Camelback Mountain had been on my bucket list for quite some time. I finally made time for this amazing hike while in Arizona on a business trip. The best gift I gave to myself for Valentine's 2021 (Sunday, February 14, 2021) was the gift of self love and breath-taking views from the top of Camelback Mountain.
There are two ways of getting to the top: Echo Canyon Trail or Cholla Trail. I researched both via All Trails and Google. The Echo Trail is shorter (2.5 miles round trip) while Cholla is a little longer (4.5 miles round trip). According to All Trails, as of July 2020, parts of Cholla may be closed due to maintenance. Although Echo is shorter, it is the more challenging + popular of the two, but both are considered "hard" on AllTrails. Since I'm always up for a challenge and I like things hard lol, the choice was easy... Echo all the way and FTW!
Camelback is heavily trafficked. There is limited parking at the trailhead and fills up quickly. It was actually full when I arrived in the afternoon. There's free parking available at the JW Marriott about a mile from the trailhead. That's where I parked. So, basically add another 2 miles to the total round trip for the hike.
For all you history buffs, Camelback became a Phoenix city park in 1968 and according to Trip Advisor, hiking Camelback is one of the top 10 things to do in the Phoenix area.
I consider myself an avid, above average hiker. I've hiked Yosemite's Half Dome, Zion's Angels Landing and Alaska's Harding Icefield Exit Glacier trail, just to give you an idea. Camelback is challenging but doable. Just take your time. Face your fears, you can do it! There's a bit of bouldering and I would highly recommend wearing hiking boots for extra support and traction. Also, bring water, especially if you hike this during the summer months - I can only imagine how hot and dry the weather is.
It took me about an hour to get to the top of the summit. I was inspired by the individuals who were literally running up the mountain at high speeds. Maybe one of those shirtless, perfect physique individuals is my future husband? Lol. Speedster or not, just making it to the top is quite an accomplishment!
Once you make it to top, take a moment - heck take a few moments, just to be present. Breathe! Be grateful. Look around you. Be in complete awe, like I was. There's nothing quite like an adventure in the mountains, immersed in the wilderness. There are no words to even describe the amazing achievement of reaching the summit, the epic views along the way and the spectacular views of the Phoenix metropolitan area. You just have to do it!
If you're ever in the Phoenix area, I highly recommend adding Camelback Mountain to your itinerary. I can now say this is one of my favorite all-time hikes. read more