Camelback Mountain

At the southern intersection of the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, sits the Valley's most distinctive landmark - Camelback Mountain.   From either the south or the north, it clearly resembles a kneeling dromedary, with it's head facing west and it's larger of two humps reaching 2,700 feet in elevation.  The highest point in the city of Phoenix, it offers panoramic views of the urban sprawl and surrounding mountains.

Fortunately for area hikers and nature lovers, Phoenix maintains a popular trail and trailhead in the park.  A recently expanded parking area at Echo Canyon is the ideal gateway to exploring not just the peaks but the unique desert landscape in the heart of the metropolitan area.   Many people consider the Echo Canyon Trail to the summit or the alternate Cholla Trail from the east as the most difficult hikes in the city's many mountain parks.  It's a steep ascent that's graded in only a few places.  As a result, you've got to maneuver a path through massive granite boulders, sometimes climbing steep rocky faces while pulling yourself up using protective rails.   The ascent is a test of anyone's aerobic capacity, while descending is a test of your concentration to avoid sliding on loose gravel or misjudging the rock to rock choreography.

But for the fit nature lover, the park promises red rock beauty that is distinct from the geology of other local parks like Piestewa Peak and South Mountain.   The rock surfaces seem to be granite and in some cases sandstone versus the other parks that are more of a schist or shale.  The massive surfaces of stone, whether in the form of cliffs, boulders or canyons, frame stunning vistas at every turn.

Lots of native flora like saguaro cacti and palo verde trees contribute to ideal habitat for desert wildlife.  Many lizards call the area home including local curiosities such as chuckwallas and gila monsters.   Of course birds are quite common.  On a recent hike I saw gnatcatchers, rock wrens and hummingbirds.  But most interesting were the species that thrive on the sheer cliffs.  Many falcons nest on high, protected ledges.  And white-throated swifts soar from dizzying heights, catching insects invisible to our human eyes.

Many people race to the top of Camelback Mountain multiple times in an outing as a test of endurance and for training, covering the ascent and descent in a mind-blowing 45 minutes.  Kudos to these determined athletes.   But I'd rather leave the stairmaster at the gym, and take my time discovering the wonders of this beautiful mountain.

Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, as seen from about 3 miles away in the Papago Park area of Phoenix.

View of Camelback Mountain from the west, and the author's neighborhood.  The highest peak is the camel's hump.  

A closer view, again from the west.  Sunset's light illuminates the mountain's red rocks.  The small rock formation on the left is called Praying Monk and is close to the Echo Canyon Trailhead.  To his right is the camel's head.

Steep ascent on Echo Canyon Trail.  Note the use of railings to aid the climb in both directions.

Sheer rock wall on Echo Canyon Trail.  Note the lone hiker in red at the bottom center of the photograph - he's a tiny speck against the high cliff.

View of Cholla Trail, the eastern trail into the park, from near the summit.  The granite boulders in the foreground are typical of the obstacles that make the final ascent a scramble.

Central Phoenix is southwest of the mountain.  The Estrella Mountains loom in the distance.

View of the summit and a number of accomplished hikers as seen from the eastern approach, Cholla Trail.  Their view down is sometimes vertigo-inducing.

White-throated swifts add to the splendor of the dizzying heights.

Areas of the mountain are frequently closed to hikers and rock climbers because falcons regularly nest high on the cliff's ledges.  The above raptor appears to be a prairie falcon.

A cropped shot of an occupied ledge and nest.  I believe the visible bird is a prairie falcon fledgling.  The droppings-stained rocks are a easy way to identify a nesting site.   To find out whether it's occupied or not in the current season takes some patience and observation. 

There are some humbler birds on the mountain, like the rock wren.

The lower portion of the Cholla Trail is north facing and shaded in several areas.  Delicate succulents manage to survive the extreme heat of our dry summers.

A common lizard, the chuckwalla, enjoying the sun on a cool morning.   The French use the verb "se lézarder" to describe lazing about or basking in the sun.  To all the athletes rushing up and down the mountain, Chucky and I want to know, "What's the rush?"