Camelback Mountain is the red-rock landmark you can see from almost anywhere in the Valley — the one shaped like a resting camel. At 2,704 feet, its summit is one of the most rewarding (and most demanding) hikes in Phoenix, and it sits right in the middle of town between Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley.
The two trails
There are two summit routes, and neither is a stroll:
- Echo Canyon Trail — about 1.2 miles each way with roughly 1,200–1,400 feet of gain. It’s steep and direct, with railings and hand-over-hand scrambling near the top. This is the trail most people mean when they say they “did Camelback.”
- Cholla Trail — about 1.6 miles each way. A touch longer and gentler at the start, but the final ridge is just as much of a scramble. Park on the designated side streets, not Invergordon.
Both top out at the same summit, with 360° views over Camelback East, Mummy Mountain, and downtown.
Hike it smart (this is the desert)
Camelback is rated extremely difficult — it’s not a beginner hike, and Phoenix Fire runs real rescues here every summer. A few local rules:
- Go at sunrise. In the warmer months the trails bake by mid-morning, and the city closes some trails on excessive-heat days.
- Bring more water than you think — at least 2 liters, plus electrolytes.
- Wear real shoes. The granite is slick and there’s exposure near the top.
Getting there
The Echo Canyon trailhead is off E McDonald Dr near Tatum; the Cholla trailhead is off N Cholla Ln. Both lots fill before dawn on weekends, so arrive early or plan to circle.
Make a day of it
A sunrise summit earns you a slow morning. We’re about 25 minutes north in North Phoenix, so a lot of our clients knock out Camelback early, then come in for a blowout or a cool-down gloss before brunch. Book ahead on weekends — post-hike Saturdays go fast.