Park Updates | Maricopa County Parks & Recreation

Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily.

Trails: Please note there are no designated trails within the park. Please don't off-road or trespass on the property. During your visit, be respectful of the environment and park concessionaires. Pack out what you've brought in. Individuals who violate the park rules will be prosecuted.

Please see the Buckeye Hills home page for the recent update on the Joe Foss Shooting Complex.

Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily. Nature Center hours: May 1 - October 31 - Open 7 am to 2 pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday / November 1 - April 30 - Open from 8 am to 4 pm daily.

Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily. Nature Center hours: May 1 - October 31 - Open 7 am to 2 pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday / November 1 - April 30 - Open from 8 am to 4 pm daily.

Park and Visitor Center hours:

May 1 - October 31: The Preserve is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7 am to 4 pm. Trails close at 3:30 pm.

November 1 - April 30: The Preserve is open Wednesday through Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm. Trails close at 4:30 pm.

Pets are not allowed in the preserve.

LAKE PLEASANT REGIONAL PARK

Main Park Entrance hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily.

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 (gray 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).

MEMORIAL DAY UPDATES: Memorial Day updates will be posted under the Lake Pleasant Memorial Day Update alert. UPDATED: 5/20/2024

PARK WATER LEVELS: Despite a Tier 1 shortage declaration for Colorado River operations that began on Jan. 1, 2024, CAP is not expecting the Lake Pleasant water level to be significantly impacted in 2024. CAP expects the lake level to go down, but not outside normal historical operating ranges. Updated on: 1/11/2024

ALERT:Watch for floating debris while on waterway. UPDATED: 5/8/2024

MAIN ENTRANCE

• CONCRETE SPILLWAY. Open for day-use parking.

• SHORELINE: Shoreline levels are lower which provides additional parking. As the water levels rise, less parking will be available.

• BOAT-IN CAMPING ONLY:

  • Additional information can be found on the Boat-In Camping page.

• DESIGNATED PRIMITIVE CAMPING:

  • The Dirt Spillway Primitive Camp Area is now available. Access to the area can only be achieved via Sunset Ridge Road.
• Park Headquarters and Operations Cove remain closed.
• The DISCOVERY CENTER is open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
  • Playground access is available.

NORTH ENTRANCE (4-lane boat ramp)

• The North Entrance Station is open daily. May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily. ALL visitors must depart when the park closes.

• Shoreline camping is not available in this area.

• 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.

• 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

• Will remain closed.

FISHING

• Option for fishing when the park entrance is closed: Pleasant Harbor Marina
• Options for night fishing after 8:00 p.m.:
  • Park Campground reservation
  • Park Boat-in/Angler camping reservation
  • Pleasant Harbor Marina
• 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.
  • When the main entrance to Lake Pleasant Regional Park closes, all park visitors, excluding those with camping reservations, must exit the park. See the main park entrance hours listed above.
  • Boat-in campers may leave the park after hours (see main park hours listed above), 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. Check the Agua Fria Fishing Schedule page for current updates.
• The arm of the Agua Fria River of Lake Pleasant will be closed for the annual bald eagle nesting season from December 15 thru June 15. Eagle closure buoys will be placed in the area warning boaters to keep out of the area. For more information about the program or maps of the closure area, please visit https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/park-locator/lake-pleasant-regional-park/park-information/bald-eagle-program/ or https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/assets/1/6/eagle-closure-areas-both.pdf.

OTHER

• Swimming and fishing (with a valid license) are allowed at the lake.
• PLEASE wear a life jacket/flotation device while recreating at the park.

SCORPION BAY MARINA

• Individuals visiting Scorpion Bay Marina should contact the marina for further information on how the changes will impact their visit.

Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily. Nature Center hours: May 1 - October 31 - Open 7 am to 2 pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday / November 1 - April 30 - Open from 8 am to 4 pm daily.

Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily. Nature Center hours: May 1 - October 31 - Open 7 am to 2 pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday / November 1 - April 30 - Open from 8 am to 4 pm daily.

SAN TAN MOUNTAIN REGIONAL PARK - GOLDMINE TRAILHEAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Construction on the project begins on Monday, March 4, 2024, and runs through late Fall 2025. To learn more about the project, please visit the park project page.

Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily.

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.

NOTICE: The Department of Forestry and Fire Management and Parks staff will be in the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area working on invasive species removal and fire fuel load reduction starting early March until mid-May. If needed, additional removal and/or reduction efforts may be added throughout the year. To learn more, see the park alert.

Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily. Nature Center hours: May 1 - October 31 - Open 7 am to 2 pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday / November 1 - April 30 - Open from 8 am to 4 pm daily.

TRAILHEADS

• Parking restrictions have been put in place at the Wind Cave Trailhead to limit capacity.

Park hours: May 1 to October 31 - 5 am to 9 pm daily / November 1 to April 30 - 6 am to 8 pm daily. Nature Center hours: May 1 - October 31 - Open 7 am to 2 pm Monday through Saturday. Closed on Sunday / November 1 - April 30 - Open from 8 am to 4 pm daily.

TRAILHEADS

• The Mesquite Trailhead is open. Parking in lot only.

AREA #4

• Effective May 1, 2022, Area #4 will be closed at White Tank Mountain Regional Park for construction. To learn more, click here. Updated 3/30/2022