Statewide Calendar
52 Scheduled Events
Daily 8:30 a.m. (Sept - 9 a.m. )
Daily Guided Nature Hikes at Red Rock
Red Rock State Park
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 include geology, wildlife, history, archaeology, and plant life.
July 11 and 25, 2025 9:00 a.m.
Nature Walk
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Join a U.S. Forest Service ranger for a walk at Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area! Learn about the park and spot birds and wildlife along the way.
Saturdays, July 5 - September 27 7-9 a.m.
Monsoon Magic
Catalina State Park
Learn about monsoon meteorology and see real animals and desert plants that thrive with the seasonal rain.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Desert Dialogues: Desert Wellness
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Join Kartchner Caverns for a Desert Dialogues educational presentation on personal health and safety in southern Arizona.
Wednesdays and Saturdays 7 a.m. (September - 8 a.m.)
Guided Bird Walks at Red Rock
Red Rock State Park
Join us at Red Rock State Park for guided bird walks! Learn about Sedona's diverse and beautiful bird species while taking a stroll through this gorgeous park with a veteran bird enthusiast.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 7:30 p.m.
Weird & Wonderful Wildlife of Fool Hollow
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Come explore the weird looking or sounding wildlife of Fool Hollow. Even common wildlife can have seemingly weird adaptations for survival.
Saturday, July 12, 2025 4:00 p.m.
Black Bears
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Chronicles the life of a black bear in the form of a story of a black bear that visited Fool Hollow. Explores how to keep bears from being habituated and staying safe in bear country.
Sundays 8 a.m.
Sunday Guided Hikes
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
Hike the trails of Dead Horse Ranch State Park with an experienced hiking guide.
Wednesdays 9-10 a.m.
Apple Packing Shed Open House
Slide Rock State Park
Experience a piece of Arizona history. Get an opportunity to explore the Pendley Homestead Apple Packing Shed. A ranger will be available to answer any questions about the homestead history. Come and see the Bean Cutler 1933 Sorter and Bean Cutler Polisher added in 1946.
Sunday, July 13, 2025 9-10:30 a.m.
Riordan Mansion Special Tour: Historic Milton Walking Tour
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
A 90-minute guided walk from Riordan Mansion to explore the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company property and the town site of Milton.
Sundays and Thursdays 11 a.m. (Thursdays. & Sundays) | 2 p.m. (Sundays)
Tours of Goodfellow Lodge at Tonto Natural Bridge
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Join us for a ranger or volunteer led walk through the Goodfellow Lodge, with a history of the property, the Lodge, and the people that called Tonto Natural Bridge home. Reservations are required!
July 14, 2025 12:15 p.m.
Lunchtime Lecture: Desert View: An Investigation
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Based on his field investigations and talks with knowledgeable Hopi, writer Scott Thybony will compare the Watchtower artwork with the original images that inspired them.
Thursdays 9 a.m.
Guided Bird Walks at Tonto Natural Bridge
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Join a ranger on a ~1 mile, mostly paved, walk through some of the most biodiverse terrain in central Arizona. A combination of plant communities and habitats surrounding the world’s largest travertine bridge supports a wide variety of bird species that call the park home and we will be searching for.
First and Third Friday of the Month Varies by Date
Catalina Nights
Catalina State Park
Experience Catalina State Park’s desert wildlife and dark skies with a one-mile, guided hike on the Nature Trail. Registration required.
July 18, 2025 9 a.m.
Nature Hike at Fool Hollow
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Join a nature hike at Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area!
July 18, 2025 2 p.m - 6 p.m.
Life Jacket Exchange
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Life Jacket Exchange at Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Saturday July 19, 2025 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fort Verde's Living History Presentation - Quartermaster: Search for the Well-Dressed Soldier
Fort Verde State Historic Park
Join our living history volunteers and take a look at the uniforms of the time, and the details that went into them.
July 19, 2025 4 p.m.
Children's Program: Wildlife Dectectives
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Check out this children's program that teaches about wildlife in the area.
Saturday, July 19, 2025 7:15 - 9 p.m.
Scorpion Hike at Oracle State Park
Oracle State Park
Join us for an exciting evening searching for and learning about scorpions! We'll discuss interesting information about these arachnids, including their food sources and ecosystems, plus methods to naturally keep these little critters away from your home and other structures. As we hike the trail, we'll stop to watch the scorpions glow under our black lights!
July 19, 2025 7:30 p.m.
Antlers - Points of Change
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Deer and elk of the White Mountains
July 19, 2025 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Paddlesports Safety Classes
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Join us for a variety of paddlesport safety classes from the Arizona Game & Fish Department.
July 5 | July 19 | August 16 | August 30-31, 2025 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Fishing Clinics at Lyman Lake
Lyman Lake State Park
Join us and learn how to fish - equipment is provided!
Monthly, third Saturdays, April-November 6 p.m.
Star Party and Guest Speaker at Homolovi State Park
Homolovi State Park
Come out to Homolovi's Visitor Center Museum and Observatory for a night under the stars. Enjoy astronomy presentations featuring special guests with telescope viewing to follow. Bring your sense of wonder!
Monthly (April - September) Varies by Date
Bat Walk
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Kartchner Caverns invites you to join us for a nighttime walk in the park to learn about bats! Guests will see and hear bats interacting within their natural environment while learning about the diversity of these awesome flying mammals. Registration required.
Friday, July 25, 2025 7:30-9:15 p.m.
Guided Night Life Hike
Red Rock State Park
Join this guided hike at Red Rock State Park to learn about and better understand scorpions and the role they play in our desert ecosystem. Reservation required.
July 26, 2025 7:30 p.m.
Where's the Wildlife at Fool Hollow?
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Wildlife is abundant at Fool Hollow even if we don’t always see them. Fool Hollow’s diverse wildlife is there if you know where and when to look for them. Come explore the interesting wildlife of Fool Hollow and the calls of the wild you may hear even if you don’t always see animals.
July 5 | July 26 | August 30 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Concert at the Lake
Lyman Lake State Park
Ready to have a toe-tapping good time this summer? Bring your camping chair and enjoy some live music next to the campfire.
July 26, 2025 4:00 PM
Children's Program - Trees
Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area
Ponderosa are more than just a trees, they affect every aspect of White Mountain habitats. What is a ponderosa pine? Why does the Southwest have the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the world?
Saturday, August 2, 2025 6-8 p.m.
Music in the Mountains: Ben Tully
Catalina State Park
Join us for an evening of live music with beautiful views of the Catalina Mountains.
First Sundays of the month (May-October) 9-11 a.m.
Butterfly Walk
Rockin' River Ranch State Park
Join Rockin' River Ranch State Park for a guided butterfly walk led by Butterfly Enthusiasts of Northern Arizona, a local chapter of the North American Butterfly Association.
July 9 | August 8 | Sept. 7 (event runs through October) Times vary
Moonlight Hikes at Red Rock
Red Rock State Park
Join us for a rare opportunity to enjoy the moonrise and sunset from the trail while learning about the natural world and the Sedona area.
August 10, 2025 3 p.m.
Riordan Mansion Special Tour: Art and Architecture
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Riordan Mansion and art have gone hand in hand since the mansion was created in 1904; through artwork that decorates the interior and the structure of the house itself. This specialty tour examines the Riordans’ art collection and the Arts and Crafts Movement which inspired the design for the Riordans’ home.
Friday August 15, 2025 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fort Verde's Living History Presentation- Commissary of Subsistence: A Bite to Eat
Fort Verde State Historic Park
Join our Living History Volunteers and learn about the food furnished by the Army Commissary of Subsistence Department to the troops at Fort Verde.
August 30, 2025 Launch at 6:30 p.m.
Patriotic Glow Boat Parade
Lyman Lake State Park
Join us Labor Day weekend at Lyman Lake for a patriotic water parade and decorating contest!
Saturday, September 6, 2025 6-8 p.m.
Music in the Mountains: Treehouse Fire
Catalina State Park
Join us for an evening of live music with beautiful views of the Catalina Mountains.
FULL - STAY TUNED FOR 2026 DATES 8-11:30 a.m. | 12:30-4 p.m.
Lint Camp
Kartchner Caverns State Park
Get involved with conservation work at Kartchner Caverns with this public volunteer opportunity held four times annually. The program involves gently brushing lint off of curbs and rocks near the trail system.
Saturday, September 13, 2025 6:00 p.m.
Star Party at Red Rock State Park
Red Rock State Park
Come out and enjoy the night skies at Red Rock State Park with JD Maddy and the Astronomers of Verde Valley. The Star Party begins with an introductory presentation on the celestial happenings in the mid-September skies, followed by star viewing through some high-powered telescopes. Registration opens August 12.
Saturday September 20, 2025 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fort Verde's Living History Presentation- Workin' on the Road
Fort Verde State Historic Park
Did you know that Infantry Troops were used to build roads? This program will feature a camp set up by a detail from Fort Verde to do maintenance on the road to Fort Apache.
Saturdays, October 4, 11, 18, 25 6 to 8 p.m.
Haunted House
Lyman Lake State Park
We’ll be having our Haunted House every Saturday in October from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lake House.
Saturday, October 4, 2025 5-7 p.m.
Music in the Mountains Concert Series: Janice Deardoff
Catalina State Park
Join us for our monthly concert series at the base of the Catalina Mountains with Janice Deardoff!
Second and fourth Mondays (Oct.-April) Times vary
Romero Site Interpretive Hike
Catalina State Park
Join our local interpretive guides for a hike to the Romero Ruins. With this program, you'll walk through one thousand years of Hohokam history in 90 minutes.
Oct. 18, 2025 Varies by Date
Star Party at Cattail Cove
Cattail Cove State Park
Join us for a star party to explore the night sky at Cattail Cove State Park. Bring your sense of wonder!
Sunday, October 19, 2025 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Fall Fest at Slide Rock
Slide Rock State Park
Fall is on its way, and it’s time to celebrate the changing seasons at Slide Rock State Park! Join us for the annual Fall Festival. Colored leaves, red rocks, and cooler temperatures will have the whole family enjoying the transition to autumn!
Sundays - check dates in description Times vary
Sunday Geology Walk at Catalina
Catalina State Park
How were the Santa Catalina Mountains formed? What are some of the different rocks in the park? Learn about the geology of the park with experienced geologist, Karen.
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Anza Day
Tubac Presidio State Historic Park
Join us for this free family event to learn about Juan Bautista de Anza's legendary expedition that departed the Tubac Presidio in 1775 with 240 people (men, women and children) to found San Francisco, California.
Second Saturdays, Monthly (November-April) 9 a.m. - noon
Shelter Dog Walking Program
Picacho Peak State Park
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We are partnering with Pinal County Animal Care and Control to help get shelter dogs out on the trail! Join us to walk dogs along the Nature Loop at the park.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025 3 p.m.
Riordan Mansion Special Tour: Stickley Room by Room
Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
In celebration of Gustav Stickley’s birthday, join us for a tour focused on the Stickley furniture and the Arts and Crafts Style. Reservations required.
Monthly Times vary
Music at Lost Dutchman with Steve Jones
Lost Dutchman State Park
Yampa Valley Steve (Steve Jones), a singer-songwriter, will entertain you at Lost Dutchman State Park.
