3 hiking trails in Phoenix will be closed during extreme heat days
With Phoenix seeing its first 100-degree day of the year on Sunday, it brings a reminder that the scorching triple-digit days of summer in Arizona are fast approaching.
Heat is the deadliest weather in Arizona, and prolonged exposure to some of the higher temperatures during the summer can cause heat illness and death. For this reason, some activities require increased heat awareness or discontinuation during these months.
Last summer, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board administered the first full season of a newly approved Trails and Heat Safety Program that closes some hiking trails in Phoenix from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on National Weather Service Heat Warning days. The trails included were the Echo and Cholla trails on Camelback Mountain and all trails associated with the Piestewa Peak Trailhead in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve.
The Trails and Thermal Safety Program is expected to be an annual event with the same trails affected. This year, it will begin on Monday, May 1 and continue until September.
The 2022 season runs from May 1 to September 30 for 153 days. During that period, the National Weather Service issued 18 days of heat warning, and thus, 18 days of trail closures in 2022.
The National Weather Service does not define heat warning days by specific temperature thresholds, but by temperatures well above climate averages and at levels that have been shown to significantly impact human health. These alerts aim to raise awareness and prevent heat illness and death.
What to expect on the trails on excessive heat warning days
During excessive heat warnings, trail access will be restricted, parking gates will be closed and signs will be posted. Closure information will be posted on the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department’s website, social media accounts, and local resorts and hotels. Additionally, Phoenix Park Rangers will be visible at those locations to remind and educate trail users about the restrictions.
Because some hiking days will be dangerous during the summer, extended summer hours are in effect annually from June through September at North Mountain Park, Piestewa Peak Trailhead in Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and Pima Canyon Trailhead in South Mountain Park/Preserve. Parking lots will open at 5am, and entrances will be open until 9pm at those locations instead of the usual 7pm.
Heating: Phoenix will reach 100 degrees for the first time in 2023
During the valley’s warm weather months, regardless of whether an excessive heat watch is in effect, it is recommended that trail users hike during the early morning or evening hours when it is cooler and there is more shade.
For pet safety, dogs are prohibited on any Phoenix trail when the temperature is 100 degrees or higher. The Arizona Humane Society advises that temperatures in the 90s are also unsafe for pets to be outside.
How to stay safe while hiking in Arizona during the summer
- Appropriate dress: Wear appropriate shoes, clothing, hat and sunscreen.
- Bring water: Hydrate before you go. Drink plenty of water, more than you think you need. Turn around and get back on the road before you drink half the water.
- Stay in touch: Carry a cell phone.
- Team: Hike with others. If you are hiking alone, let someone know the start and end times and location.
- Be honest: Do you have a medical condition? Asthma, heart problems, diabetes, knee or back problems? Don’t put pressure on yourself!
- Stay on Designated Trails: Enjoy the beautiful, undeveloped landscape of the Sonoran Desert but stay on the trail.
To assist with this recommendation, extended summer hours are in effect annually from June through September at North Mountain Park, Piestewa Peak Trailhead in Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and Pima Canyon Trailhead in South Mountain Park/Preserve. To provide an additional two hours of availability and promote hiking after 7 p.m., parking entrances are open until 9 p.m. at those locations. Year-round on these three trails, parking lots open at 5 a.m., and trailheads are open until 11 p.m. All other trails within the Phoenix parks system will remain open.
During the valley’s warm weather months, regardless of whether an excessive heat watch is in effect, it is recommended that trail users hike during the early morning or evening hours when it is cooler and there is more shade.
