Phoenix board expands trail closure program to South Mountain
The Phoenix Parks Board voted last week in favor of expanding the Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program to include all trails at South Mountain Park and Preserve.
The board also decided to …
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HEAT
Phoenix board expands trail closure program to South Mountain
(City of Phoenix)
Rescues have declined over several years – from 57 in 2021 to 35 in 2024 - and Phoenix officials attribute the dip to the parks safety program.
Posted
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
The Phoenix Parks Board voted last week in favor of expanding the Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program to include all trails at South Mountain Park and Preserve.
The board also decided to start trail closures beginning at 8 a.m. rather than 9 a.m., according to a release from the city.
The measures are effective immediately.
Prior to the change, the program encompassed the Echo Canyon and Cholla Trails at Camelback Mountain, as well as the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail and associated trails at the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
The trails are closed when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat warning.
“By expanding the program to include South Mountain Park and Preserve, the city will enhance safety measures, ensuring that both trail users and first responders are protected from heat-related risks similar to those present at Camelback Mountain and Phoenix Mountains Preserve,” the release stated.
In 2024, there were 45 days of trail closures due to extreme heat between May 1 and October 13, with a total of 121 days reaching temperatures of 105 degrees or higher - 69 of those days exceeded 110.
Rescues have declined over several years – from 57 in 2021 to 35 in 2024 - and Phoenix officials attribute the dip to the safety program.
In addition to approving the expansion safety program and adjusting trail closure hours, the board last week directed parks and recreation staff to present further recommendations in January.
Proposed changes include moving the closure time to 7 a.m. and adjusting the trail closure threshold to activate when daily temperatures are forecast to exceed 105 degrees, rather than waiting for NWS excessive heat warning, according to the release.
We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
