CAVE CREEK, AZ – Families are invited to discover the Sonoran Desert together at the 14th annual Desert Discovery Day, a free community event hosted by Desert Foothills Land Trust. The event takes place at Jewel of the Creek Preserve in Cave Creek on November 14, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Directions: Travel North on Spur Cross Rd to the end and your won’t miss it – address is listed below.
An Event for All Ages
The event welcomes the whole family, from young children exploring nature for the first time to longtime desert residents. Jewel of the Creek Preserve is set on 26 acres of desert in northern Cave Creek, and features mature saguaros, mesquite forest, and lush cottonwood and willow trees along the Cave Creek riverbed. Visitors can follow discovery maps through stations set up across the preserve, try their hand at gold panning, meet animal ambassadors up close, and take part in interactive exhibits on local wildlife, history, and ecology. Activities are geared toward a wide range of ages and interests, so children and adults alike can find something to enjoy.
Beyond a day of activities, Desert Discovery Day is about giving families a chance to unplug and spend time outdoors together, away from daily routines and screens. It’s also a chance to learn what makes the Sonoran Desert unique, and to see the conservation work of Desert Foothills Land Trust and its partners in action. Organizers hope it’s an experience families carry with them well beyond the day itself.
“One of our goals with Desert Discovery Day is to help the next generation develop a love for the desert,” said Raena Kamakahi, President and CEO of Desert Foothills Land Trust. “When kids have the chance to explore this landscape firsthand, they’re more likely to care about protecting it as they grow up.”
Community Partnership
Desert Foothills Land Trust is grateful for the community support that makes Desert Discovery Day possible, including generous financial contributions from the Town of Cave Creek and the Kiwanis Club of Carefree, along with help from several local organizations and volunteers. Local partners bring their own expertise to the event, including the Arizona Wildlife Federation, Cave Creek Museum, Daisy Mountain Fire Department, Desert Awareness Committee, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, Rattlesnake Solutions, Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, and Wild at Heart Raptors.
Plan Your Visit
Families are welcome to drop in for as little as an hour or stay for the full four hours, with no registration required; visitors hoping to see the whole preserve should plan for at least 90 minutes. The trail is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Free parking is available at the Spur Cross Parking Lot, 44030 N Spur Cross Rd, Cave Creek, AZ 85331. Restrooms will be available on-site, and visitors are encouraged to bring sun protection and plenty of water to stay comfortable throughout the day.
Join Us
Desert Foothills Land Trust looks forward to welcoming the community back to Jewel of the Creek Preserve on November 14 for a day of hands-on activities, wildlife encounters, and time together in the Sonoran Desert. Free and open to all ages, Desert Discovery Day is one more way DFLT invites the community to experience and help protect the desert it calls home.
For more information and event details, visit www.dflt.org/desert-discovery-day.
Desert Foothills Land Trust connects people to nature by working with communities and partners to conserve and steward sensitive lands and species for the survival of our Sonoran Desert. Operating in communities across the North Valley, this nonprofit has conserved 1,100 acres across 31 preserves, many open for public exploration. Re-accredited in 2022 by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, the organization continues its vital work protecting the region’s unique desert landscapes, balancing conservation with community needs in rapidly developing areas.