Camelback Mountain

Whenever I visit Phoenix I try to spend a few hours at Camelback. Each time, my experience is similar and fantastic. Happy people going up and down. Everyone working pretty hard, some more than others depending on level of fitness, but even so, everyone seems content. I don’t mean «laughing happy», I mean «stoned on endorphins» happy. There is a particular and striking low-​stress look about it.
Regulars who know the joy of this hike are here all over the place and the 60 – 75 year-​olds jackrabbiting up the scrambles are amazing. inspirational really. I treasure the times I’ve made this small trek. If I lived in nearby, I’d be here all the time.

I was visiting Phoenix from San Diego for a hockey game. I am a religious hiker who wanted a good quick workout, and decided on checking out the Echo Canyon Trail. It was a great choice.
At first it was a steady incline. And it quickly became a rock/​Boulder climbing experience. I simply loved it.
I noticed it was well traversed and crowded but a lot of people did not look prepared for the trail. Many turned back attempting the finally ascent which involved climbing small boulders at a high incline for about a quarter mile.
What to Bring:
1. Trail runners (they worked very well for traction) or any hiking shoes
2. At least a liter of water (people were getting exhausted and didn’t bring anything to drink)
3. Gloves (optional, but for the Boulder climbing)
It’s a short hike, and I went during December. I would go on this hike again, even when it gets hot. Thumbs Up!!!

What a butt kicker!
The following day after the hike, I walked like a really old lady for a few days. Everywhere hurt. Even my armpits! Haha. Probably because I was crawling on all fours at some points. Thanks to Unilocaler Yuko and her suggestion of carrying rubberized gloves, I was able to save my hands.
Aside from all my grumbling, this was a wonderful hike! The views were definitely breath taking. The summit boasts 360 views all around.
I liked this hike a little better than the squaw peak one because there aren’t that many runners flying all around you. People take their time accordingly at a leisurely pace. More my style.
Rumor has it, there’s a shuttle that takes you to the entrance of this hike which originates from a church but I wasn’t able to verify. Will update once I get the details. It’ll save the hassle of getting a coveted parking spot. :) happy hiking everyone!

Did the Cholla trail on a Sunday. The hike it-​self was fun/​dangerous and very intense. There were several spots where I had to use my hands to crawl up a steap wall/​hill. The trail sometimes lead by the edge of the mountains and you better pay very close attention to where you are stepping!
Parking however was HORRIBLE. We first tried to go from the Echo Canyon trail but the small parking lot was packed and there were about 10 more cars doing loops around the lot looking for spots. Then we drove to the other side to do Cholla trail where there is no designated parking spot. We had to park about a mile away from the start point of the trail.
Very busy on the weekends so plan ahead!
Overall though a very fun hike with great views, and very good cardio.
Enjoy and be safe!

Judging by the foot traffic, this is not a secret jaunt.
Nice trails up to a scenic lookout. Many signs prohibiting dogs on the trail are ignored.
There is also a bee warning sign. There have been reports of killer bees in the area.
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I don’t think you really need to worry. I saw only one sleepy honey bee happily sucking on a tree blossom.
I should mention that the bathrooms are clean. The water runs.

This was my second time hiking up Camelback (the first time was about 10 years ago).
Needless to say, I was pleased to discover that I am still able to make the trek to the summit, despite me not getting any younger. =) Oh, sure, I can’t do a «run» up there like a few of the superheros I saw around me, but still… it’s nice to go through a very challenging climb and get rewarded with wonderful views of the valley.
This isn’t an easy hike. It’s a butt-​kicker, but if you are in decent shape, and are able to scale rocks without breaking ankles, then you can do it. (To newbies: no ropes and carabiners necessary, so you don’t need to be Tom Cruise here).
The only thing you need to be careful about (besides messing up an ankle) is the heat. If you are going in the summer months you must be careful not to overheat. Phoenix/​Scottsdale gets into the hundreds; you don’t want to be on this mountain during that time. Best time to go is at dawn — I recommend starting at 6am. Of course, I am super lazy so I don’t get started until 7… ok, well, 7am is still doable. Just try not to start your 1.2 mile climb later than that, ok?
There are two paths up: Echo Canyon Trail and Cholla trail. I’ll leave it to others to decide which trail is tougher. We went up Echo Canyon and came down Cholla, and they both seemed equally challenging to me. Although perhaps Cholla is easier because they allow you to bring your dogs up with you (I don’t recommend doing that, however — it seems way too hot).
Views are great. Be warned, though: these are popular hikes, so on the weekends there will be people all over the place.
also remember to pack a lot of water! We packed 6 12 ounce bottles, which were enough to last us (barely) but given the choice I would have thrown a few more in my backpack.
Above all, have a blast.

Awesome hike on Cholla Trail! Go during holiday season because you will catch Santa with a Christmas Tree passing out candy canes at the top of the mountain!
I found the climb up to be more challenging despite what others have said because when I went down I was used to the pace and momentum of the mountain and therefore made better time. However, it’s a good idea to not get overconfident because the rocks ARE slippery and I fell a couple times, which was more funny than anything else. But it’s good to be aware of that because I was fairly careful throughout the hike and still managed to lose my balance on a couple rocks.
Ultimately, it’s really important to be prepared with good shoes and at least two water bottles! And have fun! The views are gorgeous!