Phoenix officials: overall decrease in mountain trail rescues from 2021 to 2024
Staff Reports | Community Updates
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board Thursday, Oct. 24 approved the expansion of the Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program, which officials at City Hall say will now include all trails at South Mountain Park and Preserve.
The expansion of the Trails and Heat Safety Program entails the implementation of trail closures beginning at 8 a.m., rather than the previous time of 9 a.m. whereas the new trail closers time are now in effect.
The local trail safety effort encompasses 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. City officials say the effort of trails safety program is to 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.
“I am proud of the decision we made this evening after careful consideration of key data from our Parks and Fire departments, as well as valuable input from the public. Our Board’s decision to expand the Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program to South Mountain Park/Preserve, along with earlier trail closures during excessive heat warnings, is a proactive measure to reduce heat-related incidents,” said Kelly Dalton, who serves as chair of the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board.
“The safety of our residents and visitors is always our top priority, and this decision underscores our commitment to ensuring Phoenix’s trails remain safe and accessible. We will continue to assess and strengthen these measures as needed to protect our community.”
Thus far this calendar year Phoenix has experienced 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°F or higher. Of note: a total of 69 of those days exceeded 110°F.
Despite these conditions, the Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program has been effective in managing outdoor activities during the hottest months, as affirmed by the decrease in rescues on closed trails from 2021 to 2024:
- 2021: 57 rescues
- 2022: 47 rescues
- 2023: 30 rescues
- 2024: 35 rescues
“We are committed to proactively collaborating with the parks department to ensure the safety of our residents and firefighters during extreme heat events,” Executive Assistant Phoenix Fire Chief, Tim Kreis said in a prepared statement. “By expanding this program with data driven decisions, the City of Phoenix can enhance trail safety and reduce risks for everyone enjoying our beautiful parks.”
In addition to approving the expansion of the Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program and adjusting trail closure hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the parks board has directed Parks and Recreation staff to present further recommendations to the Board in January 2025. 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°F, rather than waiting for Excessive Heat Warnings from the NWS.
