This place is Awe-some! A moderate, 3.5-mile out-and-back trail with about 300 feet of elevation gain winds its way through the Sonoran Desert. Usually a Ranger on duty.Definitely worth the ride every time! Heat stroke is a real possibility when hiking in the desert. The Echo Canyon hike is the more rugged of the two and requires steep climbs and scrambling over large rocks.
The trail: Cholla. The views from the top or outstanding! No matter where you are on the mountain, turn around and head back down once you’ve used half of your water. That’s my son sunning at the top after sliding down a natural slide made of rock with ice cold water.Amazing view from the top! We were surprised with Santa Claus and reading everyone at the top with the Christmas tree decorated with birdseed ornaments.
There is quite a bit of parking (gets pretty full at times). Parking lots at the trailheads fill up quickly during the winter and spring when visitation is the highest. They LOVED it! We only go to the saddle (which some would say is barely a start)...we love it up there! It is after post 25 that the hike turns into a rock scramble.Got up early to get a parking space along the residential road to walk to the trail entrance. The beginning of the hike is easy, with switchbacks and even terrain. Go early, 0700, take your time, drink water and anyone can do this part of the hike. Wear sunscreen and a hat to protect your face and the top of your head. Mom and me go every chance we get! Sunrise is the preferred time to hike Camelback for several reasons -- milder temperatures, fewer crowds -- but the view is a major draw. There is a nice place to sit and the view is fantastic. The park has 51 miles of trails leading to spots such as Dobbins Lookout and Goat Hill.Take plenty of water. My son said it was very challenging and a great feeling to make it to the top! Last weekend a friend and I hiked Camelback Mountain, the most popular mountain to hike in the Phoenix area.
I highly highly highly recommend this hike! The park, site of the Phoenix Zoo and the Desert Botanical Garden, has four hiking trails, ranging from a very short walk to the geological formation known as Hole in the Rock to a 3.1-mile hike through the buttes.Leave the pooch at home if you’re hiking Camelback. Really nice restrooms with a roof and seats at the trailhead. Both are rated extremely difficult.
I went up Echo Canyon Trail and found the other climbers to be helpful and friendly. The last 15 minutes of the trail are the most rigorous as you have to navigate more vertical rocks. The Cholla Trail’s steep drop-offs might also cause problems. Not an easy climb but well worth the effort. Plan on taking two to three hours, depending on your condition, to make either of the round-trip hikes. The mountain, a short drive from downtown Phoenix, is a popular hiking spot, but it’s not for the unfit or … A general hike Camelback before the sun rises so that I can be on the top of the mountain when the sun does rise. On weekends, they may fill for the entire day. 58 years old and 30lbs overweight, i made it to post 25 on the Cholla Trail without any problems.