Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain, named for its resemblance to the back and head of a camel, is located at the south end of the Town of Paradise Valley and is favorite hiking area for locals and visitors alike.

Two main hiking trails lead to the 2704-foot summit. The Echo Canyon Trail is 1.2 miles and ascends 1264 feet up the north side of the mountain. The Cholla Trail is 1.4 miles and ascends 1200 feet from the eastern side. Both trails have steep grades and are considered to be strenuous, with dirt, gravel, and boulders to be encountered along the way. Depending on a hiker's fitness level, the hike can take from about 1.5 to 3 hours round trip. But the spectacular view from the top is certainly worth the trip! Unfortunately, many hikers don't anticipate the difficulty of the hike and come ill-prepared with improper foot gear and clothing and insufficient water for the trek. Each year a number of hikers require emergency evacuation by helicopter. 

There are a limited number of parking spaces at the Echo Canyon Recreation Area trailhead (east of Tatum Blvd. on McDonald) and there is no parking lot at the Cholla trailhead (Invergordon/64th Street and Cholla Lane).  As a result of this limited parking, hikers often have to park quite far away and have the additional distance to be covered at the beginning and end of their Camelback Mountain hike. 

The red sandstone "Praying Monk" rock formation is located on the northeastern end of Camelback Mountain.  It rises approximately 100 feet and is a popular rock climbing area, with several permanent anchor bolts in place.

"Efforts to protect Camelback Mountain as a natural preserve began in the early 1910s. However, by the 1960s, nearly all of the area had been sold to private interests. Federal and state authorities attempted to stop development above the one thousand and six hundred feet level. They failed to halt development and in 1963 efforts to arrange a land exchange failed in the Arizona State legislature. In 1965, United States Senator Barry Goldwater took up the cause and helped to secure the higher elevations against development." (Source: Wikipedia)