PARK UPDATES
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CHANGES/UPDATES |
| CAVE CREEK REGIONAL PARK |
Park hours: 6 am to 8 pm - Sunday through Saturday.
Nature Center hours: 8 am to 4 pm daily.
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| ESTRELLA MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK |
Park hours: 6 am to 8 pm - Sunday through Saturday.
Nature Center hours: 8 am to 4 pm daily.
TRAILHEADS AND TRAILS
- The following areas have been CLOSED to help ensure safe social-distancing.
- Northern Loop of Turf Road
- Ramadas (excluding 1-6) in the turf picnic area are available for use. Groups 50 and over must complete a Special Use Permit (SUP) and COVID plan. The SUP is subject to approval from Maricopa County’s Planning and Development Department.
- Restrooms are available near open trailheads
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| HASSAYAMPA RIVER PRESERVE |
Park hours: 8 am to 5 pm - Wednesday through Sunday. You must be off the trails by 4:30 pm.
Visitor Center hours: 8 am to 5 pm daily.
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LAKE PLEASANT REGIONAL PARK
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Park hours: 6 am to 8 pm - Sunday through Sunday.
[NEW] Lake Pleasant Regional Park is anticipating TEMPORARY closures into the summer. The decision to temporarily close sections of the park will be based on:
- increased holiday/weekend traffic,
- parking lot and shoreline limits exceeding capacity, and/or
- high water levels limiting shoreline availability (seasonal).
Once activated, a temporary closure means:
- Main entrance: No new entries/re-entries will be allowed until after 4 pm on that day.
- North entrance: No new entries/re-entries for the remainder of the day.
Please check the alert section on the website (teal banner) and parks Facebook page before visiting. Closures implemented by Lake Pleasant Regional Park do not impact Pleasant Harbor Marina (east side of the lake).
MAIN ENTRANCE
NORTH ENTRANCE (4-lane boat ramp)
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Closed on Monday and Tuesday each week.
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Temporarily open Wed./Thurs./Fri./Sat./Sun. 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. - gate closes/locks at 4 p.m. ALL visitors must depart by 4 p.m.
- Beginning April 12, the North Entry will only be open Fri./Sat./Sun. from 6 a.m. – 4 p.m. due to a modification project to the North Entry Station. The construction is expected to last thru May 10. Check back for updates to the schedule. [NEW]
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Shoreline camping is not available in this area. [NEW]
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Fireman's Cove and the shoreline within the cove is now open for day-use visits. [NEW]
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Access is currently permitted for hikers at the Cottonwood Day-Use Area, watercraft launchers from 4-Lane Boat Ramp, and shoreline day-use access within Fireman's Cove. No shoreline access at Cottonwood Cove until further notice. [NEW]
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CASTLE CREEK/4-LANE BOAT RAMP: Ramp is all that will be open.
CAMPING RESERVATIONS
- Campers are required to enter the park between 1 pm and 8 pm the day of their arrival.
- No entry access available between 8 pm and 5 am.
SHORELINE CAMPING
FISHING
- Option for fishing when the park entrance is closed: Pleasant Harbor Marina
- Options for night fishing after 8:00 p.m.:
- If using Boat-in/Angler camping or Pleasant Marina, the following applies:
- Anglers may night fish on the lake as long as watercraft remains in open water. Once the watercraft is beached on the shoreline, that becomes shoreline camping, which is not permitted in the park. This could result in a citation.
- The main entrance to Lake Pleasant Regional Park closes at 8 pm. All park visitors, excluding those with camping reservations, must exit the park by this time.
- Boat-in campers may leave the park between the hours of 8 pm and 5 am, but will not be able to return/arrive during that time.
TRAILHEADS
- The following trailheads are accessible at this time: Agua Fria, Beardsley, Brown, Cottonwood Day-Use Area, Frog Tanks, Pipeline Canyon Day-Use Area, Roadrunner, Wild Burro Day-Use Area, and Wild Burro Trailheads.
AGUA FRIA CONSERVATION AREA
- Upper parking lot access available year-round.
- Middle parking lot access is expected to be available from January to March.
- Agua Fria boat launch parking area is projected to be available at the end of February through March/April. [NEW] Check the Agua Fria Fishing Schedule page for current updates.
OTHER
- Swimming and fishing (with a valid license) are allowed at the lake.
SCORPION BAY MARINA
- Individuals visiting Scorpion Bay Marina should contact the marina for further information on how the changes will impact their visit.
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| McDOWELL MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK |
Park hours: 6 am to 8 pm - Sunday through Saturday.
Nature Center hours: 8 am to 4 pm daily.
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| SAN TAN MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK |
Park hours: 6 am to 8 pm - Sunday through Saturday.
Nature Center hours: 8 am to 4 pm daily.
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| SPUR CROSS RANCH CONSERVATION AREA |
Park hours: 6 am to 8 pm - Sunday through Saturday.
PAYMENTS
- The Conservation Area will accept payments via annual passes, Cave Creek resident cards, and cash at the entry station.
- Checks will not be accepted.
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| USERY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK |
Park hours: 6 am to 8 pm - Sunday through Saturday.
Nature Center hours: 8 am to 4 pm daily.
TRAILHEADS
- Parking restrictions have ben put in place at the Wind Cave Trailhead to limit capacity.
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| WHITE TANK MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK |
Park hours: 6 am to 8 pm - Sunday through Saturday.
Nature Center hours: 8 am to 4 pm daily.
TRAILHEADS
- The Mesquite Trailhead is open. Parking in lot only.
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PHYSICAL-DISTANCING AND HYGIENE
However, Maricopa County is adopting the President’s and Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) 15 Days to Slow The Spread Coronavirus Guidelines for America, which will impact how we conduct business. The new guidelines recommend:
- Physical-distancing.
- Avoid social gatherings in groups of more than ten (10) people.
- Do not use trails if you have symptoms of COVID-19, which can include fever, cough and breathing trouble.
- Ensure that there is six (6) to eight (8) feet between you and the next person on the trail, following physical-distancing guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
- If your favorite trailhead or recreational spot in the park is experiencing overcrowding and congestion, find another area in the park to visit so you are practicing safe physical-distancing.
- Maricopa County's regional park system contains 596-miles of trails, this includes the 315-mile Maricopa Trail. Maps for the Maricopa Trail can be found at https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/things-to-do/activity/maps/.
- Bring water, snacks, and sunscreen. The nature centers are closed, so you will not be able to purchase items at the park.
- If you’re hiking with pets, please clean-up after them. It’s even more important than usual to pack out your own trash to protect any park employees and the natural resources.
- The Arizona Department of Health Services strongly recommends that dining establishments discourage dine-in traffic in areas of known community spread (i.e., Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal Counties).
- If dine-in options are provided, social distancing measures should be implemented, providing space for customers to be placed at least six (6) feet apart.
- Practice good hygiene.
- Wash your hands, especially after touching any frequently used item or surface.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Sneeze or cough into a tissue, or the inside of your elbow.
- Disinfect frequently used items and surfaces as much as possible.
The department will continue to monitor county, state, and federal health department recommendations for guidance and provide updates as they impact park and trail operations, and/or public safety.
RESOURCES:
NOTE: Our team's area of expertise is outdoor recreation, not infectious diseases, we are asking that you visit the following websites for information on COVID-19. Information is very fluid right now and, at times, only being released on social media accounts so please don't discount these resources.
If you have questions or concerns, please email us at maricopacountyparks@maricopa.gov. Future updates and changes will be posted on this page.
Recommendations for trail users on observing physical-distancing minimums
There are a number of specific recommendations for advising the public to keep safe physical-distancing when in parks or on trails
- Follow CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to heading to trails — wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, do not use trails if you have symptoms, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, etc.
- Observe at all times CDC’s minimum recommended physical-distancing of six feet from other people. Practice it and know what it looks like. Keep it as you walk, bike or hike.
- Warn other trail users of your presence and as you pass to allow proper distance and step off trails to allow others to pass, keeping minimum recommended distances at all times. Signal your presence with your voice, bell or horn.
- Note that trail and park users may find public restrooms closed — be prepared before you leave and time outings so that you are not dependent on public restrooms.
- Bring water or drinks — public drinking fountains may be disabled and should not be used, even if operable.
- Bring a suitable trash bag. Leave no trash, take everything out to protect park workers
Information provided by the National Parks and Recreation Association
