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 pm.
At the January 23, 2025 meeting, the Parks and Recreation Board intends to discuss if the Trails Heat Safety Program should continue to use National Weather Service (NWS) Excessive Heat Warning days to determine when trails will close, or if a specific forecasted temperature threshold should instead be used. They also plan to discuss at what time trail closures should begin on those days. The Board is interested in your feedback on these possible future modifications to the Trails Heat Safety Program.
October 2024 Parks Board Presentation
Current Trail Restrictions During Excessive Heat Warnings
On days when the NWS issues an Excessive 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
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:
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2021: 57 rescues
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2022: 47 rescues
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2023: 30 rescues
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2024: 35 rescues
Further Potential Changes on the Horizon
In addition to expanding the Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program and adjusting trail closure hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Phoenix Parks Board has directed the Parks and Recreation Department to present further recommendations to the Board in January 2025. Proposed recommendations include expanding the closure time to 7 a.m. and adjusting the trail closure to activate when daily temperatures are forecast to exceed 105°F, rather than waiting for Excessive Heat Warnings from the NWS.
