We will take a relatively easy 4 mile round trip hike to the Marcus Landslide in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. We will start from the Tom's Thumb trailhead but will head east on the Marcus Landslide Trail. Interpretative signs will mark our way. The landslide was identified in 2002 by two geology students. The landslide occurred about 500,000 years ago and is one of Arizona's largest landslides. It contained enough material to fill 6 football stadiums! For more information see: https://azgs.arizona.edu/landslides-debris-flows/marcus-landslide. Half hour drive to trailhead. Bring 2 liters of water and snacks. Boots with grippy soles recommended. Though this is a relatively easy hike the trail Is composed of decomposed granite which can be very slippery. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs please.

This will be a moderate 5 to 6 mile loop hike in the Spur Cross Recreational Area and the adjoining Jewel of the Creek Preserve north of Cave Creek. The loop will consist of three (possibly more) connecting trails. A writeup in Arizona Highway best describes what you might experience and see. https://www.arizonahighways.com/spur-cross-dragonfly-loop. Note that we will be crossing creeks (which could have running water) so wear boots you don't mind getting wet. One hour drive to the trailhead with a mid afternoon return. Bring 2 liters of water and lunch. Hiking poles recommended. No Dogs Please. $3 per person fee to enter Spur Cross.

Bernie Finkel will lead an interpretive walk through the Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden demonstrating how the Native Americans of the Sonoran Desert used and related to their plants to survive. Wear shoes or boots with grippy soles. Hiking poles recommended. Bring a bottle of water and snacks. No Dogs Please.

New to mountain biking? Looking to refresh your skills, improve your technique, enhance safety awareness, and increase your overall enjoyment on the trails? We begin with a demonstration and presentation by experienced riders covering the basic things you need to know, equipment requirements, and trail etiquette. The instructional segment will be followed by a short, guided ride of 3-5 miles, where you can practice the techniques discussed.

A bike with wide knobby tires is required. Please, no road bikes, hybrids, folding bikes, or electric assist bikes. Please check the working order of your bike before you leave home. Helmets required. Bring water and snacks. Restrooms at the trailhead. Pre-registration Required. Children attending must be 12 years or older.

Confirming email with clinic location at the Park will be sent two days before the event. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before the start of the ride. $7 fee per car or park pass required to enter the park.

We shall carpool to Gilberts Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, which is a premier bird viewing area in the Phoenix area. During a recent trip to the Water Ranch Kathe Anderson identified 50 species within a 2.5 hour period!. There may well be more species during the month of February. Kathe Anderson is a local birding expert who will have much information to share. She has led hundreds of field trips all over Arizona and teaches birding classes for ASU's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, the Desert Botanical Garden and others. Bring water, snacks and wear sturdy walking shoes. You may wish to bring binoculars and something to take notes. No dogs please.

This is a moderate 5.2 mile round trip hike to a historic mine in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Only ?trace amounts of valuable minerals were ever found. $2 park entry fee. Bring 2 liters of water and snacks. Wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No Dogs Please.

Learn how to capture photographs at dusk shooting into the setting sun. Your challenge, after a brief lesson by Paul Stark, will be to photograph the iconic image of the Fountain in the foreground with the sun setting behind the McDowell Mountains. A short walk up the Town Overlook Trail and a (fully charged) cell phone are required. Close-toed shoes and a hiking pole (if needed) are recommended. As the class is dependent on weather, you will be notified two hours prior by phone in the event of cancellation. Pre-registration required. No dogs please. Meet at the Red Yucca Ramada next to the bathrooms near the parking lot at the east side of Fountain Park.

Are you an early bird looking for an early morning hike that isn't too far, too fast, or too hard? Then this series of hikes is for you and perfect to introduce new hikers to local trails. Each month Cathy Pepperd will lead a nearby hike starting at sunrise. This month we head to the North Trail in the McDowell Mountain Regional Park. This is a beautiful 3 mile generally flat loop hike. We will enjoy watching the desert come to life during our early morning hike! Bring 2 liters of water and snacks. Wear sturdy shoes. No dogs please. $7 fee per vehicle or park pass required.

Carol Carriere will introduce you to the Garden and share information about its history, geology, plants, and volunteer opportunities as you walk the 1.5 miles of trail. Bring water and a snack. Wear sturdy shoes. A hiking pole is recommended as the trail can be slippery in spots. No dogs please!

Back by popular demand, Vicky Derksen and the Star Dudes team up with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills to lead monthly hikes in the McDowell Mountain Preserve during the first quarter moon - an amazing place to be when the Preserve is closed and the sky is dark. On these nights you might catch a glimpse of a planet, or identify constellations and stars, while Vicky recounts some myths and stories held by ancient cultures about our sky. At the end of the hike the Star Dudes will point their telescopes at the moon, star clusters, and other deep space objects. Wear comfortable clothes, closed-toed shoes, bring hiking poles if needed, and a red-lighted flashlight to protect everyone's night vision. Bring preregistered children 8 years and older but no pets please. This hike is dependent on relatively clear skies but, as this event is not easily rescheduled, we prefer to go if possible. You will be contacted by phone 90 minutes prior to start time if the event must be cancelled. Vicky Derksen is the host of the Night Sky Tourist podcast. She is also the President of the Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association and serves on the board of the International Dark Sky Discovery Center. You can find her online at NightSkyTourist.com.

Carol Carriere and Jan Jensen will lead this leisurely paced 2 to 4 mile hike in the Preserve. We can hope for a wonderful wildflower season. However, if the wildflowers fail to cooperate, there are many interesting plants to identify and discuss. Jan and Carol will show you how to use iNaturalist to identify plants so download this free app to your phone before you come. Bring 2 liters of water and snacks. Wear sturdy boots. Hiking poles recommended. No dogs please.

Join us for a full day walking outing to the historic mining town of Globe. We will explore Globe on foot walking about 5 miles. Globe's elevation is at 3500 feet and is a surprisingly hilly town. The town has made a great effort to beautify the town with fun painted murals and a few painted stairways that will get your heart pumping. It also has restored a former courthouse. Today it contains a theater and art gallery. We will also visit the local cemetery on foot and find the burial sites of prospectors, Chinese miners, the Buffalo Soldiers and many others. Lunch afterwards at Chalo's for those that have worked up an appetite. Two hour drive to Globe with late afternoon return. Wear sturdy shoes or boots with grippy shoes. Bring a liter of water and snacks. A hiking pole may be helpful in steep sections of town and in the cemetery. No dogs please!

During this walk through the Botanical Garden with birder Peter Herstein you will be searching for birds, not only by sight, but by sound. March is an excellent time for birding here, with over 20 different species a distinct possibility. Highlights could include Rock Wren, Lucy's Warbler, Gilded Flicker, and American Kestrel. Bring water and a hat, and binoculars if possible. Peter will also demonstrate the use of the ebird, Merlin and birdNET apps. Wear shoes or boots with grippy soles. Hiking poles recommended. Bring a bottle of water and snacks. No Dogs Please.

Are you an early bird looking for an early morning hike that isn't too far, too fast, or too hard? Then this series of hikes is for you and perfect to introduce new hikers to local trails. Each month Cathy Pepperd will lead a nearby hike starting at sunrise. This month we visit the Fountain Hills Desert Botanical Garden, a beautiful natural desert oasis. We will walk about 1.5 miles stopping at the interpretive signs to learn more about the indigenous plants in the Sonoran Desert. We may stop for a snack at the dam built in 1941 as a watering hole for cattle. Bring 1 liter of water and snacks. Wear sturdy shoes with grippy soles. A hiking pole is recommended. No dogs please.