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 will hold a Work Study session dedicated to the Trail Heat Safety Program during its regularly scheduled meeting on January 23, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at Phoenix City Council Chambers. The Trail Heat Safety Program will be the sole agenda item, and the session will be informational and focused on discussion. No formal action will be taken at this meeting. As with all Parks and Recreation Board meetings, the meeting packet will be posted on phoenix.gov/parks/board by Friday, January 17, for public access. Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the Work Study session, just as they would in regular Board meetings, in-person or virtually via WebEx. Residents can find the virtual meeting link on phoenix.gov/parks/board.
Additionally, the February Parks and Recreation Board meeting will include a second Work Study session on the Trails Heat Safety Program. The meeting will begin with a regular session to address business matters, followed by the Work Study session in the second half. This session will provide the Board with an opportunity for continued in-depth discussion of the program and to hear public input.
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.
