Board Approves Program To Restrict Trails During Extreme Heat

Phoenix AZ

19 July, 2021

4:58 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Phoenix: July 19, 2021 The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board approved during a special meeting on Tuesday a pilot program through which select city hiking trails will be closed when the National Weather Service issues an Excessive Heat Watch. Per the City Charter, the Board has the authority to implement park rules that would close or restrict access to trails, and today's decision was made due to concerns for the safety of the public and first responders. The pilot program will run from July 16 to September 30, 2021, and during that time Camelback Mountain's Echo Canyon Trail and Cholla Trail, and all trails associated with Piestewa Peak Trailhead in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve will be closed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days when an Excessive Heat Watch is in effect. Please note that Camelback Mountain's Cholla Trail is currently closed. Those locations were chosen for the pilot program based on the number of mountain rescues that occur there annually, as well as the difficulty rating of those trails and how that impacts the complexity of the rescues. During times when trail access will be restricted, parking lot gates will be closed and signage will be posted. Closure information also will be communicated through the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department's website and social media accounts, and to local resorts and hotels. Additionally, Phoenix Park Rangers will be visible at those locations to remind and educate trail users about the restrictions During the Valley's warm weather months, and regardless of an Excessive Heat Watch being 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. To help with that recommendation, extended summer hours are in effect annually from June through September at North Mountain Park and Piestewa Peak Trailhead in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and Pima Canyon Trailhead in South Mountain Park/Preserve. To provide an extra two hours of availability and promote hiking after 7 p.m., parking lot entrances are open until 9 p.m. at those locations. Year-round at those three trailheads, parking lots open at 5 a.m. and trails are open until 11 p.m. The Phoenix Parks and Recreation, and Fire departments have worked in partnership since 2015 to share the "Take a Hike. Do it Right." hiking safety message and continue to lead with education about responsible hiking. All trail users should follow these important and potentially life-saving hiking guidelines: Watch the Weather: Yes, "it's a dry heat" – but Arizona's temperature can be deceiving and deadly. Hike when it's cool outside, try early mornings and evenings when there's more shade.Dress Appropriately: Wear proper shoes, clothing, hat and sunscreen.Bring Water: Hydrate before you go. Have plenty of water, more than you think you need. Turn around and head back to the trailhead before you drink half of your water.Keep in Contact: Carry a mobile phone.Team Up: Hike with others. If hiking solo, tell someone your start and end times, and location.Be Honest: Do you have a medical condition? Asthma, heart problems, diabetes, knee or back problems? Don't push yourself! (Even trained athletes have been caught off guard by getting dehydrated on Arizona trails.)Don't Trailblaze: Enjoy the Sonoran Desert's beautiful and undeveloped landscape, but please stay on designated trails.Take Responsibility: Don't be "that person" – the one who wasn't prepared, shouldn't have been there for health reasons or ignored safety guidelines. Be the responsible hiker, who takes a hike and does it right! For the safety of pets, dogs are prohibited on any City of Phoenix trail when the temperature is 100 degrees or warmer. The Arizona Humane Society advises that temperatures in the 90s are also unsafe for pets to be outdoors. Learn how to keep pets safe during Arizona's warm weather months. This press release was produced by the City of Phoenix. The views expressed here are the author's own.