Camelback

There’s a mountain I see every day — sometimes from a distance — sometimes up close. It’s bold, and unmissable. Camelback Mountain rises right in the heart of Phoenix, shaped (as the name suggests) like the hump of a kneeling camel. It’s iconic, rugged, and always calling.

On my regular bike rides, Camelback is a familiar landmark. Most of my routes circle around it, winding through nearby streets and neighborhoods with the red rock all around. It’s more than just scenery — it’s a companion to the rhythm of my rides and always leaves me in awe.

But every now and then, I trade in my pedals for hiking shoes and go straight up the hump.

Camelback has two main trails: Cholla and Echo Canyon. Cholla is longer and more gradual (though still no joke), but I usually take Echo Canyon — the steeper, rock-scrambling, stair-climbing beast of a path. It’s the route that gets your heart pumping, your legs burning, and your breath short. From trailhead to summit, it’s about 45 minutes for me… give or take a few photo stops.

And speaking of photos — I’ve got a Strava screenshot from my last climb that maps the elevation and distance. It’s always fun to see the stats behind the sweat.

One of my favorite traditions tied to this mountain happens every year with my friend Will K. Every year on his birthday, he hikes Camelback — and for the last four years, I’ve had the privilege of joining him. There’s something special about marking time with a climb, especially on a trail that doesn’t get easier but somehow gets more meaningful.

There’s a moment near the top where the city spreads out beneath you — buildings shrinking into toy models, roads tracing neat lines, desert stretching out beyond the edges. You feel small, but in a good way. Humbled, refreshed, and alive.

Camelback isn’t just a mountain I see. It’s one I know.