Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...

Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...

Who’s it for? Children, birth to age five, and their favorite grownups What will you do? Play, read, sing, and dance with your children in a fun, active program that builds reading skills. What is your child learning? Children who love books and stories become better readers.

Who’s it for? Children, birth to age five, and their favorite grownups What will you do? Play, read, sing, and dance with your children in a fun, active program that builds reading skills. What is your child learning? Children who love books and stories become better readers.

Enjoy an early morning walk to watch for birds, lizards, snakes, and small animals with Ranger Olivia.   Let’s see what sorts of wildlife we can spot. Birds should be active at this time and there’s not a bad chance for lizards, and small animals too. This hike will be along Quail trail and will be...

Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...

Join us to walk around Liberty Wildlife during our public open hours and see us fulfilling our mission! In the months of May, June, July and September, we are open from 9am until 11am. Our admission is $5 per person age 5 and up. There are no set programs, but volunteers are on hand to...

Join Ranger Nikki for an easy stroll to experience a beautiful sunset and enjoy desert views.  Join Ranger Nikki on a 2-mile walk on easy terrain among saguaros and other cacti as the sun sets on the horizon. We will also be looking and listening for signs of nocturnal critters becoming active, such as nighthawks,...

Join Ranger Derik on an evening hike through the park and search for nocturnal creatures under the stars.  The hike is rated as moderated only for the final 100ft elevation gain to the top of Lykes Lookout, however the rest of the hike is on even flat ground. The hike itself will cover sections of...

Come with Ranger Shaun for a morning stroll and see if we can find a burro (or a burrow, who’s picky?) along the Wild Burro Trail!   There are tons of things to see at Lake Pleasant, but everyone loves the burros! Along Wild Burro trail you’ll get a chance to walk through several different communities...

Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...

Join Ranger Shaun for a walk and talk up Yavapai Point trail to see a great view of the Lake and learn about the ecology of the park.  Lake Pleasant is a big park. While it may not be Lake Superior, it’s no puddle either. It can be tough to appreciate how big it really...

Join Ranger Olivia for a hike to look for wildlife on National Wildlife Day!   Ranger Olivia leads this hike to look for and learn about any and all wildlife. National Wildlife Day is observed to bring awareness to the declining numbers that many species are facing, not just in our desert but all around the...

Join us for a very special, monarch butterfly-themed, storytime! Free seed packets will also be provided so that YOU can do your part to attract these wonderful pollinators! Who’s it for? Children, birth to age five, and their favorite grownups What will you do? Play, read, sing, and dance with your children in a fun, active program...

Join Ranger Kevin for an evening of fun and adventure as we set off in search of desert wildlife.   Come celebrate National Wildlife Day by taking a roughly three-mile hike along the Spur Cross and Dragonfly Loop trails. We’ll be on the lookout for all kinds of evening-active critters, from skunks to scorpions, spiders, snakes,...

Join Ranger Derik on nighttime hike through the desert in search of nocturnal creatures.  The hike will cover 2.87 miles along the North loop trail on flat gravel trails with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. Hikers should bring water, flashlights, blacklights and wear supportive closed-toe shoes. The trailhead does not have any water but there...

A walk to the rumored “Waterfall” at the top of Waterfall trail with Ranger Shaun.   “Once, many hikes ago, I saw water flow all the way down the steps and into the wash!” Or so Ranger Shaun says. Do you believe him? Sure, maybe there are puddles sometimes, but a waterfall? Frogs? Aquatic bugs? Well,...

This two-part 5th grade genetics unit, fully aligned with Arizona Science Standards and designed to support three-dimensional science instruction, explores how traits are inherited and influenced by the environment in both animals and plants. In Sequence 1, students investigate animal genetics by examining patterns between parents and offspring, including hands-on trait-sorting stations, trait graphing activities,...

Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...

Come visit with Ranger Shaun and see a collection of rattlesnake artifacts while finding out the truth behind some of the myths and legends!   Rattlesnakes feature in some pretty crazy stories it seems and we’re coming up on a pretty active time of year for them. Do you know what to do if you see...

Get outside this summer with our staff on a family friendly educational hike! On this sunrise hike, learn about our unique collection plants, Sonoran Desert ecology, and meet our resident Sonoran Desert Tortoises. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, sun protective clothing, and bring plenty of water. Sign up for this free hike at the...

Did you know Arizona actually has five seasons? The thunderstorms of Tucson’s monsoon have the power to transform the Sonoran Desert during Arizona’s fifth season: the wet summer! Monsoon Magic is a mini-nature exhibit where you’ll learn about the wildlife and meteorology of the southwest’s summer rains. Come anytime between 7-9 a.m.! Follow signs for...

Join docent Anne Leight for a walk around the preserve to look for and learn about birds.   Look for and learn about birds of this desert oasis with seasoned birder, bird bander, and preserve docent Anne Leight on this guided, easy walk. Please bring your own binoculars if you have them, but some are available...

Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...

Join us to walk around Liberty Wildlife during our public open hours and see us fulfilling our mission! In the months of May, June, July and September, we are open from 9am until 11am. Our admission is $5 per person age 5 and up. There are no set programs, but volunteers are on hand to...

Who’s it for? Children, birth to age five, and their favorite grownups What will you do? Play, read, sing, and dance with your children in a fun, active program that builds reading skills. What is your child learning? Children who love books and stories become better readers. Please visit the desk for a program ticket. Unless posted, this...

Learn how to identify common desert and backyard birds with Ranger Eric. C  Join Ranger Eric at the Usery Nature Center back patio to watch birds around the feeders and learn bird identification basics, field guides and apps, and citizen science opportunities. Chairs and benches will be available and the area is also wheelchair accessible. We...

Do butterflies really come out of cocoons? Learn more about the differences between Butterflies and Moths from your local Park Ranger during Monarch Awareness month this September. Put your skills to the test, get quizzed on what you’ve learned, highest score wins a prize!

Questions about the Sonoran Desert or the things that live there? Ask Ranger Kevin!   Come to the patio of the Nature Center and say hello to Ranger Kevin from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Bring your burning desert questions, or let’s just talk. We’ll also have a table full of interesting objects like bones, feathers, snake sheds,...

Learn about reptiles and amphibians on this guided hike with Ranger Eric.   Join Ranger Eric to go herping (looking for reptiles and amphibians) on this a short hike of part of Blevins and Amigos Wash Trails. We will discuss identification and behavior of Sonoran Desert herpetofauna as we go and discuss safety around venomous wildlife....

Kartchner Caverns invites you to join us for a walk in the park as we uncover and learn about some of the 13 different neighboring bat species in the park. We will use bat detectors while on a walk through the beautiful desert night to see and hear some of them while learning about the diversity of these flying mammals. Boldly go where the...

Learn about the dragonflies and damselflies of this desert oasis on a guided walk with Ranger Eric.   Did you know over 140 species of dragonflies and damselflies have been found in Arizona? Of those, over 50 species have been found at the Preserve! Join Ranger Eric on a guided walk along River Ramble and Palm...

Every morning, a volunteer naturalist leads a guided nature walk informing visitors about the different life zones of Red Rock State Park. The subjects discussed on this walk may include geology, wildlife, history, archeology, and plant life. The naturalists welcome questions during the walk, enhancing the learning experience. Hikes are included with park entrance fees...

Join us to walk around Liberty Wildlife during our public open hours and see us fulfilling our mission! In the months of May, June, July and September, we are open from 9am until 11am. Our admission is $5 per person age 5 and up. There are no set programs, but volunteers are on hand to...

Questions about the Sonoran Desert or the things that live there? Ask Ranger Kevin!   Come to the Trailhead Staging Area and say hello to Ranger Kevin from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Bring your burning desert questions, or let’s just talk. We’ll also have a table full of interesting objects like bones, feathers, snake sheds, cactus boots...

Join Ranger Nikki on an easy/moderate hike to enjoy the full moonrise and the desert aglow.  Ranger Nikki leads this hike to enjoy the desert at night while the full moon starts its journey across the sky. We will listen for coyotes, owls and nightjars. Bring your blacklight and regular flashlight to look for other...

Zoo By Moonlight is an evening event held at Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary from May through September. It provides a great opportunity to see the Sanctuary’s nocturnal residents. Enjoy our Clouded Leopards, wolves, coyotes and much more by the light of the full moon. It’s a howling good time! Don’t forget to bring your flashlights,...