Travis T.

Super popular hike to do during the cooler weather seasons that gives you a great workout. Cholla Trail is one of two trails that takes you to the top of Camelback Mountain. Parking kinda sucks (Echo Canyon is worse). You can park up and down Invergordon Road and then walk to the trailhead. But overall, it's a fun challenging hike. I like doing it in December because someone brings up a Christmas tree and you can get your photo with Santa. You get great views of the Valley once you reach the top. The trail itself is around three miles out and back. But it gains 1350 feet in elevation. There are also some switchbacks at the beginning of the trail. Follow either the trail signs or spray painted blue dots once you pass the helipad. You will occasionally have to climb some slanted rocks - this is the challenging part of the trail. The summit is pretty spacious but can be a bit crowded. The views are amazing, especially at sunrise. Remember to bring lots of water and that dogs aren't allowed on the trail. This mountain is always in the news because people hike in the middle of hot days (without enough water) or they stray off the path. Mostly out-of-town folks who underestimate this mountain. During summer, try and go early in the morning. They recently built restrooms at the beginning of the trailhead and realigned it away from the residential areas. Just be respectful of those that live nearby and pick up your trash.

Lisa W.

A really good Trail to do a hike in Scottsdale when it's not boiling hot. We came on a perfect Thursday morning, everyone was thinking the same... the trail was extremely packed. Like a line to go up, especially near the end with the scrambling. Lots of people including kids. Trail is 3.1 miles round trip, last 0.5 mile is scrambling. Everything else is easy. We didn't go to the top and stopped at marker 31. There's 36. We stopped because there was a long line and we didn't have the time and wanted to grab lunch. Come early if you can...to beat the rush!

Harmony D.

I've done this trail once, and prefer Echo mainly due to the lack of shade here. Parking is on the street, "Invergordon". The hike starts out at an incline with some steps and switch backs. Then it starts to be a rocky sharp incline up. It eventually levels out and you get to walk along the side the mountain on a trail. Then it gets hard. You start going straight up the rocky spine of the mountain and you really have to watch for the blue traffic reflectors they have put on the rocks to mark the trail to make sure you are going the right way. I did get a little Sun burned despite going at 8 am as the trail is in the sun the entire way. In the future I think I would only go half way and skip the last 1/4 of rock scramble/climbing. 2.5 hr hike.

Daniel W.

Let's start with the negatives. First, the parking is horrendous. It takes some effort to find parking, which is mainly on the side of the road. City of Scottsdale...you might want to think about adding the side street parking on the other side of the road. Otherwise, this is a pretty challenging trail. Be prepared to be on some small paths with very few flats. There are plenty of climbs and steps to start, but it gets rocky after the first 1/3 of the trail. Something I did notice that was awesome was the had trail markers numbered all throughout and up the mountain. Sadly, I didn't make it all the way to the top due to some annoying tightness in my hips and jacked up lower back, but nonetheless, still challenging and had me sweating like crazy! I will be back to conquer the full hike!

Haneen O.

This trail reopened on September 30, 2022 after two years being closed. They moved the trailhead from Cholla Lane to Invergordon Road, the same road the parallel parking is located. Nice that we don't have to walk through a neighborhood anymore and bother the residents. They also added bathrooms, water fountain, and bike racks. At the start, it's a paved walkway and a good way to warmup, because once the trail begins with the steps, there's quite a bit of elevation. It's 1.42 miles up, classified as extremely difficult. I do appreciate the blue reflectors along the trail because that helped guide me on the hike, and there are about 37 markers as well. The top is the same as the Echo Canyon trail, and usually busy especially on a weekend. It's tough coming down because of the loose gravel and rocks, which is why I took off a star. Also because most of this trail is exposed to the sun, so there's no shade relief. Parking is all parallel on the street which is fine, just gotta do some extra walking if it's busy. Overall a good workout, just not my favorite hiking spot.

Luke H.

Beginning of the trail is kind of lame, just views of mansions and the Phoenician, but it is challenging and as you rise above the livable areas it becomes quite beautiful. Parking is near impossible so be prepared for a bit of a walk from the car. It is only open sunrise-sunset so plan accordingly. If you decide to go earlier (and hop the fence), don't go before dusk, the trail gets narrow and losing your footing will definitely result in injury and a steep fall. Views are fantastic and getting to the top is definitely an achievement!

Carolyn C.

The Cholla Trail's got some great views, so it's worth visiting, but it's not an easy thing to do! Tip: There's pretty much zero parking at the trailhead, so your choices are to either Uber here or to park a ways away along Invergordon Road and then walk about a mile to the trailhead. The trail is mostly gravel, so dress and equip yourself accordingly.  Be sure to wear so good, solid hiking boots and to bring LOTS of water, as it can get pretty hot out here!

Cristina D.

Cholla Trail Pros: right next to the Phoenician, this short but steep trail provides beautiful views. I'd recommend avoiding this trail in the summer, and bringing plenty of water! Pros: Scenery: beautiful views, clearly marked aside from a couple spots that overlap with an older trail. In the spring, the mountain is green and is really gorgeous. Length: the whole trail is a max 3 miles, up and down- maybe even a little shorter than that! Cons: Steep: big incline! There is also done scrambling at the top of the hike, over large rocks. Make sure you wear proper footwear No dogs: it makes sense that no dogs are allowed on this trail- it really is too steep and not suitable for them. Crowds: on nicer, cooler days, and especially on weekends, this can be a pretty crowded trail. Other: I went a little off trail and found a rattlesnake, so be aware that they are up there too!

Stefany V.

Camel Back Mountain is pretty much THE hiking destination in Phoenix and Cholla Trail was the route we chose to tackle it. Used reviews here and info from AllTrails.com to plan ahead. Even going early in the morning (8AM) in December on a weekday, the trail was crowded. Trailhead is located in a residential area, highly recommend using rideshare or a friend for pickup and drop off, as parking is limited. The first half of the trail is quite manageable, which made me question the double black diamond "highly difficult" rating, but as we got halfway up the second peak, it was more climbing than hiking and I just couldn't hang. I'm not especially afraid of heights but started getting anxious and it just wasn't enjoyable heading into the home stretch- full disclosure, I tapped out. My guy made it all the way up and said the view was amazing. From the hikers we saw, it seemed more than half stopped at the saddle and turned back. Those who continued did include kids, but they're not really known for being aware of common danger. There are no animals (dogs) allowed on the trail, only one person seemed to overlook this rule and the dog did not look thrilled. At 3 miles round trip and ~1200 ft gain, there are great views throughout the hike. Take a backpack for your water bottles, you'll need your hands free to climb some sections.

Annie P.

Cholla Trail is rated "highly difficult" (double black diamond!!) and was apparently the easier one out of the two on Camelback Mountain! Although the trail is less than ~3 miles roundtrip + ~1,200 ft. climb, this was one of the most challenging hikes that I've ever completed due to my lack of hiking experience, the rock scrambles, and unpreparedness (I wore regular running sneakers instead of hiking shoes!). We managed to complete the hike in about ~2.5 hours. We came on a Saturday morning and it was very crowded. There are certain parts of the hike without any railing so I would proceed with caution as there were a few people that slipped. There are rock scrambles towards the top so you'll have to do some climbing, so you'll be dusty and potentially scraped up. The view is right in the middle of Phoenix so you have a gorgeous view of the suburbs and city once you reach the top. There are tons of photo ops throughout the trail and many friendly hikers who offer to take your photo for you. Don't forget to bring tons of water and stay hydrated! There's street parking on the side roads (parking on the main road leading to the trail is prohibited). Ubers will also drop you off on the main road as well.

Jennifer H.

Climbing Camelback Mountain is synonymous with being a Phoenician. Most everyone has at some point, but it's typically Echo Canyon trail that gets all the attention. Echo has handrails and numerous boulders to ascend on all fours for all you scramblers out there, with an approximately 1.3 mile trek with 1,200 ft climb to the 2,704 ft summit. The sister Cholla Trail, on the other side of the mountain, climbs the same elevation over about 1.5 miles. Both are moderately difficult, especially during the summer when some people get lost, dehydrated, and/or rescued, but you just have to play it smart. Bring plenty of water and know your limits. As with any hike with a decent elevation gain, you never underestimate it. Cholla Trail has more switch backs and is exposed but it's entertaining as you near the top. You're basically hiking the ridge of Camelback Mountain and it reminds me of trotting on the back of a stegosaurus' back as you eventually reach the same summit of Echo Canyon Trail. There is also some minimal scrambling but I feel it's a tad more friendly since it extends the climb over a longer distance on the switchbacks. I think it's more run-able than Echo on some parts, or you can just climb Cholla and run down Echo (or vise versa but then you'd have to run around the neighborhood to get back to your car). Either way, it's just really convenient and awesome to have such a beautiful pair of trails in the middle of the city!

Tara L.

Now perhaps partial credit is due to my natural embrace of new terrain and adventure, but I absolutely loved my morning hike at sunrise up the Cholla Trail. Although is was no longer dark by the time we parked and began our hike, it was still early enough to make enough strides to actually see sun rising in the distance. It was absolutely beautiful. On the way up, I was surprised to see how many people were already on their way down. Maybe it's because I'm not an avid hiker, but even with a headlight, I'd probably feel a little uncomfortable with the number of grooves and loose rocks to navigate. In terms of difficulty, I found it to be perfect. I consider myself athletic, so while there may be times I'm in better shape, my muscle memory and drive can usually compensate for whatever physical ability I may lack. I'd say when I went on this hike, my workout schedule had been light to moderate, and I still found this hike very manageable but not at all boring. It was also nice to see how chipper so many of the hikers passing us were. Everyone was so courteous, smiling and wishing us good morning. I will say though that on our way down, we probably encountered a more steady volume of folks heading up, so I'd assume the earlier, the better to arrive. Overall, this hike was the perfect blend of inspirational, beautiful and invigorating and will remain a memory that I will cherish.

Kathy V.

This is the 'easier' of the two trails to the top of Camelback Mountain. Easier is all relative, though. It is still rated extreme. It is 2.6 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 1100+ feet to the top. There is no parking allowed on the street with the Cholla Trailhead. The mountain is in the middle of several very fancy residential neighborhoods, as well as having a schmancy looking hotel at the foot of the mountain. There is street parking up on the connecting street. The walk to and from the trailhead (ride sharing services are also not allowed to drop you off at the trailhead...but rather up at the corner of the street) will probably add another mile on to your total walk. The first, and therefore last, mile are actually relatively easy. Sure it is a climb, and your legs and knees will feel it. But the last .3 mile is STEEP. Be ready for some climbing! I did alright with most of it, and just needed some encouragement at the really steep parts. The whole thing took us just over two hours, I believe, which included a rest and snack stop at the top. It isn't the prettiest hike I have ever done, being in the middle of the the city. But it certainly is challenging. The only downside is the trail runners. The trail is pretty narrow for the most part, rocky, and highly traveled. So people running up and down the trail is slightly frustrating. But to each their own. A nice hike, a bit frustrating to get to, and you will feel like a star when you finish!