Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain, located in Phoenix, Arizona, is a prominent natural landmark and a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Here's a review covering various aspects: **Scenery and Views:** Camelback Mountain offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding Phoenix metropolitan area. The landscape is rugged and provides a unique desert scenery that captures the beauty of the Sonoran Desert. The summit provides an excellent vantage point to witness both sunrise and sunset, creating a magical atmosphere. **Hiking Trails:** The mountain features two main trails: Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail. Both trails offer challenging hikes with steep ascents, making them suitable for more experienced hikers. The trails are well-maintained, but the difficulty level may be demanding for beginners. The Echo Canyon trailhead tends to be busier, so early arrival is recommended. **Fitness Level and Accessibility:** Hiking Camelback Mountain requires a moderate to high level of physical fitness due to steep inclines and rocky terrain. The Cholla Trail is generally considered less strenuous than Echo Canyon but still demands a good level of fitness. While the trails are accessible, individuals with mobility issues may find the terrain challenging. **Crowds and Parking:** Camelback Mountain is a popular destination, especially during weekends and peak seasons. Parking can be challenging, particularly at the Echo Canyon trailhead. It's advisable to arrive early to secure a parking spot and avoid the midday heat, as temperatures in the desert can be intense. **Wildlife and Flora:** The mountain is home to a variety of desert flora and fauna. Hikers may encounter cacti, lizards, and other desert-dwelling creatures. The biodiversity adds to the overall hiking experience, providing an opportunity to appreciate the resilience of life in the arid environment. **Safety Precautions:** Given the challenging nature of the trails, it's crucial for hikers to be well-prepared. Bringing sufficient water, wearing appropriate footwear, and being aware of weather conditions are essential safety precautions. Additionally, it's advisable to adhere to trail guidelines and respect the natural environment. **Overall Experience:** Camelback Mountain offers a rewarding and invigorating hiking experience for those seeking a challenge and stunning desert landscapes. The views from the summit are unparalleled, making the effort and difficulty of the hike worthwhile. However, visitors should be prepared for the physical demands and plan accordingly for a safe and enjoyable adventure.

This was such a beautiful hike! If you are looking to hike but don't want to drive far from phoenix, this is a good 20 min drive away. It's located behind paradise valley which is where all the millionaires live! The hike is a little tough, with steep rocks to climb, but they have rails to hold. Make sure you wear some shoes with grip, because some parts of the rocks are smooth so, you may slip. Water is a must on this hike! Great views and opportunity for nice pictures.

Okay so let me start off by saying Camelback Mountain is all that and a bag of chips but you must be prepared tons of water I mean tons I went in November and I drank a gallon from the bottom to the top and back down very strenuous hike starts off Gravel Road turns into Rocky Road turns into Boulder Road then you have steps make a turn and you're at the poles!!! Wow it is tough going up but not so so tough but coming down oh wow oh wow you're not even halfway there great hike highly recommended but not for the beginner please don't bring kids not a place for them I was struggling and I mean struggling and I'm your Avid hiker but this one here is a tough cookie enjoyed every minute of it if you love hiking and your ready for a challenge hit the Camel Back don't go the easy way go the hard way yes there's two enjoy!!! P.s. LOTS OF WATER 💧

My wife and I did this hike on a wednesday at 9am. The place was completely packed! Don't these people have jobs and lives?!? I mean, we are on vacation so we belong here. Anyways we wore simple tennis shoes and packed 40 oz of water, some fruit, gummy candy and a hotel size box of apple jacks. We are in our 40s and in decent shape, you know, we are active. We spent about 2.5 hours total and were not in a hurry. It's a really fun hike. It looks daunting if you stare up at the path, but just take it at your own pace, small steady steps. My quads were sore at the end but it felt good. Having 2 hands free is best for this hike as we almost lost our apple jacks seeeeveral times. I found the number of under equipped and wheezing people on the trail to be particularly alarming but also somewhat encouraging that we had packed appropriately. Don't be the drenched in sweat guy laying on the ground at the 1/8 mark nursing that free kirkland mini water bottle that you got at the hilton. Be smart, pack candy... and more water.