Hiking Camelback Mountain AZ
The camel-shaped mountain landmarks the horizon of the city of Phoenix
Camelback Mountain is an excellent hike in Arizona, but this hike is not for the inexperienced hiker.
How To Get There
Camelback Mountain is located in the center of town in Phoenix AZ. The hike is about 2.5 miles and is considered very difficult. The climb is very steep with an elevation gain of 1264 feet over 1.2 miles.
Hiking Camelback Mountain is perfect for a tourist activity in Phoenix, it’s a pretty quick hike but is very tough. I think we hiked it in about 2 hours, 55 minutes going up and 55 minutes going back down. But we also sat at the top for a bit enjoying the beautiful view and taking some pictures.
Where To Park
Camelback is known for heavy traffic and the parking lots fill early. So, pack your patience and try to get there as close to sunrise as possible. The earlier the better, you want to be heading back down before it starts getting too hot. We had to park in the lower parking lot, but it wasn’t too far of a walk.
Proper Etiquette when Hiking
When hiking, use proper trail etiquette and remember ascending hikers have the right of way. At some of the points on the hike you are literally looking straight into the rocks so make sure to look up often to see the location of other hikers.
Don’t Leave Your Garbage!
Make sure to leave the mountain the way you found it, whatever you take up, make sure to bring it back down! Please don’t leave garbage from your snacks, even banana peels, and apple cores, which I did see up there (sad face).
This strenuous trail is surely worth it, we try to hike it at least once a year, sometimes more. It definitely gets your heart rate up and it’s a great workout for your quads and calves!
Using your hands!
In some spots, you may be almost crawling. Be prepared to use your hands!! The good news is that the rocks are pretty smooth so when you do use your hands they don’t get too scratched up.
The Summit of Camelback Mountain
Near the summit, the trail gets incredibly rocky and can be hard to follow. Take this section slowly, and watch your footing.
The summit has some fantastic views of Phoenix and the entire Paradise Valley. Make sure to pack your camera (or cell phone) for some beautiful photo ops.
Celebrate when you get to the summit because that sucker was hard, and you need to give yourself a pat on the back!!
What to bring on your hike
WATER!! There is no water supply on Camelback mountain once you begin climbing. Sunblock is a must, some of the trail is shaded but there is no shade at the summit, so make sure to block up before you hike and put a little tube in your backpack to reapply. Also a good pair of hiking shoes or boots are highly recommended.
You will want snacks, and for sure will work up an appetite!! It’s great to have a few light snacks to take up with you. I know it’s not a long hike but it’s nice to sit at the top with a snack while enjoying the view. Don’t forget to take your garbage back down!
Keep in mind that just because you made it to the top, the hard part is not over until you are at the trailhead!! I feel like going down was almost harder than the trek up and was hard on my old lady knees.
When you reach the bottom of the mountain, go celebrate with lunch and maybe a margarita!! You deserve it! I hope this was helpful for your next Camelback hike. Good Luck!
Cheers, Stephanie