Events

***This program has been canceled due to excessive heat.***

Ranger Jacque leads the way on this program, sure to please the senses as you
embark on a nighttime hike with the majestic moon, mysterious sounds, and creatures of the night. Click program title for more details

Join Ranger Olivia on an evening stroll to watch the full moon rise over the
mountains.

Bug Theater returns! Come join Ranger Shaun at the Amphitheater to see what we
can bring in from the dark! Click program title for more details.

Join Ranger Nikki on an easy walk to look for and identify our desert feathered friends and their homes. Click program title for more details.

Birds of Estrella Mountain Regional Park, Bird Walk, Second Saturday of each month, 8AM (Dec-Feb), 7:30 (Mar/April), 7AM (May). Meet at Park Nature Center. Explore birds/bird life with special guest Joe Ford. The Park has a wide range of habitats. You will encounter some of the best birding in the valley! Beginner birders and longtime enthusiasts will enjoy this opportunity to spot and identify many species. Bring close toed shoes, water and a snack. An indoor Presentation follows the hike

Come by and visit Ranger Kevin to learn about some of the animals native to the Sonoran Desert. Click program title for more details.

We’re celebrating our nation’s independence by focusing on the bald eagle. Join Ranger Kevin for a lunchtime look at these magnificent birds of prey. Click program title for more details. 

Join Ranger Nikki inside the air-conditioned Nature Center for a Fact vs. Fiction presentation and slideshow about bats. Click program title for more details.

Meet Ranger Jacque and our animal ambassadors at feeding time! Click program
title for more details.

Interested in learning the basics of kayaking? This introductory class will give you the knowledge you need to get started with confidence. Class includes time practicing on the water at Lake Pleasant. Click for more information

Scorpions! Blacklights! You know the rest! Come with Ranger Shaun for a Safari in
the Dark! Click Program Title for more details!

Join Ranger Jacque for a scenic hike, where we'll uncover the secrets of the mighty
saguaro and its place in the desert ecosystem. Click program title for more details.

McDowell Mountain Summer Night Rides are back! In partnership with McDowell Mountain Cycles, we are excited to invite riders of all levels and abilities to come out and experience the trails!

Learn about wildlife of the Sonoran Desert and easy citizen science you can help with on this late afternoon-evening hike with Ranger Eric. Click on program title for more details!

Join Ranger Derik on a hike through the park at night and search for scorpions.

Stop by the visitor center to cool off after your morning hikes and learn about the
many reptile species that call the park home. Click program title for more details.

Join Rangers Kevin and Derik for a leisurely morning paddle up Castle Creek. Click program title for more details. 

Join Ranger Olivia for a hike to see and learn about the stunning saguaros during
sunset. Click program title for more details.

Join Ranger Olivia to meet some of the animal ambassadors that reside at Usery’s
Nature Center! Click on program title for more details.

Join Ranger Kevin for an evening of fun and adventure as we set off in search of desert wildlife. Click program title for more details.

Join Ranger Nikki on a slow-paced walk to observe scorpions and other nocturnal animals. Click program title for more details.

Join Ranger Nikki on a 2-mile trail walk to search for a variety of nocturnal critters. Click program title for more details.

Learn about the resident and migrant birds of desert riparian areas on this guided walk with Ranger Eric. Click on program title for more details.

Join Ranger Kevin for an introduction to birding in one of Arizona’s premiere birding locations. Click program title for more details.

Stop by to chat with Ranger Eric and ask your nature-related questions or show your nature photos! Click on program title for more details.

Today is World Ranger Day, and we’re celebrating by sharing some of our favorite places, pictures and experiences of the fabulous Maricopa County parks system with you. Click program title for more details.

Join Ranger Derik in the park as the sun sets and desert comes alive with the
nocturnal creatures. Click program title for more details.