The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board voted in a special session Tuesday to temporarily restrict access to several popular hiking trails during excessive heat warnings.
In a 6-2 vote, the board carried out a pilot program that would close the starting points from July 16 to September 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. when temperatures hit 105 degrees. The Echo Canyon and Cholla trails on Camelback Mountain, as well as all of the starting points connected to the Piestewa Peak Trailhead in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, would be affected by the closures.
When access to the trail is restricted, parking lot gates are closed, signs are posted, and updates are added to the department’s website and social media accounts, according to a statement from the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. Park rangers will also be on hand to remind trail users of the restrictions.
Previous attempts to close trails in extreme heat were rejected by the board in 2016, especially after setbacks by hikers.
Parks and Recreation Department officials said this pilot was different because it was “a good approach to tackling the busiest and most difficult trails in extreme heat.”
Several board members expressed their discomfort as they voted for the pilot program. Expressing the need for more heat-related bailout statistics, CEO Sarah Porter said closing trails would lead to a lack of data.
This approval comes after the United Phoenix Firefighters Association requested the closure of avenues for community safety and first responders.
According to the union, these routes make mountain rescue more difficult due to the terrain and altitude.
Deputy Fire Chief Scott Walker said these factors could add up to four hours to a rescue operation, putting everyone at risk. Walker added that an average rescue can cost anywhere from $ 7,000 to $ 12,000, depending on the time, equipment, and number of responders required.
“For the fire department, this is not about people not enjoying our beautiful trails and parks,” said Walker. “The point is that they do that when it is safer for them.”
Reach current reporter Monica D. Spencer at [email protected] or on Twitter @monicadspencer.
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