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 ("Parks 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 of extreme heat to trail users and first responders.
Since its inception, the program has evolved to meet the needs of both hikers and first responders as Phoenix continues to experience record-breaking summer heat. On October 25, 2024, the Parks Board voted to approve expanding the program to include all trails at South Mountain Park and Preserve and to begin trail closures one hour earlier, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Following the October meeting, the Parks Board held work study sessions during its regularly scheduled meetings in January and February 2025 to discuss further proposed changes. The work study sessions were focused on discussion only, and no action was taken by the Parks Board.
After hearing public comment and careful review, the Parks Board approved the following updates on March 27, 2025, which are effective immediately:
On days when the National Weather Service (NWS) issues an Extreme Heat Warning, three trails at South Mountain Park and Preserve will be restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m:
- Holbert Trail (2.56 miles)
- Mormon Trail (1.35 miles)
- Hau'pal Loop Trail (2.8 miles)
- Access to the National Trail from the Pima Canyon Trailhead
The National Trail will remain open when accessed from other trailheads and all other trails at Pima Canyon Trailhead will remain open.
In total, more than 100 miles of trails on South Mountain will remain accessible to hikers, with fewer than 7 miles subject to restrictions during Extreme Heat Warnings.
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 - Holbert Trail, Mormon Trail, Hau'pal Loop Trail, and access to the National Trail from the Pima Canyon Trailhead.
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