Camelback Mountain, with an elevation of 2,704 feet, is
an excellent hike or climb in Arizona
. Hiking Camelback Mountain is perfect for a tourist activity in Phoenix, because the hike is quick and is located in the middle of the Phoenix Valley with great views.
How long does it take to climb up Camelback Mountain?
You can anticipate the round trip hike to take about
2 to 3 hours
. The hike begins with a steep well marked trail for the first 3/8 mile. You will then hit the railroad ties (watch your head on the right side going up). The first rail comes next, which is the steepest and most difficult part of the trail.
Is Camelback Mountain hard to climb?
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.
How long does it take to climb Camelback Mountain in Phoenix?
Expect the round trip hike to take about
2 to 3 hours
.
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.
How tall is Piestewa Peak?
2,612′
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 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.
Why is Camelback Mountain Cholla Trail 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
.
Is Piestewa Peak hard?
Although described as
moderate to difficult
, many kids and older adults do the Summit Trail. It's a climb all the way, and most areas have carved steps and there are two short segments with rails. It took us a little less than an hour to get to the top at a leisurely rate, frequently stopping to enjoy the scenery.
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.
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.
How long is Camelback Road?
Camelback Road
The street stretches continuously for approximately
33 miles
from Scottsdale in the east to Litchfield Park in the west, and runs through the city of Phoenix.
What is the elevation of Camelback Mountain?
2,706′
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?
Rattlesnakes come out both at
sunrise and sunset
, making them crepuscular. Often, these are their most active times, but they also come out in the full sun and full light. Creatures that are active in the day are known as diurnal, while nighttime animals—like owls—are nocturnal. Rattlesnakes, however, are both.
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.
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.”
What class is Camelback Mountain?
The last bit to the summit included more
Class 2
, this time requiring some boulder-hopping. The views of Phoenix from above are actually pretty nice, and Camelback Mountain is a nice little desert peak.
Is Cholla Trail hard?
Cholla Trail is rated a double-black hike and is considered to be
extremely difficult
. It is 1.2 miles in length and ascends just over 1,200 feet on the East Side of Camelback Mountain.
Are dogs allowed on Piestewa Peak?
While
dogs are not permitted
at Piestewa Peak, leashed dogs are permitted on some of the trails within the Dreamy Draw Recreation Area including the Dreamy Draw Nature Trail. The diverse desert landscapes offers everything from fantastic views to secluded valleys.
What kind of rock is Piestewa Peak?
The Paleoproterozoic (1.8 to 1.6 billion years old)
crystalline rocks
around Phoenix were involved in those accretionary events; it was during these tectonic collisions that they were metamorphosed into their present form. These rocks are most clearly exposed in the Squaw Peak (Piestewa Peak) and Dreamy Draw areas.
Can you hike Piestewa Peak at night?
Piestewa Peak
Park Hours: 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. (
trails open until 11 p.m.
) Piestewa is the second-highest peak in Phoenix with an elevation of 2,608 feet – a mere 100 feet shy of Camelback Mountain. This hike will have you working for the views – but they are well worth it.
Is Camelback or Squaw Peak harder?
If you're wondering which hike is more difficult, the answer is negligible. If hard-pressed, I'd say
Camelback is harder
. Both have comparable elevation gain, in the range of 1,200ft, but the trails up Camelback are slightly longer than the one up Piestewa.
Is Echo Canyon trail hard?
The Echo Canyon Trail requires hikers to pull themselves up using metal handrails, hop over large boulders and gain about 1,300 feet in about 1.2 miles to the summit. Many of the county and state parks in Arizona are rated using a universal system, and Echo Canyon has been classified as “
extremely difficult
.”
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.
