Camelback Mountain is a famous mountain among hikers and is open for locals and visitors to enjoy . Its proximity to the city and the views the mountain offers makes it one of the most beautiful hikes in metro Phoenix.
Camelback Mountain stands at an elevation of 2,704 feet. Tough its short distance, Camelback Mountain is a challenging hike and is rated Hard by all trails. But if you are prepared and well informed, you’ll be in for a treat.
In this article, you will find everything you need to know for a succesful hike up Camelback Mountain.
Camelback Mountain hiking trails?
There are two trails to get to the the top of Camelback mountain: Echo trail and Cholla trail.
- Echo Trail: 2,4 miles and an elevation of 1,423 feet
- Cholla trail: 2,4 miles and an elevation of 1,158 feet
Both trails are rated hard but they are quite different from each other.
Echo trail
Echo trail is an intense and difficult hike the entire 1.23 miles to the summit. This trail is known for its two climbing rails, where hikers are climbing using rails/pole as a support.
Echo Canyon trail consists of large rocks and continuous steep grade until the summit. In my opinion, Echo trail is more difficult than Cholla.
Check All trail for more details about this trail.
Cholla trail
This trail offers nice views of lavish houses in Paradise valley, golf courses and swimming pools. It is also a steep climb up the mountain and requires some scrambling.
Check All trails for more details about this.
Do I need a permit to hike Camelback Mountain?
No permits are required to hike Camelback Mountain.
Where to find parking near Camelback Mountain?
There are parking spots at both trails but they fill VERY QUICKLY. This is a very popular hike, so if you really want to find a spot make sure you get there early…very early. To be fair, chances are higher to find a parking spot on Cholla compared to Echo. I will tell you why in the next paragraph and I will show you some tricks to avoid the parking hustle.
What is the best time to hike Camelback Mountain?
Camleback Mountain is famous for its stunning sunrise and sunset but you’ll enjoy the view regardless of what time you are hiking the mountain. Here are however a few things to consider:
Hiking Camelback Mountain for the sunrise
Having hiked this mountain more than 10 times, I personally prefer starting my hike very early in the morning. Maybe 2 hours before the sunrise. This way you can find a parking spot easily, you will beat the crowds and the heat. I don’t have to tell you how warm it can get.
Hiking Camelback Mountain for the sunset
I personally think that Arizona has the best sunrises ever (The photo below was taken with my phone wit no filters). Hiking for the sunset is a good option since the temperature drops down but it might be crowded. If you don’t mind a lot of people sharing the trail with you then you’ll be fine 🙂
Is it safe to hike Camelback Mountain?
As I always say, every hike comes with a certain level of risk and danger. It is always important to be well informed, understand the mountain, your abilities and prepare well. A lot of people get rescued from Camelback mountain every years and most of the time it is because of people not having enough water and getting dehydrated or hiking off trail.
How to stay safe on Camelback mountain?
Stay hydrated
Have enough water with you. This is a serious hike and you don’t want to be short on water in the dry desert of Arizona. I personally pack 3-4 liters of water.
Protect yourself from the sun
A sun hat, a buff and sunscreen go without saying. Don’t espose your skin to the sun and hike in sports bra (It is not smart) why? your body loses a lot of moisture and it is easier to get dehydrated.
Wear good hiking shoes
Your shoes should have a good grip, comfortable and should be shoes that you wore and tried before this hike.
Best trail to Hike Camelback Mountain?
Here is a trick from a local to make the best of your hike.
I recommend going up Echo Canyon Trail and going down Cholla trail. This way, you get to experience both of them at the same time and since they have different things to offer, you’ll have a very rich hike.
The trick here is how do you get back to your car? You don’t 😀
What I usually do, I catch an uber ride to Echo canyon trail and when I finish, I catch a ride from Cholla trail back home. This is more of a practical option for visitors who are staying not too far away from the mountain. Otherwise, you can consider parking your car somewhere closer to the trail, then catch a ride.
Why is Camelback Mountain called this way?
The shape of the mountain looks like a sitting camel with a hump and that’s where the name comes from.
Is it safe to hike Camelback on my own?
The recommendation is to always have a hiking partner or group. Camelback Mountain is, However, the type of mountain that always has someone on it. Should anything go wrong, there will definitely be someone there for you. I’d say it is safe to hike Camelback on your own.
Otherwise, click here to find people to hike with.
If you have any questions about this hike, let me know in a comment below and I will be happy to help.