Starting from the Nature Center, follow the trail that parallels the fence line from south of the gardens and wraps around behind the Aquatic Center. This trail intersects with the Ranch School Trail just past the Aquatic Center and makes a hard right heading down into the ravine to the north. After switchbacking down all the way to the bottom of the ravine and crossing a small bridge, the trail forks; go right. Follow this bench trail north for about a quarter-mile, then look for the Ranch School Trail to cut back hard to the left and down into lower Acid Canyon. Follow this trail until it crosses the Upper Pueblo Canyon stream and ends at the Pueblo Canyon dirt road. Turn left and follow the stream upstream as far as you can. You’ll have to cross the stream after about 200 feet, but the trail continues for another half mile until the canyon narrows. Turn back and go past the Acid Canyon confluence. A major road forks off to the left and heads steeply up into Walnut Canyon. Ignore this road but look for a trail heading off the left side of the Pueblo Canyon Road just after the Walnut Canyon Road and before the road crosses the stream. Take this trail for about 0.3 miles until the vegetation becomes less dense and the trail re-joins the road. Turn back and follow the road back to the Acid Canyon/Pueblo Canyon confluence. From here, either follow the Ranch School Trail back out to upper Acid Canyon or, for more effort and reward, take the steep road up into Walnut Canyon and find your way onto the Pueblo Canyon bench trails. These bench trails can be followed around the perimeter of Upper Pueblo Canyon, across one of two footbridges, and back around into upper Acid Canyon.

Once in the ponderosa woodland of upper Acid Canyon, find and follow the loop trail that makes a counter-clockwise circuit of the upper canyon and ends up back at the Aquatic Center. Find your way back onto the trail to the Nature center and back to the car.