Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department Rangers will restrict the city Preserves' vehicle access to trailhead parking lots and mountaintop lookouts starting at 3 p.m. July 4.
The holiday restrictions are in addition to the smoking and fire bans already in place.
Rangers will close all mountaintop lookouts to vehicles at South Mountain Park at 3 p.m. and will close trailhead parking areas by 3 p.m. at the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, Phoenix Mountains Park and Recreation Area, Camelback Mountain, South Mountain Park and Papago Park west of Galvin Parkway.
Rangers will also monitor the picnic facilities at North Mountain, Papago Park and South Mountain Park and close the parking areas when they reach capacity.
Visitors arriving at Papago Park after 3 p.m. will have to park in the lot adjacent to the Phoenix Zoo.
Below is a list of regulations that will apply on July 4 at the preserves and desert parks:
- No fireworks
- No open fires
- No charcoal fires, even in established picnic areas (gas grills are permitted)
- No alcoholic beverages
- No glass beverage containers
- No smoking outside an enclosed vehicle
The Parks and Recreation Department also wants to remind residents that the desert parks and preserves do not provide good visibility for fireworks displays and encourage residents to attend one of the city’s official Independence Day fireworks displays.
For more information on the July 4 restrictions, call 602-495-5458 or visit the web at
phoenix.gov/parks.
