McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

The Free Guided Hikes by the MDSC are so rad! How come only one other Unilocaler has given it up for this great group? I have been going on hikes for weeks now, each one at a different trailhead with a very different focus. My first was the Photography Hike at the Gateway Trailhead, which is a brand new site with an ADA accessible trail that hasn’t even opened yet. I’ve also attended the Medicinal Plants Hike at Lost Dog Trailhead, the Balanced Rock Hike up at Alma School Rd and today’s 6 mile hike along Quartz Trail.
Doug pointed it out and I will reiterate that the hikes are all differently themed and have different lengths and difficulties, which means you will be able to find the right one for you no matter your age or physical capacity. The Stewards are a privately funded non-​profit group that dedicate themselves to cleaning and clearing trails, providing information, leading hikes, offering private group hikes and helping educate Scottsdale and the greater valley about the Sonoran Desert, specifically the 14,000 acres the MDS currently maintains.
All the stewards I’ve met are friendly and effusive. God bless them for their volunteer efforts. You’d be crazy to miss out on free all-​natural goodness; check out their site and plan your next hike! I’ll see you there every Saturday and Sunday morning.

I started hiking on the «free» weekend hikes in late November and have enjoyed several group hikes in the McDowell Mountains. I selected different locations new to me and plan to return on my own in the spring when there should be (hopefully) a spectacular wildflower show if the rains continue. The meeting points varied, as well as the length of the hikes, but in general lasted less than four hours. The one common thread was hiking with a group of people that care about the desert and the sights it has to offer. For more information check out
for future hikes and maybe see you on an upcoming hike.