If you’re a hiker or have ever been to Phoenix, you’ve probably heard of Camelback Mountain. It is a beast of a hike regardless of your route! There are two ways up, Echo Conyon Trail is the steeper more difficult route and the Cholla Trail is a tad longer making it less steep, but definitely not a cakewalk. Both require a 1400’ elevation gain to the summit.
With a 9, 7, and 4-year old in tow we planned to attempt the Cholla Trail. On our arrival to the trailhead we discovered it was closed for maintenance. Not to be bested by this beast we headed over to the Echo Canyon Trail! When we got the trail we were greeted by hikers with battle scars and stories of defeat. We gritted our teeth and headed up!
Our boys described this climb in three different parts, the rails, the rock climbs, and the top. It is not easy, but definitely do-able if you take your time and come prepared! The views from the top are definitely worth the climb, plan to spend at least 20 minutes up there soaking it in! The way down is more challenging than climbing up, we definitely earned our pizza and ice cream treat that night!
We were so proud of our boys for taking on this challenge, they never hesitated during the climb, in fact they loved it! They came away from it more confident as individuals, closer as a team, and with a sense of accomplishment, exactly what we want out of these adventures!
Tips for climbing with kids
- Let your kids lead up, you lead down. Down is definitely more dangerous!
- Keep your kids close at the top! It’s not a space to run around, there are many dangerous drop offs.
- Plenty of water, the boys having their own hydration packs has been so helpful on these hikes! (This Bass Pro Shops brand from Cabela’s has worked well for our boys)
Best time to visit:
There’s a theme with these desert adventures, anytime but summer. With temperatures over 100 degrees this climb would be a lot more difficult! There were many warnings about heat exhaustion and drinking enough water at the trailhead.
Where we stayed:
We enjoyed our VRBO rental in Litchfield Park, west of Phoenix. The backyard is the highlight with a solar heated pool and spa and a putting green. The boys absolutely loved this house! The hosts were very responsive to any questions during our stay.
Other things to do:
Phoenix is a great jumping point for other adventures, see our posts of Saguaro NP and Sedona.
If you’re there in early Spring you can check out a Spring Training game.
