Highlights
- Phoenix will close trails at Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, and South Mountain Park from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
- A National Weather Service Extreme Heat Warning triggered the closures, with a strong high-pressure ridge expected to push daily highs above 110 degrees.
- First Alert Weather Days are set Monday through Friday; city officials report more than 200 hikers are rescued from desert and mountain parks each year.
- Hiking is strongly discouraged on all Phoenix trails between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. while the heat warning remains in effect, according to the city.
Phoenix will close its most-trafficked mountain trails during midday hours Monday through Thursday as a National Weather Service Extreme Heat Warning takes effect across the Valley, Arizona's Family reported Sunday.
The city of Scottsdale's neighbor is shutting down the following trails from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Camelback Mountain's Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail; Piestewa Peak Summit Trail and associated trails in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve; and South Mountain Park and Preserve's Holbert Trail, Mormon Trail, Hau'Pal Loop Trail, and access to the National Trail from the Pima Canyon Trailhead.
A strong ridge of high pressure is expected to push temperatures above 110 degrees each day through Friday. The city has set First Alert Weather Days Monday through Friday. Phoenix officials note that more than 200 hikers are rescued from desert and mountain parks each year.
Firefighters urge anyone on trails to watch for signs of heat exhaustion, including confusion, nausea, or a lack of sweating. If hiking outside closure hours, the city recommends carrying at least one liter of water per hour, wearing light-colored breathable clothing and a hat, and staying on marked trails so emergency crews can reach you.
The closures align with a pattern documented by AZ Central and Patch Phoenix during a similar Extreme Heat Warning in March, when Phoenix restricted the same corridors under comparable conditions.
The Extreme Heat Warning and associated trail closures are in effect through Thursday; check the National Weather Service forecast for any extension.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 16/08/2026 17:55
- AZ Central retrieved 16/08/2026 17:55
- patch.com retrieved 16/08/2026 17:55
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 16/08/2026 17:55. Every claim traces to a source.
