Camelback Mountain, located in the scenic Sonoran Desert, is the most prominent landmark of the Phoenix skyline and is easily recognized by its distinctive camel-like head, “saddle” and hump. Incredible beauty, majestic silhouette, intriguing rock formations, sensational views and the outright challenge draw hardcore hikers, fitness maniacs and fascinated tourists to the picturesque mountain year around. Camelback has two established summit trailheads: Echo Canyon (Northern) and Cholla (Eastern), which are strenuous and difficult to hike and among the steepest trails in Arizona.

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The following candid photos of Camelback Mountain were taken during various weekly climbs over the past several years. Although a few photos were taken with a Canon AE-1 35mm film camera, most were shot with a compact Canon A620 or S500 digital camera, since I do not normally lug a large dSLR up the mountain on weekly treks. I attempted to keep the photos in some logical order, starting from the mountain’s east side Cholla Trailhead to the “saddle” area, which is roughly half way up, and then the remaining trail to the summit. Currently, many segments of the mountain's two trails are not yet included here. I will be filling in the gaps with the 1000s of photos I’ve have taken during various climbs, so please stop back soon.
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Camelback Mountain Trek
The following synopsis describes a climb of Camelback Mountain, starting at the eastern Cholla Tailhead, continuing to the summit, then down the northern Echo Canyon trail to the ramada at the trailhead. The trek then reverses and backtracks up the Echo Canyon Trail to the summit and back down the Cholla Trail. I shot a vivid photographical essay (219 photos) of the spectacular climb but still have to process them for the web. Until then, the following compendium and candid photos from my weekly climbs will have to suffice.

Starting at the eastern Cholla Trailhead, the relentless climb begins with a series of rocky switchbacks that ascend Camelback’s telltale granite hump. Along the way, several overlooks are passed, each offering dramatic views of the three Phoenician Golf Courses before the trail eventually reaches the mountain’s large scenic saddle. From the saddle, the climb starts in earnest with the trail following the ridgeline of the camel’s head. This part of the trail is steep and difficult, encountering large granite formations, sheer drop-offs, jagged crevices and a bouldery ridgeline, requiring much hand-over-foot scrambling before reaching the south rim of the summit (1.625 miles total to the summit’s 2704’ elevation above sea-level).

Once at the summit, the reward is panoramic views of the greater Phoenix area, which I digitally captured in a 360-degree clockwise rotation beginning with Mummy Mountain and the legendary Camelback Inn to the north; an exquisite Paradise Valley estate along with large horse barn, grass pasture and exercise arena to the northeast; also to the northeast lies the McDowell Mountains and Pinnacle Peak with Four Peaks in the distance; Red Mountain on the fringe of the Salt River Valley and the giant monolith Superstition Mountain with its fabled Lost Dutchman Gold Mine to the east; Papago Mountain Park and South Mountain along with the Estrella Mountains in the background to the south; downtown and uptown Phoenix as well as the Camelback Road corridor and renown Biltmore Resort to the southwest; the White Tank Mountains to the west; and Squaw Peak in the foreground with the Bradshaw Mountains beyond to the northwest. Binoculars offer close-up views of details around the valley, including jumbo passenger jets taking off and landing at Sky Harbor Airport to the south.

Beginning at the summit’s west rim, the hike heads down Camelback’s formidable Echo Canyon Trail (1.2 miles), initially snaking its way down a boulder-strewn gorge then through spectacular red sandstone cliffs, outcroppings, buttes and alcoves while passing many splendid panoramic vistas of the city before descending a steep handrail assisted slippery-rock area. The trail then follows the base of a huge cliff leading to a small saddle offering great views of weirdly eroded boulders, sheer cliff faces and Squaw Peak in the distance. Now the trail makes its way around some huge, oddly-carved boulders lining the trail before meandering down a long cobbled stairway formed by a series of railroad ties, crossing a sandy wash and finally rising up to the trailhead at the Echo Canyon Recreation Area ramada (at the mountain’s north-side McDonald Drive entrance). Looking southeast from the ramada offers a picturesque view of the wind-carved “praying monk” landmark rock outcropping, located high up on an imposing sandstone butte overlooking the ramada.

The return trip begins at the trailhead adjacent the ramada. After a quick drop through the wash, the rugged trek ascends back up Echo Canyon with the stretch of rough steps leading to the small saddle, again offering outstanding views of the unique boulders, red cliff faces and “praying monk.” The trail gets steeper as it approaches the handrail-studded slickrock area at the base of the huge cliff. Next, the trail passes through the stretch of giant cliffs, outcroppings, buttes and alcoves before the long scramble up the boulder-scattered gorge, where you choose your path as best you can before reaching the summit’s west rim. From the summit’s south rim, we pick up the Cholla trail that follows the bouldery ridge of the camel’s head down to the mountain’s large distinctive saddle. The decent continues down the rocky switchbacks, past hole five of the palm-lined Phoenician Desert Golf Course, to the Cholla trailhead, then eastward down Cholla Lane to Invergordon Road and parking.