Effective July 2 at 6 am, the Tonto National Forest will enter into a Stage 3 Forest Closure. The Stage 3 restrictions are being put in place to reduce the risk of fire danger to the land and public. This means all lands within the Tonto National Forest boundary are closed to the public, with exception of a few roads, lakes, and river access points.
During the closure, several park trails and those segments of the Maricopa Trail that intersect with Tonto National Forest land will not be accessible. This includes:
- Wind Cave Trail and trailhead parking at Usery Mountain Regional Park
- Pass Mountain Trail at Usery Mountain Regional Park
- Access points that intersect with the Tonto National Forest at Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area
As an agency that is also in charge of protecting natural resources and park visitor safety, Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department respects their decision to close the areas they manage. We encourage you to explore one of the many other segments of the 315-mile Maricopa Trail system during the closure. Trail maps can be found at https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/things-to-do/activity/maps/.
The closure remains in effect until July 31, 2020, or until rescinded by the Tonto National Forest. A copy of the official statement is available at https://bit.ly/TNFStage3.