This mountain is popular among locals and tourist for hiking as well as rock climbing and it usually takes around
1.5 to 3 hours
to get on top of this mountain. In the Phoenix Metropolitan Area, the Camelback Mountain is a very popular landmark.
Can you drive through Camelback Mountain?
No. You cannot drive up to the top of the mountain
. However, for the Cholla Trail, you can park very close and start your trek up.
How difficult is Camelback Mountain hike?
Hiking Camelback
Both are rated
extremely difficult
. The Echo Canyon hike is the more rugged of the two and requires steep climbs and scrambling over large rocks. The Cholla Trail, while a little bit less strenuous, is also a little bit longer. The beginning of the hike is easy, with switchbacks and even terrain.
Are there rattlesnakes on Camelback Mountain?
“Every other day in the summertime, there's a helicopter taking someone down from Camelback Mountain or Piestewa Peak for not bringing enough water or underestimating the desert heat, but
rattlesnakes remain on the top of the list for many hikers
.”
Is Camelback Mountain closed?
Camelback Mountain
Cholla Trail is temporarily closed
. The City of Phoenix is actively monitoring the base of the trail, permitting hikers of any capability or residence from hiking.
What is the hardest hike in Phoenix?
- Flatiron (Siphon Draw Trail) Near Apache Junction and the Lost Dutchman State Park. …
- Tom's Thumb Trail. Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve (pictured at top) …
- Camelback Mountain. Central Phoenix/Downtown Scottsdale. …
- Holbert Trail at South Mountain. …
- Piestewa Peak.
Do you need hiking boots for Camelback Mountain?
Wear Sturdy Shoes
Thick-soled hiking shoes or boots are optimal for hiking the rough terrain of Camelback Mountain
. Even though I swear by my sturdy hiking sandals for most Arizona hikes, Camelback is one where close-toed shoes are best.
Is Echo or Cholla harder?
If you are not a seasoned hiker or hiking with family or younger kids, you may want to hike up and down the Echo side and plan for 2-3 hours.
The Cholla side is the more difficult side
.
How late can you drive up South Mountain?
Located on Summit Road in South Mountain Park, you can drive here between
5am – 7pm
most days. This makes it a decent outdoorsy activity even when temperatures are far too hot to hike.
How do I get into Dobbins Lookout?
Dobbins Lookout, at 2,330 feet, is the highest point in the park that is available to the public.
Accessed by both hiking trails and Summit Rd
., the lookout is popular with tourists and locals, who want to get an unobstructed panoramic view of the Valley.
Can you drive up Superstition mountain?
Description.
This is a long drive through the Superstition Mountains and Tonto National Forest with amazing scenery and canyons you'll drive through
. Its about a 40 minute drive to the beginning of the trail from Phoenix, and the trail itself is close to a two hour drive, if you don't plan on stopping along the way.
What is the easiest trail on Camelback Mountain?
Along Camelback Mountain there are two hiking trails leading up the summit, Echo Canyon and
Cholla Trail
. Cholla Trail is actually the easier of the two, but that doesn't necessary mean that this is an easy trail.
How many calories do you burn hiking Camelback Mountain?
5 – 2.5 HOURS rt • ELEVATION GAIN: 1,264 FEET (90 STORIES) • APPROX. CALORIES BURNED:
410-460 rt
• BEST TIME OF YEAR: oct. – april • PETS: no • KID FRIENDLY: Not so much • FACILITIES: YES • FEES: none.
Is hiking good for weight loss?
In general, hiking burns more calories than walking because it utilizes steeper paths. Yet, per half an hour, hiking burns fewer calories than running.
This form of outdoor exercise offers several benefits, including improvements in weight loss
, mental health, and lower body strength.
Can rattlesnakes bite through jeans?
Turns out
the snakes were only able to inject a third of the venom into the be-jeaned limbs, leaving venom to be harmlessly absorbed by the denim fabric
. No wonder Samuel L. Jackson wore jeans on that plane! Denim clothing reduces venom expenditure by rattlesnakes striking defensively at model human limbs.
What time of the day are rattlesnakes most active?
While they can be out any time, rattlesnakes are most active
in the morning and from dusk into the night
. They hunt mice and rodents in darkness because they can sense body heat with special organs on their face.
What animals live on Camelback Mountain?
Phoenix's desert preserves, including Camelback Mountain, are home to native species such as the
desert tortoise, Chuckwalla lizard, cottontail rabbits, and rattlesnakes
(hike with caution). Plant species include the saguaro, cholla and prickly pear cacti, as well as native trees such as mesquite and palo verde.
Why is Cholla trailhead closed?
Cholla Trail, a popular hiking area on the east of Camelback Mountain, has been closed since 2020
after a 300-pound boulder fell on a hiker
. The City of Phoenix closed the trail for repairs, but also to move the trailhead away from Cholla Lane. The existing trailhead is at the end of a quiet residential street.
Is Camelback hike open?
Camelback Mountain's Echo Canyon Trail remains open
, as do more than 200 other miles of hiking trails throughout the city, providing plenty of hiking options.”
Can you hike Camelback Mountain alone?
Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon trail parking
With one of the most renowned urban hikes in Arizona,
let alone the United States
, you can expect parking will be a challenge. There is an upper and lower parking lot for the Echo Canyon trail and the entrance for both is at 4925 E McDonald Drive, Phoenix.
Which is harder Piestewa or camelback?
While both Piestewa and Camelback are more climbing rocks that strolling on a trail,
Camelback is more challenging
because the ascents come at you more quickly and hard.
How hard is Piestewa Peak?
Head out on this 2.1-mile out-and-back trail near Phoenix, Arizona.
Generally considered a challenging route
, it takes an average of 1 h 28 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.
What is the hardest mountain to climb in Arizona?
- Finger Rock.
- Lava Falls.
- Cathedral Rock.
- Superstition Ridgeline.
- Mt. Humphrey.
- Piestewa Peak.
- Wilderness of Rocks.
- Four Peaks Motherlode.
How difficult is Echo Canyon trail?
This trail is an
intense and difficult anaerobic hike
the entire 1.23 miles to the summit. It ascends approximately 1,280 ft, from 1,424 ft above sea level to 2,704 ft. Getting a parking spot can be a long wait if you arrive on the weekend after 6 AM as there are Climbers galore.
Which is better Echo Canyon or Cholla?
Echo Canyon is by far the more popular route up
, with a nice parking lot and railings along the tricky spots, leaving Cholla to the more adventurous. The other reason is access. The trailhead for Echo Canyon is gated and guarded until sunrise.
What is the elevation of Camelback Mountain?
2,706′
