Camelback Mountain – The Best Hike in Phoenix

If you’re crazy like us and don’t mind the Phoenix heat and want one of the best views overlooking Phoenix then Camelback Mountain is the hike to do.

If you go early enough in the day you can avoid the heat and enjoy an awesome hike without sunstroke and a sunburn!

Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon is located near Paradise Valley in Phoenix. It is easily accessible for anyone who’s staying in Phoenix or just popping by for a few days.

Camelback is quite iconic because it truly looks like a camel’s back (hence the name) and you can see it from miles away which is pretty cool!

It is hands down one of the best hiking trails in Phoenix not only because of the shape of the mountain but also its location and views you get from the top.

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Everything you need to know about the Camelback Mountain hike

Camelback Mountain is a short hike (4.8 miles/7.7 km return). One thing you can under estimate is the steepness of the hike and power of the Arizona sun.

Doing this hike in the middle of the day is a big no no and that’s why an early morning start or an evening hike is the best option to conquer Camelback.

Thankfully there is a water station at the beginning of the hike to make sure you fuel yourself up with enough water. Water and snacks are essential to smash out this hike.

Also, it’s nice to have some snacks for the top so you can enjoy the view and hang out up there for a while and take it all in.

There’s plenty of room at the top of Camelback where you can relax, take pictures, and admire the beautiful dessert landscape around Phoenix!

Practical information about Echo Canyon Trail via Camelback Mountain

Distance: 7.7 km return / 4.8 miles return
Elevation: 798 m / 2618 ft. elevation gain
Type: Out and back
Length: 2-3 hours return
Difficulty: Hard (Because of the heat and elevation)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Click here to see a map of the beginning of Camelback Mountain.

Starting at the Camelback Mountain parking lot

Before you get to the starting point check the trail map for Camelback to make sure you’re at the right trailhead.

There are two ways you can hike up Camelback but most locals (including our local friend) say it’s better to do the hike from the north side of the summit.

The starting point of the hike is easy to find! You’ll see the camel’s back from miles away. The Praying Monk (620m) and Camelback (825m) are the two humps that make up the name Camelback Mountain.

The trailhead has a bunch of parking spots where you’ll find locals, crazy runners, and tourists like us heading to do the hike. We met a few locals who do the hike every morning. Yes they were in fantastic shape.

The beginning of the trail is quite nice once you leave the parking lot. There’s a good amount of shade because of the mountain, unlike 7 Falls in Tucson where the whole hike was exposed to the sun.

The elevation at the beginning isn’t too bad either. The hike slowly warms you up and the challenging section is more near the middle and the top of the hike.

Up the stairs to the top of Camelback Mountain

The middle of the hike is where you really start to feel the heat and elevation. Thankfully the trail is maintained quite well and easy to follow.

One thing to prepare you for is that the rocks are so worn out that they are almost polished and very very slippery.

Especially up the staircase portion of the hike the stairs get super slick and you really want to be careful to not slip. The hike gets quite busy as well so there’s the rocks and people you’re trying to avoid at the same time while trying to get to the top.

As you get further and further up the hike you start to see how flat it is around Phoenix with small hills out in the distance. Honestly, they just look like little anthills!

It really isn’t that far at all. Soon enough you’ll be able to see the top of Camelback and you’ll realize that the people who hike up to the top aren’t actually as crazy as you thought. The hike is a good few-hour workout!

Taking in the views from the top of Camelback Mountain

The view at the end is totally worth the battle that it is to get to the top. You’ll get to see your surroundings for miles and miles! It’s safe to say why most people think it’s one of the best hikes to do in Phoenix.

It’s quite a fun hike since you’re basically in the middle of the city with neighbourhoods surrounding you on all sides.

You sort of feel like you’re on top of the world because the desert is so flat and all you see is smaller hills all over the place.

Instead of dealing with wildlife and extreme elements, you are dealing with the heat and that is something you have to take super seriously. So that’s why we decided to start hiking up from the Echo Trail side around 7 am instead of later in the day like we do with most other hikes. 

Some people say that catching the sunset at the top of Camelback Mountain is incredible too so that’s something we have on our list for the next time we visit Phoenix.

We’d definitely rate the hike hard but manageable. You can see in recent years that due to the increase of hikers, they have made the hike more people-friendly and have added railings and such in places you’d maybe have to scramble in the past.

Don’t get us wrong, it’s still a hard hike with a bit of rock climbing, but it’s definitely doable for most people as long as you’re ok with the Phoenix heat bearing down on you. 😉

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Back down from the top of Camelback Mountain

Most people do this hike as an in and out (starting and ending in the same spot). It’s easier this way and that way you only need one car.

So if you do the hike this way then you can follow the same trail back down the same way you came up.

If you start early in the day you’ll most likely meet a lot of hikers on your way back down. Lots of tourists and travellers don’t realize how hot it gets in Phoenix around noon and don’t think to start that early.

Most likely there will be a lot of traffic coming up as you’re coming down.

Watch your step, take your time, and soon enough you’ll be back at the water fountains where you can refill your water bottle after the hike!

Two different starting points for Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain via Echo Canyon Trailhead 

There are two starting points to hike up Camelback Mountain. We decided on the Echo Canyon Trail as our starting point since it was closer to our friend (Anna’s) place.

The Echo Canyon Trail car park is super convenient because there is a bathroom and water fountain at the beginning of the hike. So you can prepare yourself before climbing up to the top and once you’re back you can drench yourself in water to cool down! 

Camelback Mountain via Cholla Trailhead 

The second trailhead is Cholla trailhead which we believe is just a car park. So depending on what part of town you come from you can pick whatever car park is more convenient for you.

Some people also go from one side to the other and arrange a pick up after. This is fun too since you get to walk across the whole mountain instead of doing an in-and-out hike.

We personally recommend starting from the Echo Canyon trailhead because of the way you hike up the mountain – this will give you more shade early in the morning.

Of course, if you’re ok with getting up that early…which we’re assuming more Arizonians do!

Even if it’s for ¼ or ½ of the hike it makes a huge difference hiking in the shade as opposed to being directly in the sun. Either way, the hike is great and it’s at the top of our list of best hikes in Phoenix.

Before you hike up Camelback Mountain

We can’t stress it enough but on this hike, you have to bring a lot of water. On most hikes, you should, but Camelback especially.

It seems like a quick trip up and down since it can be done in two hours or less (if you’re the local guy who does it daily). But you’re in the desert and the sun can seriously tire you up super quickly. We don’t want you to get sunstroke.

One thing you don’t have to worry about is having the American the Beautiful pass (although it comes in handy on many other trails).

This hiking trail in Scottsdale is not in a National Park so there is no fee to get in and the parking is free.

Again, there are bathrooms and water fountains at the bottom of the Echo Canyon Trailhead so that’s a good place to park if you plan on doing this hike while you’re in Phoenix or if you live in Phoenix. 

Here is some extra information on the hike if you’d like to know a little more about exactly what you will be getting yourself into. 

Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.

Camping in Phoenix

There is camping in Phoenix but we’d definitely recommend getting out of the city and staying in one of the state parks. Somewhere quieter and more peaceful always makes for a better camping experience. So the few camping spots in Phoenix are right on the edge of the city. Still convenient enough to get into town but also away from the city and in nature.

Usery Mountain County Park Campground

Usery Mountain Park is an awesome campground near Phoenix. If you’re looking to stay more in the outdoors and somewhere more peaceful the Usery Campground is the place.

You can actually book online and they have 73 campsites so you should be able to get a spot. It’s only a 40 minute drive from the campground to the Camelback trailhead so it’s not very far for being out of the city.

It’s a lot better than actually camping in Phoenix and you will get amazing views and stunning backdrops of the colourful mountains in the background. Plus there are some amazing hikes in the area as well like famous Wind Cave trail.

Lost Dutchman State Park Campground

This is another campground near Phoenix and not actually in the city itself. The Lost Dutchman has 134 sites and gives you a real dessert feel while still being close to the city.

The Lost Dutchman also offers some amazing hikes in the area on top of the beautiful dessert landscape.

From the Lost Dutchman to the Camelback trailhead its roughly a 45 minute drive.

So it’s great if you want to go to the city for the day, enjoy some hiking, and maybe get any supplies you need and the head back to the peaceful campsite. You can also book in advance if you want to make sure you’ll get a site.

How to get to Camelback Mountain

From anywhere in Phoenix:

If you’re in Phoenix then this hike is doable from anywhere in and around Phoenix.

Since it’s located in the northern part of Scottsdale you may have to drive a little bit longer depending on what part of Phoenix you’re coming from. Definitely worth the drive to hike up Camelback.

The exact directions for the parking lot are here.

What to bring on the Camelback hike

It’s most likely going to be very hot outside when you go, it’s Phoenix of course! So anything that can protect you from the sun! 

Packing list for Camelback Mountain:

• ​​Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes and even during them when we can. You can fill up your water bottle at the trailhead for Camelback and then again once you’ve finished the hike!
• Sunscreen it’s Arizona!! Even leaving at 7am by the time we got to the top of Camelback the sun was roasting us.
• A power bank is one of the most underrated things to bring while you hike.
• Bring some snacks to enjoy while you take in the views overlooking Phoenix.
• It’s always nice to have hiking poles! Also a great defence tool against snakes in Arizona.

The summit itself is quite a big area so you will have lots of room to take pictures and enjoy the view. Or even have a little picnic if you want!

Leave no trace

When you go hiking (and do other outdoor adventure activities), always remember to follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace.

This means:

1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of others.

Recap of hiking Camelback Mountain in Phoenix

This is the best hike you can do in Phoenix! Get up early and get there before most people are even out of bed.

It’s a fun trail that makes you work for the view a little bit but by the time you even think of how tired you are you’ll already be at the top!

Camelback is an awesome hike to do if you’re visiting Phoenix and are looking for something a little adventurous or a good leg burner!

If you have questions about the area, hike, camping near Phoenix or anything feel free to reach out to us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures.

You can also leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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