Maricopa County, Arizona McDowell Mountain Regional Park Events Update

On 11/29/2013 8:00:00 AM: Today's hike is *STRENUOUS*. For experienced hikers only. Fridays Fitness Hike – Various locations in Park- ALL Fridays Come to one or all of the Fitness Hiking Series, every Friday. We build up to a longer hike at the end of the month. Please wear sturdy shoes & bring plenty of water. Meet at the Dixie Mine Trailhead-- at the end of Golden Eagle Blvd, in Fountain Hills (outside of park), for this strenuous hike on the Sonoran Trail.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.,Scottsdale, AZ 85269
Photo courtesy of www.visitphoenix.com

On 11/22/2013 8:00:00 AM: Fridays Fitness Hike – Various locations in Park- ALL Fridays Come to one or all of the Fitness Hiking Series, every Friday. We build up to a longer hike at the end of the month. Please wear sturdy shoes & bring plenty of water. Meet at the Dixie Mine Trailhead-- at the end of Golden Eagle Blvd, in Fountain Hills (outside of park).
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.,Scottsdale, AZ 85269
Photo courtesy of www.visitphoenix.com

On 11/15/2013 8:00:00 AM: Fridays Fitness Hike – Various locations in Park- ALL Fridays Come to one or all of the Fitness Hiking Series, every Friday. We build up to a longer hike at the end of the month. Please wear sturdy shoes & bring plenty of water.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.,Scottsdale, AZ 85269
Photo courtesy of www.visitphoenix.com

On 11/8/2013 8:00:00 AM: Fridays Fitness Hike – Various locations in Park- ALL Fridays Come to one or all of the Fitness Hiking Series, every Friday. We build up to a longer hike at the end of the month. Please wear sturdy shoes & bring plenty of water.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.,Scottsdale, AZ 85269
Photo courtesy of www.visitphoenix.com

On 12/6/2013 8:00:00 AM: Fridays Fitness Hike – North Trail. Come to one or all of the Fitness Hiking Series, every Friday. We build up to a longer hike at the end of the month. Please wear sturdy shoes & bring plenty of water. Meet at the North Trailhead for this 1 hour easy hike.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.,Scottsdale, AZ 85269
Photo courtesy of www.visitphoenix.com

On 12/7/2013 10:00:00 AM: Most of the photos that get posted to McDowell Mountain Park’s Facebook page were taken on Ranger Amy’s smartphone. It’s amazing what you can capture with the camera you are already carrying around in your pocket. Learn how to make the most of your megapixels with just a few lessons in composition and style. And what better setting to learn photographic technique than in a beautiful natural park setting! Wear comfortable walking shoes, dress appropriately, and bring a smartphone with photo-taking abilities and the photo application(s) of your choice for this hands-on workshop. Meet at the North Trail.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Scottsdale 85255

On 12/5/2013 10:00:00 AM: The Sonoran Desert is a virtual grocery store and pharmacy… if you know where to look. See (and sample) some of what people used to eat before grocery stores came to Phoenix, and find out which ones are still consumed. Try a chocolate chip cookie made with mesquite flour, or a cracker with agave nectar, along this easy, 2 mile stroll. Meet at the North Trail Trailhead.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Scottsdale 85255

On 11/1/2013 8:00:00 AM: Fridays Fitness Hike – Various locations in Park- ALL Fridays Come to one or all of the Fitness Hiking Series, every Friday. We build up to a longer hike at the end of the month. Please wear sturdy shoes & bring plenty of water. This week's hike starts at the Trailhead Staging Area, and hikes the 4.8 mile Scenic Trail.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.,Scottsdale, AZ 85269
Photo courtesy of www.visitphoenix.com

On 11/21/2013 10:00:00 AM: The Sonoran Desert is a virtual grocery store… if you know where to look. See(and taste)some of what people used to eat and to treat illness with before grocery stores came to Phoenix, and find out which ones are still consumed today. Guaranteed to make you think twice about how easy it was to make that Thanksgiving meal. Try a chocolate chip cookie made with mesquite flour, or a cracker with prickly pear jelly, along this easy, 2 mile stroll. Meet at the North Trail Trailhead.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Scottsdale 85255

On 11/21/2013 10:00:00 AM: Meet the true creepy crawlies of the Desert in this indoor interpretive program for all ages. They may not be as scary as you think, once you see them up close...behind glass, of course. Find out why 'the smaller scorpions are the most dangerous' is an urban legend, what to do if you are bitten or stung, and why tarantulas may not be so bad after all. Ranger Amy will have some venomous critters such as scorpions, tarantulas, and snakes on hand so that you can get a closer look...if you dare!
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Scottsdale 85255

On 11/14/2013 9:00:00 AM: Dixie Mine Hidden Petroglyph Hike - The Dixie Mine area is one of the best kept secrets in the Park. This 5.8 mi roundtrip hike has some steep slopes, but the reward is well worth it. Bring more water than you think you'll need, and snacks, and meet at the Golden Eagle trailhead in Fountain Hills. Call the Park for directions to the Trailhead.
Dixie Mine Trailhead
Northern end of Golden Eagle Blvd. at end of road
Fountain Hills 85268

On 12/7/2013 6:00:00 AM: Saturday, December 7th the Competitive Track will be closed for a foot race which will take place on all the tracks that compose the Competitive track. The runners will actually be out running on many of the parks trails but none are closed other than the Competitive Track.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16,300 N. McDowell Mountain Park Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

On 11/16/2013 7:00:00 AM: An annual event of eqestrian endurance riding will take place at McDowell Mountain Regional Park. The horseback riders will be riding 30, 50 and 75 miles on the park's recreation trail network. No trails will be closed but as always please yield to the horseback riders.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16,300 N. McDowell Mountain Park Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

On 11/2/2013 6:00:00 AM: A 12 hour mountain bike race will be held on the Competitive Track on Saturday, November 2nd. As a result the parking area and the track will be closed to non-participating park visitors.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16,300 N. McDowell Mountain Park Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

On 10/27/2013 6:00:00 AM: The 11th Annual 100 mile race will be held on the Pemberton Trail Saturday and until noon on Sunday. As a result of the congestion in the Trailhead Staging Area all day on Sunday and until early afternoon on Sunday it will be closed to non-participating park visitors. The Pemberton Trail will remain open to all park visitors but we ask that you access the trail from other locations around the park. And please, yield to the runners who are trying to run 100 miles!
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16,300 N. McDowell Mountain Park Drive
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

On 11/23/2013 1:00:00 PM: RSVP requested (but not required) for supply purposes. Would you believe that desert foods are not only nutritious, but can taste great, too? Drop in to the Nature Center on your way back from your hike, and try a homemade mesquite flour pancake topped with agave syrup, prickly pear pad salsa, or a cracker with prickly pear jelly. Small tastings will be served in our comfortable Visitor Center. This program is free with $6 per vehicle entry fee, but an rsvp is requested for program supplies.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Scottsdale 85255

On 11/22/2013 10:00:00 AM: Brown Bag Historic Pemberton Ranch Hike- Hike begins at the Trailhead Staging area. Join Ranger Amy on an interpretive hike to historic Pemberton Ranch. Children should have some previous hiking experience, as hiking time is 2 1/2 hours, and 3 miles. Bring a bag lunch for a picnic out at the ranch site, and of course, plenty of water and sturdy shoes for the hike. No pets please.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Scottsdale 85255

On 11/23/2013 9:30:00 AM: We in Arizona have bragging rights that we live in the ‘wild west’, with cactus that ‘jump’, and snakes that rattle. But how ‘dangerous’ is the desert, really? Join Ranger Amy for a “hands-on” introduction to the unique flora and fauna that make up this place we call the Sonoran Desert. Meet at the North Trail Trailhead.
McDowell Mountain Regional Park
16300 McDowell Mountain Park Dr.
Fountain Hills 85268