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Camelback Mountain (Cholla Trail)

Updated
Ridgeline of Camelback mountain along the Cholla trail
Hiking the Cholla trail: Camelback mountain
Paradise valley as seen from the Cholla trail: Camelback mountain
Views from the Cholla Trail
The Cholla trail on Camelback Mountain
Chuckwalla on the Cholla trail
From the top of Camelback Mountain
Cholla trail - Camelback mountain
Map: Cholla trail at Camelback mountain
Elevation plot: Cholla trail

Location

How to Get There
This hike is located in Phoenix, AZ.

From Camelback Road, turn North on Invergordon Rd. Park along Invergordon Road on the west side. The signed trailhead is between Cholla lane and Chaparral Rd on the west side of Invergordon Road. There is no parking at the trailhead, but there are restrooms and water.
addressone
Camelback Mountain
city
Paradise Valley
state
AZ
country
USA
Region
Phoenix Area and Central Arizona

Hike details

Distance
3.50 [Miles] Total
Hike Distance- Details
3.5 miles round trip
Time
2.00 [Hours]
Time-details
It took us two hours with a 15 minute stop at the top for lunch.
Elevation Gain
1,500 Total Elevation Gain [Feet]
Elevation Details
Elevation change: about 1400 ft climb.
Hike Trail Type
Out and Back

Season

Best Season
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • October
  • November
  • December
Worst Season
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
Season Details
all year (recommend hiking early AM in the summer months)
Date Hike completed
May 09, 2015

Solitude

Solitude
Low
Solitude Details
This is a very popular urban hike. Expect to meet 40-100 people on this hike during a weekend.

Difficulty

Difficulty Rating
Moderate
difficulty detail
Be Aware of: Scrambling.
30 yr old Recommendation: Quick climb with some good city views at the top. This is a Moderate hike. There is some fun and slightly challenging scrambling near the top.

Permits

Permit Info
No permits needed.
Be Aware of
Parking can be challenging, as this is a popular hike. Some scrambling is required. Frequently crowded.

Hike up Camelback mountain using the Cholla trail in Phoenix, Arizona

Camelback mountain is a popular hike, for good reason. The views from the top are spectacular and the hiking is fun. Recently (October 2022) the city of Phoenix revised and improved the start of this trail. The trailhead was moved out of the nearby neighborhood and restrooms/water were added. You still need to park along the west side of Invergordon road to get trailhead access, as there is no parking lot at the trailhead.

The Cholla Trail is less steep and a bit longer (3.5 miles round trip) than the Echo Canyon trail. From the trailhead, there are excellent views of the Phoenician resort as well as some of the finer houses and resorts surrounding the mountain. As you climb, views abound from right and left. The trail is well marked and easy to follow for the first 1.5 miles. The last 0.25 miles require some scrambling. Follow the blue reflectors reflectors on the rock to stay on the route. Enjoy the views from the top!

Map

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