How to Hike Arizona’s Camelback Mountain
If you mention hiking in Phoenix, chances are people recommend a hike up Camelback Mountain. It is one of the most prominent features in the Phoenix skyline.
The Camelback mountains resembles the two humps and head of a camel. Camelback was designated as a city park in 1968 and remains a Phoenix point of pride.
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Thousands of locals and tourists alike head to Camelback to reach the summit of 2,704 feet. So while it is a beautiful hike it is also a crowded one.
To reach the top you have the following two options:
Or you can hike both “camel” humps from one end to the other. Both hikes are strenuous climbs. It is not a beginner hike, you will gain over 1,200 feet in elevation and climb over a mile both ways.
The Cholla trail and the Echo Canyon Summit trail offer beautiful views of the city with steep rocky sections and drop offs. If you reach the summit you will be rewarded with stunning sandstone and unparalleled views of the city!
Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Summit Trail
The rocky path of Echo Canyon trail starts off with many man made steps. They will give your knees a good work out.
Very few areas of the hike are level, so wear some good hiking boots or shoes. There are two steep rocky inclines that you will have to take to reach the summit. They are even more fun on the way back down!
Once you make your way past the initial stairs you’ll find the majority of the path is rocky. You will be climbing over large boulders to reach the summit.
Over a few more boulders, you are almost there. Keep going up until you reach the summit and enjoy the 360-degree views of Phoenix. It is stunning and you can see for miles and miles.
The summit has a large flat surface where you can have a snack and enjoy the view. There are plenty of other people up there that will gladly take your photo, so you have proof you made it to the top!
From the summit you can return the way you came or you can take the Cholla Trail down.
Camelback Mountain Cholla Trail
The Cholla Trail is just as challenging as the Echo Canyon trail. To reach the trailhead you will walk at least a half mile from parking. The trail starts out fairly level, but then quickly climbs.
As with the Echo Canyon trail, the Cholla trail offers great views.
Keep climbing.
From the summit you can return the way you came or you can take the Echo Canyon trail down.
Other hiking Trails
Bobby’s Rock Trail and the Ramada Loop Trail are less physically demanding hikes in Camelback park and offer beautiful views as well.
Parking
A hike up Camelback Mountain is challenging, however parking is an even larger challenge. Parking is very limited and Camelback Mountain is extremely popular. Because of this expect to wait for parking on the weekend. Sometimes we have a rideshare drop us off and pick us up after the hike, so we didn’t have to find parking.
There are two parking areas:
- Parking is off of McDonald drive which will give access to the summit trail as well as Bobby’s Rock Trail.
- Parking is off of Ingerverdon which gives access to Cholla trail
Location: The Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area is between the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix and Paradise Valley. Enter at Echo Canyon Parkway just east of Tatum Boulevard off of McDonald Drive
