Camelback Mountain - Cholla Trail

Cholla Trailhead at Camelback Mountain offers absolutely stunning views. We came here mainly to take in the scenery and see Camelback Mountain up close, and it did not disappoint. The views are beautiful, and it’s amazing to see how many homes are tucked into the mountainside. It really adds to the uniqueness of the area. I didn’t hike the trail itself. We drove up to enjoy the mountain and the views, and it was still a wonderful experience. Just being there and seeing Camelback in person was worth the visit. If you’re in the area and want to admire the beauty of Camelback Mountain, whether you hike or not, this is a great spot to stop and take it all in.

An extremely challenging yet rewarding hike! I completed the Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain with friends — it took about 2 hours total for me. The final 450 feet involved bouldering, which made it both tough and fun. We started at 6:00 AM, which was perfect to catch the sunrise — a truly breathtaking view as you climb. I highly recommend starting early to avoid the heat and crowds. This trail is easier than the other trail for this mountain , but still very steep and demanding. You’ll want to keep your hands free for balance and climbing, so plan accordingly — avoid carrying large items or bottles by hand.

Amazing hike, hard fue to rocky trail and very steep climb to almost 1800 ft in just 1.5 mile distance. The views are breathtaking and make the hike totally worth it. Come prepared with nice hiking shoes, plenty of water and dress lightly since you will be sweating high. Carry a light bag with water bottles depending on the weather conditions. The last 0.5 mile is extremely hard and is almost bouldering. Coming down is very slippery and difficult especially from the top of the mountain to marker 18. For experienced hikers, this is still great experience and one of the best rocky short climb. Fir beginners, be ready to experience one of the hardest trails. Your mileage may vary. But it's with the experience. Give it a try and you will be rewarded well.

Stunning views of the city! Nice facilities when entering trail. We went at 0630 to avoid the crowds (the path can get narrow in some spots and you can end up waiting for people to pass, also only limited street parking) and were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise.

Park by the street. It is not very busy. The hike is difficult. You need to use your hands beyond marker 26. The view on top is great. You can have a nice view of east Phoenix Metro. Make sure to follow the trail you get up on your way back, otherwise you would be like me going to the wrong parking lot and walk another 3 miles back to my car.