a hat, and binoculars if possible. No dogs, please.

Lisa Miller is a SCFH Steward volunteer, Naturalist, and a Legacy Steward with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. She is also a volunteer with the Dark Sky Discovery Center. Pete Herstein is a 30 year avid birder. He is also a Naturalist for the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden where he leads birding hikes both in the Garden, at Fountain Park and other interesting birding locations around the area.

This is a moderately difficult 5.6 mile lollipop loop hike. We will follow the Promenade trail to its end, then take the Sonoran and Lower Sonoran Trails for a loop hike. This hike can also be shortened by taking one of two crossovers to the alternate trail.

Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This hike is included in the 2026 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

How about a late afternoon 2 hour hike ending at sunset to close out your day? During the cooler months this season we plan to lead an easy to moderate pace hike that starts 2 hours before sunset, breaking into 2 groups if needed. We will hike out 1 hour and then turn back to the trailhead.

This month we will take the Promenade Trail to the Mesquite Hollow Trail. We will follow Mesquite Hollow then take a break at the Mesquite Tree or go further if we can return by sunset. Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This is a 4 mile more challenging hike that involves two climbs but we will not be rushing! We climb to the top of the Western Trail - a steep, rocky, difficult trail ending at the Promenade Trail. From there we'll hop over to hike the North Leg Trail which descends for about 1 mile as it follows a ridgeline to its end. Even though North Leg trail is short, be prepared for an uphill hike on the return.

Bring two liters of water and snacks, and wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Both trails are included in the 2026 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the FH Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

This will be a moderate paced, challenging hike from the Golden Eagle Trailhead to the Adero Canyon Trailhead and return. The total distance is about 9.8 miles round trip. For an extra challenge, some participants may wish to add 1/2 mile by climbing the Western Trail, a short but difficult trail. It is possible to shorten the hike to 5 miles by arranging to be picked up at the Adero Canyon Trailhead.

Bring two to three liters of water, lunch or snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please. $5 entrance fee to McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

This hike is included in the 2026 FH Hiking Challenge. Registration for the Hiking Challenge is encouraged but not required to join this hike. Separate registration for all SCFH hikes is required!

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Take a break from holiday festivities and shopping madness to commune with nature and the stars in the desert. We begin at sunset to witness the transition of twilight, a perfect time for Blue Hour smartphone photography, capturing the deep, cool-toned twilight sky in the 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. Once the stars come out, you’ll enjoy star stories about the circumpolar constellations from the Diné (Navajo), Sámi (reindeer herders), and Greek cultures. Upon return you’ll have a chance to peer through a telescope to see some deep space objects.

Bring pre-registered children age 8+, wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe sturdy shoes. Be prepared to hike 2 miles roundtrip as skies darken on the Promenade Trail, a slightly rocky but relatively flat old jeep road after a slight climb at the beginning. Bring water and hiking poles if needed. Red flashlights welcome; white lights and flash photography should stay tucked away to preserve everyone's night vision. No dogs, please.

Vicky Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast and website and owns a local stargazing business. She is also an SCFH Steward Volunteer. You can find her online at Night Sky Tourist

How about a mid morning hike when our daytime temperatures are more enjoyable? During the cooler months of November, December, and January, join us for our new winter midmorning hikes. These easy to moderate-paced hikes begin later in the morning, when temperatures are still comfortable. Depending on attendance, we'll divide into two groups to accommodate different hiking preferences.

This month we will take the Promenade Trail to the Sonoran Trail. At the first crossover we will decide to either descend to the Lower Sonoran and head back for a 3.3 mile hike or go to the next crossover to make it a 4.9 mile hike.

Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please!

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Lisa Miller will lead a walk in the FH Desert Botanical Garden where you will discover the remarkable ways plants and animals rely on each other to thrive in the harsh climate of the Sonoran Desert. Some win, some lose in this intricate web of interdependence.

Bring water, snacks, a hat and wear sturdy shoes or boots with grippy soles. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Lisa Miller is a SCFH Steward volunteer, Naturalist, and a Legacy Steward with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. She is also a volunteer with the Dark Sky Discovery Center.

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Back by popular demand, Dan Gruber will lead you on an informative hike in the Preserve. Dan will talk about the different rocks, the stories they tell about local geological history and their importance to the area, and reveal some unique features along the way. We'll have a relaxed pace with numerous stops for a 2 mile round-trip on the moderate Andrews-Kinsey Trail.

Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy shoes or boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Dan Gruber is a SCFH Steward volunteer and Legacy Steward with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy where he founded the Field Institute. He has written numerous peer-reviewed papers on local geology and ecology and is an adjunct faculty at ASU.

This is a moderate 5.2 mile round trip hike to the historic Dixie Mine in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. The mine opened in 1877 and mined silver, tin, copper and gold. Only trace amounts of valuable minerals were ever found in the mine. It remained operational until 1977 when the area became known as McDowell Mountain Regional Park.

$5 park entry fee. Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

Join Vicky Derksen on this moonless evening to observe the night skies. You might see a planet or two and locate and identify constellations and their stars while Vicky recounts some cultural star stories. After the hike, a telescope will be available for participants to bring the cosmos into close view.

Bring pre-registered children age 8+, wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe sturdy shoes. Be prepared to hike 2 miles roundtrip in the dark on the Promenade Trail, a slightly rocky but relatively flat old jeep road after a slight climb at the beginning. Bring water and hiking poles if needed. Red flashlights welcome; white lights and flash photography should stay tucked away to preserve everyone's night vision. No dogs, please.

Vicky Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast and website and owns a local stargazing business. She is also an SCFH Steward Volunteer. You can find her online at Night Sky Tourist.

Are you an early riser looking for an earlier hike that won't last all morning? This season there will again be monthly hikes at a moderate pace that have an earlier start. This month we will hike the moderately difficult Ridgeline Trail which starts at the Overlook Trail and continues on the Ridgeline Trail to the Scenic View for a 3.3 mile out and back hike.

This route features frequent ups and downs as it follows the ridge and some rocky sections. Hikers will see plenty of interesting rock formations and vegetation indigenous to the Sonoran Desert.

Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Desert Discovery offers a guided introduction to the Sonoran Desert, led by experienced, knowledgeable volunteers. Designed for curious minds and easy exploration, these short hikes, with frequent stops in our Preserve and FH Desert Botanical Garden, reveal the many facets of this unique desert. Programs also explore the desert through photography and local art, offering a creative lens on this remarkable environment.

During this walk through the Desert Botanical Garden with birders Pete Herstein and Lisa Miller, you will be searching for birds, not only by sight, but by sound. November is an excellent time for birding here, with viewing of over 15 different species a distinct possibility. Highlights could include Rock Wren, Gilded Flicker, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-crowned Sparrow and Lincoln's Sparrow. 

Pete will also demonstrate the use of the ebird, Merlin and birdNET apps. Bring water, a hat, and binoculars if possible. Wear shoes or boots with grippy soles. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

Pete Herstein is a 30 year avid birder. He is also a Naturalist for the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden where he leads birding hikes both in the Garden, at Fountain Park and other interesting birding locations around the area. Lisa Miller is a SCFH Steward volunteer, Naturalist, and a Legacy Steward with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. She is also a volunteer with the Dark Sky Discovery Center.

What better way to get into a festive mood than to enjoy the Avenue of the Fountain holiday lights, learn about some of the town's art installations, and share hot chocolate and cookies! We will meet outside the Community Center entrance for a 2 mile walk exploring the outdoor artwork in downtown Fountain Hills. We will start in the Centennial Circle near the Community Center then make our way down the Avenue of the Fountains and stop at various places around Fountain Park. We will wrap up by enjoying holiday tunes, hot chocolate, coffee and cookies!

At 150 pieces, Fountain Hills is home to one of the largest public art collections in the state of Arizona. Learn more about the artwork and view a map at: Fountain Hills Public Art. Bring a bottle of water, wear your best holiday finery and comfortable walking shoes. No dogs, please.

The Butcher Jones Trail is a popular, moderate hike that follows the shoreline of Saguaro Lake. The trail can be brushy at the beginning with a couple very short descents and climbs. It opens up to wonderful views of the lake, canyon and ends at a spectacular view of the Four Peaks mountains. This is a 5.8 mile out & back moderate-paced hike.

A Tonto National Park day pass or America the Beautiful/Senior Lifetime pass is required to park at the Butcher Jones Trailhead. There is a 30 minute (17-mile) drive to the trailhead - all on paved roads from Fountain Hills.

Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

The Mesquite Hollow Trail is one of the favorite trails in the Fountain Hills McDowell Mountain Preserve. Named for the nearly 100 year old Mesquite tree located on the trail just beyond the spur, this newer trail receives rave reviews from hikers and is a fine example of trails hand built by Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills Trailblazers.

This will be a 5.1 mile moderately difficult hike at a moderate pace. We will follow the Promenade Trail to the Mesquite Hollow Trail and return to the trailhead via the Lower Sonoran Trail.

Bring 2 liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy boots; hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This is a 5.5 mile difficult hike that climbs to Fremont Saddle and a breathtaking view of Weavers Needle in the Superstition Mountains. From the saddle we will do a short hike to the Lone Pine, another spectacular setting. We'll return the way we came. The climb up to Fremont Saddle has an elevation gain similar to Tom's Thumb so you should be familiar with that hike before signing up for this one. However, we will do this hike at a moderate, rather than exercise pace. You will have plenty of time at the saddle and at Lone Pine to savor the views.

Due to a 7 mile dirt road drive to the trailhead, it will take us about 1.5 hours to reach the trailhead. High clearance vehicles are preferred due to the dirt road. Bring 2-3 liters of water, snacks and lunch. Wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs please. Please reimburse drivers for gas.

How about a late afternoon 2 hour hike ending at sunset to close out your day? During the cooler months this season we plan to lead an easy to moderate-paced hike, breaking into 2 groups as needed, that starts 2 hours before sunset. We will hike out 1 hour and then turn back to the trailhead. This month we will take the Promenade Trail to the North Leg Trail and follow it to the end and return the same way.

The North Leg Trail follows a ridge about 1 mile, descending almost the entire way. Even though this hike is short, be prepared for an uphill hike on the return!

Bring 2 liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy hiking shoes or boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.

This is a one-way 5 mile hike at a moderate to brisk pace with considerable elevation gain from the Sunrise Trailhead to the Adero Canyon Trailhead. We will meet at the Adero Canyon Trailhead and carpool for a shuttle to the Sunrise Trailhead. We will divide the group as needed to keep the pace more comfortable for everyone.

The hike begins with a steady and strenuous climb to Sunrise Peak. The climb up to the peak is optional. There will be several scenic views to enjoy whether or not you climb to the peak. The hike then connects to the Andrews-Kinsey trail and, with some ups and downs along the way, gradually descends to the Adero Canyon Trailhead.

Bring 2 liters of water and snacks; wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles are recommended. No dogs please. Note that we will try to find shuttle drivers but some hikers may have to drive to Sunrise and be driven back after the hike to get their cars.

How about a mid morning hike when our daytime temperatures are more enjoyable? During the cooler months of November, December, and January, join us for our new winter midmorning hikes. These easy to moderate-paced hikes begin later in the morning, when temperatures are still comfortable. Depending on attendance, we'll divide into two groups to accommodate different hiking preferences.

This month we will hike the moderately difficult Ridgeline Trail which starts at the Overlook Trail and continues on the Ridgeline Trail to the Scenic View for a 3.3 mile out and back hike. This route features frequent ups and downs as it follows the ridge and some rocky sections. Hikers will see plenty of interesting rock formations and vegetation indigenous to the Sonoran Desert.

Bring two liters of water and snacks. Wear a hat & sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs, please.