Fire Risk Prompts Fourth Of July Closure of Scottsdale-Area Preserve

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Planning a hike on the Fourth of July? You'll need a backup plan.

Scottsdale is closing the McDowell Sonoran Preserve at noon on Saturday, July 4, citing elevated wildfire risk during the holiday.

The closure applies to every trailhead and access point in the preserve, where "Closed" signs will be posted throughout the day.

Park Rangers, preserve staff and McDowell Sonoran Conservancy stewards will patrol the area to inform visitors of the closure and the heightened fire danger.

Anyone who enters the preserve after it closes could face real consequences: violating the closure is a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to four months in jail and a $750 fine, and more serious violations could escalate to a Class 1 misdemeanor carrying up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

The preserve is set to reopen at 4:52 a.m. Sunday, July 5.

For those still wanting to get outside on the Fourth, Pinnacle Peak Park will stay open, with holiday hours running 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.