Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail is a 4.8 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Paradise Valley, Arizona that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and nature trips and is best used from October until May.
NOTE: As of July 2020, the Cholla Trail section of this hike may be closed due to maintenance. Please check here for updates and more information: https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/camelback-mountain Dogs aren't allowed on Camelback Mountain. Distinctive and dominant on the Phoenix landscape, Camelback Mountain is just begging to be conquered. The two different routes to the 2,680ft summit offer different challenges, and both are featured in this guide. Echo Canyon is the popular route, which ascends 1,400 foot up the western side of the mountain in just over a mile. The journey quickly becomes a real leg-burner but delivers some good hiking experiences and a varied terrain. The Cholla trail heads up a well maintained trail on Camelback's east flank, but becomes a challenging and technical ascent upon reaching the ridgeline. This fun 1.3 mile route becomes increasingly rocky and precipitous, and though the conditions here are not extreme, we'd certainly urge caution and wouldn't recommend this route for young children or folk with a strong aversion to heights. Elevation gain: - Approx. 1,300ft (from 1,450 - 2,680ft)
Camelback Mountain - Official Website http://phoenix.gov/recreation/rec/parks/preserves/locations/camelback/index.html
Tips: - The journey to the summit of Camelback can take longer than you might think, and we'd strongly recommend carrying water. - Some may find the Cholla trail to be difficult - proceed with care and always be prepared to turn back. - Parking is restricted at both trailheads - take heed of posted signs to avoid tickets and respect property owners.
January 21, 2021Amazing!! There are a lot of boulder climbs but so worth it. It is hard and is for those up for a challenge. Just remember quitting is not an option and you will be glad you conquered it!!!
January 9, 2021Steep but mostly obvious trail. Some bouldering for sure but there are actually handrails for the steepest section so don't be deterred by the fearful reviewers. Beautiful sunrise but the foot traffic really started rolling in on the way down.
January 6, 2021It’s bouldering all the way up. Bring gloves and lots of water
January 1, 2021I always love me some Echo Trail Full body workout..Take a backpack and extra water. If you finish you will feel accomplished!
December 31, 2020First time up. Great hike but swarming with hikers. Not for the covid apprehensive. Trailhead full had to park at Omni after circling the round about numerous times hoping for an opening. Great time of year to hike!
December 29, 2020December 26, 2020December 26, 2020Beautiful once you get to the top. The “trail” signs are laughable given the lack of path on several sections ...unless you consider boulders a path. . Not for the faint of heart but the view is definitely worth it!
December 24, 2020yay!! she said yes!!
December 8, 2020No dogs
December 5, 2020beautiful. I don't think it's black trail hard. it's just stepping up rocks.
November 30, 2020November 29, 2020If COVID-19 deterrence is important to you, avoid this hike during peak times. Very few people, if any, were wearing masks. Social distancing is nonexistent. Hiking early (sunrise) and during the weekday is a great way to circumvent these concerns. Bring hand sanitizer if germs concern you (hand rail). The hike itself is great! The vistas at the summit offer a great view of metro Phoenix. The hike is challenging, especially for those without hiking legs and weak ankles/knees. Hiking shoes are necessary. Overall, it’s a cool hike worth the effort.
November 29, 2020Awesome hike! Very satisfying to get to the top! Very hard, mostly up hill climbing over boulders. Wear hiking shoes. It gets warm fast! Bring water! Don’t carry a baby strapped to your chest.
November 21, 2020This is not an easy hike! Again be prepared for climbing a lot of rocks while gaining elevation every step. The view from the top is worth the pain!!!
November 21, 2020Challenging, never carry a 20lb bag!!
November 18, 2020November 14, 2020This hike was intense and took me about 4 hours with lots of breaks in between. The weather was super hot so I recommend lots of sunscreen and water. The views up top are great but the climb up is crazy! I felt like a spider monkey multiple times throughout the hike up and just felt line any wrong move could have someone falling off and getting hurt badly. Luckily I wasn’t near anyone who fell but it’s an intimidating hike for sure. Parking is a pain and it fills up super fast so you may need to drive a few loops around before you find someone leaving. I recommend getting there around 7am or earlier.
November 14, 2020The hike was hard. Very rocky lots of incline and difficult to hike down. Most definitely recommend for adventurous hikers and risked.
November 10, 2020November 8, 2020Awesome!
October 30, 2020Too many unmasked folks who were all up on me.
October 28, 2020Great trail!!
October 27, 2020Awesome hike. The ascension is pretty steep but manageable, bring extra water. Beautiful view of the Phoenix area at the top. Expect the parking to be full during the weekend so get there early.
October 27, 2020Great trail. Great rock formations. Lots of climbing on the top half - which I love. I went on a Tuesday afternoon at 2pm. Not too many people on the trail - about 50-80. Parking was good at 2pm. By the time I left at 4pm, parking lot was packed with about 5-6 cars waiting. Definitely like this trail more than cholla trail.
October 26, 2020Echo canyon trailhead is open. Parking lot fills up early. I saw the patrol car in front of the parking lot but soon after, they opened the lot as early hikers started leaving. This hike is difficult. Very fun challenge! Up and Up and Up. A lot of bouldering. It is doable, however. It took me about an hour to get to the summit, faster than I thought and this was my first ascent.
