If you are thinking of hiking the Echo Canyon Trail on Camelback Mountain, please check out my post to decide if this is a good fit for you and your group. Happy Travels!
A Short Summary:
Who it's for: This hike is for you if you are willing to take it slow, or you are an experienced hiker. If you are able to handle about 2.5 hours of sun exposure without health issues, and climb over some boulders this hike is for you.
Who it's NOT for: Dogs are not allowed, so if you are a dog, this hike is not for you. Also, some spots may be too steep for small children, so it’s not for them either. There are areas where hand rails are needed and a bit of boulder climbing, so if you are physically unable to do that, sorry, not for you. If you are thinking of hiking this trail in the Summer and don’t do well with prolonged heat or sun exposure, it’s not for you.
Camelback Trails Details
Camelback Mountain has (2) trails. The Echo Canyon trail and the Cholla trail. The Cholla trail has been closed for over 2 years but is supposed to be opening again soon. It is known as the easier of the two trails but it is still considered an intermediate/challenging hike.
The Echo Canyon Trails is the tougher of the two trails and it is considered a challenging hike. It is and out and back hike that is about 2.5 miles long. There are parts of this trail where a hand rail is needed by most hikers and people often underestimate the difficulty because of its popularity (kind of an “if so and so can do it, so can I” mentality).
Take plenty of water, sunscreen, and protective clothing (sun hat, sun glasses) there is not a lot of shade and it is common for hikers to experience heat stroke on this hike.
The main take away from Echo Canyon Trail: It is a beautiful and popular hike. It isn’t too long and it’s a favorite of locals and tourists alike because if its convenient location and gorgeous views. However, people underestimate the steepness of the climb and often come unprepared.
Some Final Thoughts if You Decide to Go
Here is my advice if you decide to hike the Echo Canyon Trail:
1) Bring water and sunscreen
2) Go slow if needed. No one gets a trophy at the top, so take your time.
3) Turn around if you feel you can’t make it, don’t wait until it’s too late. Going down the mountain is easier than going up and it’s better to be safe on the ground than stuck on the mountain if you are experiencing: fatigue, dehydration, or head exhaustion.
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