More than 200 hikers annually are rescued from City of Phoenix desert and mountain parks and preserves. Follow our simple checklist to help you from becoming a statistic.
Phoenix Trail Heat Safety Program
About the Program
In 2021, the Parks and Recreation Board established the Trail Heat Safety Program as a proactive measure designed to help bikers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts navigate the beautiful Phoenix trail system while minimizing the risks to park users and first responders associated with high heat conditions. Through trail closures, heat advisories and safety tips, we strive to help residents safely explore the desert landscape.
On October 25, 2024, the Board voted to approve expanding the program to include South Mountain Park and Preserve and to also begin trail closures one hour earlier, from 8 am to 5 p.m.
The Parks and Recreation Board held Work Study sessions dedicated to the Trail Heat Safety Program during its regularly scheduled meetings on January 23 and February 27, 2025. The Work Study sessions were for discussion and information only, no action was taken by the Board.
On March 27, 2025, the Parks and Recreation Board will convene for a regularly scheduled meeting with the Trail Heat Safety Program as an agenda item for discussion and possible action. The meeting packet is available on phoenix.gov/parks/board for public access.
Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the Board meeting in person at Phoenix City Council Chambers or virtually via WebEx. Residents can find the virtual meeting link on phoenix.gov/parks/board.
Current Trail Restrictions During Extreme Heat Warnings
On days when the NWS issues an Extreme Heat Warning, the following trails are restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m:
Camelback Mountain Preserve - Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail
Phoenix Mountains Preserve - The Piestewa Peak Summit trail and associated trails
South Mountain Park and Preserve - All associated trails and trailheads
Take a Hike. Do it Right.
Results by the Numbers
In 2024, Phoenix experienced 45 days of trail closures due to extreme heat warnings between May 1 and October 13, with a total of 121 days reaching temperatures of 105°F or higher. Notably, 69 of those days exceeded 110°F. This extreme heat not only raises the risk of heat-related incidents but also poses significant challenges for first responders during mountain rescues. The Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program has been effective in decreasing mountain rescues during the hottest months, as affirmed by the substantial decline in the number of rescues on closed trails from 2021 to 2024:
- 2021: 57 rescues
- 2022: 47 rescues
- 2023: 30 rescues
- 2024: 35 rescues