About
Camelback Mountain is one of the most popular hikes in Phoenix, thanks to its proximity to downtown and beautiful 360° views of the city. However, many people underestimate the challenge of hiking it. They also don’t know the difference between the two trails that lead you to the top. The trails are Echo Canyon trail and Cholla Trail.
In this post I will be breaking down the Echo Canyon Trail.
Echo Canyon Trail is an extremely difficult trail with over 1,200 feet of elevation gain and difficult terrain. At just over one mile to the top, it seems like it wouldn’t be too difficult. However, with many false summits, it seems like it never ends.
Echo Canyon has a beautiful parking lot with many parking spaces, a water fountain, and bathrooms. During peak months (February-April) and weekends this parking lot will fill up very quickly. I recommend getting there by 9am, but you can always test your luck throughout the day. I have had no issue getting a parking spot during the week or during off seasons.
*As I write this, there are swarms of bees on the water fountains. I recommend bringing multiple water bottles already filled.
The Beginning
The hike starts off pretty mellow with some small switchbacks and incline. At the 0.4 mile mark, you will be met with the infamous railings. I personally get by without using them on the way up, but they can be very useful. After the two sets of railings, I suggest taking a little break before you conquer the next section of the hike.
The hike continues with a wide but hard trail made up of boulders and large rocks. Every time you complete a section of the hike, you will see that a new section of boulders begins. There will be many times you think you can see the top, but in most cases, its just a false summit.
Once you make it to the top (finally!) you can sit and enjoy the beautiful views of Phoenix and surrounding areas. I suggest going on a clear day so you can see the different mountains that surround the city.
Getting Down the Mountain
Going back down Echo Canyon trail may seem scary. You may be tempted to go down Cholla trail, and Uber to your car but I am telling you, don’t. In my opinion, going down the trail is much easier than it seems. The large rocks make it easy to sit down and scoot off. And when you approach the sections with railing, you can go slow.
On the way down the railing sections, I recommend hanging on to the fence. On the side by the fence there are “steps” carved into the trail from use over time.
Echo Canyon trail can be a difficult trail but if you take it one step at a time and take plenty of breaks, you will be just fine! And don’t forget your water!!
If you haven’t already, I recommend reading my post about Cholla Trail or a comparison between the two.
I also have a page dedicated to hikes in Arizona you should check out!
