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As of June 1, 2020, Echo Canyon Trail is once again open. Cholla Trail remains closed. At Echo Canyon Trailhead, limited parking naturally limits the number of hikers on trail and maintaining safe, social distances from fellow hikers on trail is encouraged.
At Echo Canyon, both parking lots are open, and the restroom is still available to use. For those hiking the Echo Canyon trail, keep in mind that the trail has several section with handrails. Gloves or protective hand wear are recommended for particularly cautious climbers. As a reminder, summer is our hottest season. If you are new to the area or new to hiking Camelback Mountain, we strongly encourage you to check out other, less strenuous trails this summer and to visit Camelback in the fall. Summer heat not only probes heat exhaustion, but invites innocently troublesome critters (bees, snakes) onto the hiking paths. Drink water, hike early, hike with friends and stay alert. Thank you! |
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As activity pauses on the global, national, state and local level, Camelback Mountain trails respond. In effort to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), Cholla Trail is temporarily closed and parking at Echo Canyon Trailhead is reduced to one lot (the bottom, north-facing lot). Camelback Mountain will reopen its trails when the government proposes it is safe to do so.
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No plans are yet set in stone, but the Cholla Trail Trailhead could relocate in the near future. The trailhead currently sits west of Invergordon Road, down Cholla Lane.
Regular hikers are familiar with the resistance to hiking traffic by the homeowners on Cholla Lane. Signs have been in place for over a year forbidding drop-offs or pick-ups at the trailhead and finally, these residents might see some relief. A proposed development on The Phoenician Resort’s property was recently approved. It will host 300 new residences and if the city agrees, a new trail entry point. The exact location of the new trailhead is to be determined; west of Invergordon and south of Vista Drive is the current proposal. What does this mean for hikers? The Phoenician Property development has no immediate effect on hikers, but in a few years’ time (maybe longer), hikers could be walking even farther to get to the trail. We can all support a calm trailhead transition (if any) by being respectful on the way to and from the trailhead. Please represent the #HikeCamelback community with dignity, keeping trash and bladder relief out of residents’ yards, noise to a minimum and respecting the no drop-off and pick-up enforcements. |
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\The “Take a Hike, Do It Right” Campaign launched in August 2015, but we want to take a minute to revisit the gist of the philosophy.
Hiking is one of most magnificent natural escapes locals have in the desert oasis, and it’s an important one to preserve. “Take a Hike, Do It Right” was designed to educate hikers, especially those coming to check out the trails from out of town. While we continue to urge hikers- local and visiting- to consider the hike’s impact on their body and health, we encourage hikers to consider the impact of their activity on the trails. Leave No Trace. Simple as that- leave no evidence that you were there! Keep empty water bottles on hand to recycle at the bottom of the trail. Save gum for the trash bin at the end of the trail. Stay on trail, and let rocks on the sidelines provide untouched shelter for wildlife. We are so lucky to have Camelback Mountain in our home, but let’s remember the mountain is home to animals and wildlife, too. Pick up after yourselves and respect the natural beauty of our favorite trails. |
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One day two sparkling pine trees are atop Camelback, and the next day they’re gone.
The last fifteen years have allowed locals and visitors to celebrate winter holidays with a Christmas Tree at the top of Camelback Mountain, where both Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail meet. A team of dedicated hikers carry the 15-foot tree in shifts. Hikers decorate the tree with ornaments, tree photo blast social media and Santa can usually be found delivering candy canes and sharing photos on Christmas day. This year, hikers were stunned to arrive at the peak after the Christmas Tree deliver to find it gone. Park Rangers had cut the tree in half and hauled it down the mountain. Right away, the public dubbed the Phoenix Parks and Rec Department as Scrooge. Of course, explanation followed. |
Photo by Gallemore Photography
“We deal with these things throughout the year,” said the P&R Department. Our concern is these can present a safety hazard bringing them up the trail… We must protect the natural state of the mountain preserves in desert parks.”
After much concern and many requests, the Park decided to allow the tree to be placed until January 1st and reinforced the “Leave No Trace” policy. As long we agree to not adorn the tree with environmentally harmful embellishments (tinsel, garland, glass, etc.), we’ll continue to celebrate Christmas at the top of Camelback. Thank you, Phoenix Parks and Recreation! |
Camelback Mountain Helicopter RescuesDecember 24 was a busy Tuesday for Phoenix fire crews, and not because of its proximity to a holiday.
The Phoenix Fire Department responded to four rescues on Camelback Mountain on Tuesday. One hiker went into cardiac arrest on Echo Canyon. Before the team arrived, a bystander performed CPR. Earlier in the morning, helped a 39-year-old BASE jumper suffering from a pelvis injury sustained during a bad landing on Echo Canyon. Crews also helped a visiting woman who slipped near the top of the mountain and an 18-year-old woman who injured her ankle. |
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The summer’s excessive heat gave hikers its final warning in 2016. Firefighter and helicopter missions saved as many lives as possible, but they could not save them all.
In July 2016, the Phoenix Fire Department reported 255 rescues so far in the year. 2015 saw 216 rescues. Camelback claimed a hiker on June 15, 2016. A 56-year-old man from England, Stephen Vanderhoeven, reportedly fell several hundred feet to his death on a steep area on Camelback Mountain. Vanderhoeven had water with him. Excessive heat took the lives of four hikers in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, Superstition Mountains, Finger Rock Canyon (Tucson) and Ventana Canyon (Tucson) on June 19, 2016. Firefighters saved a 23-year-old man on the top of Echo Canyon Trail on June 30, 2016. The hiker had heat-related illness. Firefighters airlifted a 12-year-old boy scout from a north Phoenix Mountain Preserve on July 24, 2016 without recovering his life. A technical rescue crew came to the aid of a family of three on July 25, 2016. A woman, the wife and mother of her hiking companions, suffered from heat related issues. All three showed signs of heat exhaustion. Fire officials rescued a man in his 50s who ran out of water while hiking on August 13, 2016. |
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Dogs are officially banned from Camelback Mountain.
Phoenix Parks and Rec banned dogs from Echo in 2015, and have now legally instated the rule on Cholla (as well as Piestewa Peak). Legitimate service dogs may still hike. The ruling responded to public survey results which reflected a great desire to ban dogs. Fines up to $2,500 will be issued for disregard of the directive. Pro tip: of the 80 trails in Phoenix, only three ban dogs. Check out other hikes. |
Phoenix Parks and Rec Survey Results
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@HikeCamelback saw a craze in its initial following, harnessing over three thousand Camelback Mountain hiking enthusiasts! Thank you to all of our followers who continue to post, we can’t wait to see what more 2016 brings!
If you aren’t following the handle already, find us at @HikeCamelback. Tag us or use the hashtag #hikecamelback to have your photo featured. |
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Sunset from the top of Camelback Mountain is a silencing experience. It calms nerves, softens hearts and reconnects the body with the universe. However, an overwhelming number of injuries and fatalities have left us needing to exit the hill before that time. It’s a bummer, but it will keep all of us safer. Besides, descending Cholla watching the sky turn pink and purple over Scottsdale or descending Echo as the sun sinks behind the Phoenix skyline and burns the sky orange are both really phenomenal ways to experience this time of night.
Please be sure to be off the trail at sunset to avoid injury (or worse), a $100 parking fine and possible trespassing fine. Thanks, hikers! |
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It’s true! Pups are no longer welcome to brave the strenuous climb up Echo Canyon Trail. This is for the safety of our best four-footed hiking companions, the safety of others on the moutain and the overall preservation of our iconic hiking trails.
Additionally, there is a ban to restrict dogs on Cholla Trail. Enjoy the climbs with your pups while it lasts, and visit to learn more about the potential ban. |
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