Camelback Mountain

This Arizona mountain resembles a kneeling camel.

Hikers love to visit Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, Arizona. The mountain looks very much like a kneeling camel with a hump and head. Camelback Mountain is a 20-minute drive from downtown Phoenix and is a popular attraction for visitors and locals alike. Thousands of hikers visit each year. The Echo Canyon Hike and the Cholla Trail are the most challenging. Both trails take hikers up to the summit, at 1,420 feet, with its awesome 360-degree views of the city. Camelback Mountain became a city park in 1968 and is right next to a neighborhood called Arcadia. The distance of the hike up and back is 2.5-miles and takes on average 2 - 3 hours roundtrip.

The trailhead has parking, restrooms, benches and water. This is a very popular hike, so the parking lot is quite full all week long. When there are excessive heat warnings, Camelback Mountain is closed. It is best to hike Camelback Mountain from October to May, either early in the day or later in the evening. The hikes are steep and rocky, but they do have handrails close to the top. Please note that dogs are prohibited on both trails. Be on the lookout for desert tortoises, chuckwalla, lizards, cottontail rabbits, and rattlesnakes. Local plants include saguaro, cholla, and prickly pear cacti. If you love hiking, explore this gorgeous desert landscape in Pheonix.