The defining urban hike in the United States — a challenging 2,704-foot peak rising from the Valley floor in the middle of the city's most expensive real estate, with two trails (Echo Canyon on the north face, Cholla on the south) that require real fitness and reward with panoramic views of the entire Phoenix metro that justify every vertical foot.
Why It’s Worth Your Time
Camelback Mountain sits in the middle of the Phoenix metropolitan area like a geological exclamation point — a 2,704-foot peak with flanks that are steep and trails that are hard. Echo Canyon Trail (the more popular north-face route, 1.2 miles each way with 1,200 feet of elevation gain) includes summit rock scrambles that require using hands, fixed chains for the steepest sections, and the cardiovascular commitment of a real mountain rather than a nature walk. Cholla Trail on the south side is longer (1.5 miles each way) with a more gradual initial approach that becomes equally steep near the summit. The views from the summit on clear mornings extend to the entire Valley floor — the downtown Phoenix skyline, the 200+ miles of sprawl, and the mountain ranges that frame the desert basin in every direction. The trailheads are free; parking fills by 7am on weekends. Dawn start is mandatory in summer (trails close at 11am June–September when temperatures exceed 110°F). The hike is manageable for fit casual hikers; it has also killed people who underestimated the desert heat.
What Stands Out
- The defining urban hike in the United States — a challenging mountain inside the city
- Echo Canyon Trail: 1.2 miles, 1,200 feet of elevation gain with summit rock scrambles and fixed chains
- Summit views: the entire Phoenix Valley, the downtown skyline, and the surrounding desert mountain ranges
- Trails close 11am June–September — dawn start mandatory in summer, non-negotiable
- Parking fills by 7am on weekends — arrive before dawn or take a rideshare