Camelback Mountain

To call this popular hike a natural stair-stepper would imply the steps are evenly placed and repetitive. That’s not the case. The short trails to the highest summit in the Phoenix area are both rated Extremely Difficult because no two steps are the same and navigating the rugged trails requires a full-body effort going up and coming down. This urban-summit hike requires an important decision before beginning the climb. Take the Echo Canyon or Cholla trail — both are roughly 1.5 miles to the top and can take up to three hours to complete round-trip. Bring a small backpack to carry extra water or wear shorts with zipper pockets to secure keys and phones. Bodies get contorted clambering up boulder slopes and free hands are a necessity.

Echo Canyon Trail

Access the most popular climb to the camel’s hump from the west tip of the range, or the head of the camel. From the first step on the trail, the incline is relentless. Echo Canyon Trail is on the shady side of the mountain at sunrise — a perk on summer morning hikes. Portions of the trail skirt sheer rock cliffs and the most treacherous spots have handrails in place to get hikers safely to the next challenge. Slow climbs often require clambering on all fours over boulders strewn through steep washes. Every step of the trail brings mind-boggling rock formations and mighty saguaros into view, and the summit has unobstructed 360-degree views of the Valley floor and surrounding mountain ranges.

Cholla Trail

At the east end of Camelback Mountain, the Cholla Trail reaches the hump via another rugged 1.5-mile hike. Along the first half of the trail, hikers will wonder what all the fuss is about. The rocky footpath has a gentle incline and even long stretches of straightaways that overlook area resorts and neighborhoods. The climb to the summit, though, is every bit as tough as the final stretches of Echo Canyon. Hikers need to take their time, securing every foothold and handhold before making the next move. At the summit, hikers share high-fives over their accomplishment.

The Ultimate Combo

Get the full Camelback Mountain experience by hiking up Echo Canyon Trail and down Cholla Trail. Echo has a large parking lot with plenty of overflow parking. Cholla has limited parking along Invergordon Road about a five-minute walk to the trailhead. Tackle the tougher climb first while some sections still have shade. Take a break at the summit to enjoy the metro view before heading back down the Cholla Trail. The first section of the descent requires hikers to scoot on the rears down stacks of boulders, but the trail quickly evens out and is a much easier hike back down to the valley floor, even when fully exposed to the elements. Pro tip: Hike Camelback on day one, then for the rest of your trip, look up from the Valley floor and say, “I did that!”

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