Maricopa County Parks and Recreation: City Nature Challenge Practice Hike

Join Ranger Eric on an easy 0.4-mile walk on Lions Trail while we learn about the free iNaturalist app you can use to identify any living organism on the planet with your smartphone, while also increasing our knowledge of where they live. If you are wanting to participate in the April 24-27 Greater Phoenix City Nature Challenge, we will have information to get you started too! This bioblitz-style competition challenges local communities to make the most observations of biodiversity in their area during this 4-day period using iNaturalist, and then this data is available for science, management, and conservation. This particular City Nature Challenge will focus on the Phoenix Metro area, including all of our Maricopa County Parks. For more info, check out the following link: https://greaterphoenixcnc.com/

*If you would like to learn how to document nature observations via iNaturalist, please download the free app at home and register an account prior to arrival, as cell reception is spotty here.

MEETING LOCATION: Visitor Center

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6su7XD7hjThe5zsZ8

Limit 20 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at 602-506-2930 ext. 6 with your name, phone number, and number of people attending. If you find you cannot attend a program after you have registered, please call the Nature Center ASAP so we may contact those on the waiting list. Registration for this program will close on 4/15.

April is Citizen Science Month! Citizen Science Month 2026 is an official partner of America 250, the campaign to celebrate the United States of America’s semi-quincentennial anniversary. Help us reach 2.50 Million Acts of Science by reporting your iNaturalist observations to SciStarter! Create an account on SciStarter.org, an ASU research affiliate, and add your iNat username to settings (under “Affiliation Integration”)—do this once, and all your observations count! Why join SciStarter? Earn credit, explore more projects, and help measure impact! Questions? Reach out! greaterphxcnc@googlegroups.com

PLEASE NOTE: Outdoor programs may be canceled on short notice due to severe weather, including extreme heat events. The Maricopa County Parks website (www.maricopa.gov/parks) is the most accurate resource for verifying the program’s status. Please check the program listing online before coming to the park.