


We suggest that you wear hiking gloves to help you get a better grip. We’re kidding, of course – it’s only about to get tougher.Īt this point, you’ll need to scramble up the rocks towards the top. Once you reach the top of this steep section, the hard part is over.
#Camelback mountain free#
But if you really want to challenge yourself, feel free to move to the smoother side of the rocks. The foot notches make climbing a little bit easier. Our tip is to hang on to the leftmost ones, as there are more foot notches on the rocks of this side. You’ll then come across rows of metal poles. This is where you’ll truly feel how steep the mountain is so use the metal railings to anchor you to the ground and safely assist you on your way up.
#Camelback mountain series#
At this point, the rocks are porous (which makes grabbing them relatively harder) and some have moss on them.Īfter about half a mile, you’ll reach a series of wooden stairs. The trail opens up to a wide dirt path and a rapid incline up a few switchbacks that will have you catching your breath right away. It usually takes an average of 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete.Įven though it’s relatively just a short hiking distance (4 km), it’s a steep climb with lots of sharp rocks that will require hikers to push themselves to their limits. The Echo Canyon Trail is known to be slightly more challenging than its sister trail. This is because there are often rescue operations happening here for people who get in trouble with the heat.ĭogs also are strictly not allowed on these trails, so you might want to leave your pooch at home or at a dog boarding place. On days when the temperature is hotter than usual, hikers are warned to stay hydrated and rest under shade when they can. In fact, over 750,000 people climb the mountain every year despite the Arizona heat. Still, the challenge is what hikers come here for. The incline is quite steep, gaining 1,300 feet in just 1.2 miles. The mountain is also known to be Phoenix’s highest peak at about 2,704 feet above sea level. Trailĥ150 N Invergordon Rd, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253 There are two main trails – the Echo Canyon Trail and Cholla Trail – both of which are categorized as extremely difficult because of exposed rocks, strenuous climbs, and hand-over-hand climbing in some sections. What’s it like to hike Camelback Mountain?Ĭamelback Mountain isn’t an easy hike.
