Explore Other Luminaries:

Dave Acosta & Daniel SanchezSusan & Ron Anderson Jim HollisterTom LehmanDhargya Lobsang

Dave McGaryPavle MilicSusan Morrow PotjeTom NewmanB.J. Tatro

A Spirit of Adventure

Each year, Experience Scottsdale profiles a selection of local celebrities, from restaurateurs and sports figures to artists and adventurers. We invite you to meet this year’s luminaries and find out what they have to say about living, working and enjoying life in Scottsdale.

Whether you’re looking for wicked single tracks that will put your bike-handling skills to the test, sport or trad climbing routes on excellent granite, or an energizing hike along lush desert arroyos, Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve answers your call for excitement and adventure.

“There are tremendous opportunities for adventure within the Preserve,” says B.J. Tatro, a six-year steward with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. “Mountain bikers love routes like the one they call the ‘Double Bypass,’ which takes you up more than 1,600 feet over the Windgate and Bell passes. For climbers, there are over 200 named climbs with a wide range of difficulty ratings on formations like Tom’s Thumb, Sven Slab and Granite Ballroom. Plus, the Preserve is popular with bird watchers, horseback riders, even artists who come to paint. It’s a great place to experience the Sonoran Desert.

When it comes to Tatro’s favorite way to explore the Preserve, she answers without hesitation. “Hiking! There are more than 60 miles of trails, ranging from easy to challenging, that will take you deep into the interior of the McDowell Mountains.”

No matter how you choose to explore Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Tatro has one key piece of advice. “Prepare yourself with proper clothing, foot- wear, sunscreen, snacks and plenty of water – then get ready for the time of your life!”