PHOENIX — Memorial Day marks the start of Summer for many people looking to enjoy the outdoors. Be sure to plan ahead and stay aware of any closures if you and your family are looking to get out to the Tonto National Forest today.
At this time, Maricopa County has announced closures for the following recreation areas:
- PERMIT ONLY - Saguaro Lake Ranch
The following locations have reopened:
- OPEN - Water Users Recreation Site
- OPEN - Butcher Jones Recreation Site
- OPEN - Blue Point Recreation Area
- OPEN - Pebble Beach Recreation Area
This is a developing story. Stay with us at 12 News for more Memorial Day updates.
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How big is Maricopa County?:
Maricopa County is the United States’ 4th largest county in terms of population with 4,485,414 people, according to the 2020 Census.
The county contains around 63% of Arizona’s population and is 9,224 square miles. That makes the county larger than seven U.S. states (Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, Massachusetts and New Hampshire).
One of the largest park systems in the nation is also located in Maricopa County. The county has an estimated 120,000 acres of open space parks that includes hundreds of miles of trails, nature centers and campgrounds.
The county’s seat is located in Phoenix, which is also the state capital and the census-designated 5th most populous city in the United States.
The county was named after the Maricopa, or Piipaash, Native American Tribe
