Echo Canyon Trailhead

A wonderful experience of being close to nature and present in the moment. Despite reviews warning this would be crowded, I found plenty of parking available at 3pm on a warm Friday afternoon (90/32). There were plenty of people coming up and down the trail, but parking was fine and I managed to hike most of it without seeing too many folks or being held up. Warning 1 - if you are not fit, you are going to have to take your time and you will find this hard. There’s a lot of elevation and the last third is scrambling rocks. Warning 2 - respect nature and come prepared. Allow at least 3 hours before sunset - I dread to think what coming down in the dark would be like but I’d expect injury and a fine from the rangers when you do finally arrive at the bottom. Take twice as much water as you think and pack in some energy bars for the top. Enjoy!

What a great hike! I would say it’s more Climbing than Hiking. So if you like climbing up rocks, this is for you. I loved it. Very tiring but very rewarding I would say average time is 2-3 hours It took me 60 min up, 12 min hanging out at the top and then 45 min back down. I hustled though so if you are at a more leisure pace and stop along the way it’s more 2-3hr

Pulling into the Echo Canyon Trailhead lot at Camelback Mountain, you immediately feel the high-stakes energy of one of Arizona’s most iconic and intense urban hikes. The facilities at the base are surprisingly well-appointed, with clean restrooms, chilled water fountains, and a shaded seating area where you can see hikers mentally prepping for the 1,280-foot vertical gain ahead. Starting the trek, the first quarter-mile is a deceptive "warm-up" on gravel paths, but it quickly shifts into a "double black diamond" challenge that feels more like an outdoor stair-stepper at a 45-degree angle. I found myself gripping the heavy-duty metal handrails on the slick rock sections and eventually bouldering over massive granite chunks, which really pushed my quads to the limit. The crowd is a lively mix of hardcore trail runners and determined tourists, and while the parking lot is a notorious battleground that requires an arrival before 6:00 AM (or a rideshare drop-off), the camaraderie at the 2,704-foot summit makes it all worth it. Standing at the top with a 360-degree view of the Valley, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, you get a 10/10 sense of accomplishment that’s hard to find anywhere else in the city.

No dogs, about 2/3 hour easy hike. If you’re over 50, your knees may not like the descent. Lots of traffic and the views aren’t exactly breathtaking, but fun anyway!

This was an incredible hike, steel, rock climbing, areas with railings. Well labeled trial the entire way. Beautiful areas the whole way up to stop and see the sights. You will be using your hands for a good portion of the way up and down. The top is so worth it. I was told parking is a little iffy but I got there around 1pm and there were a couple spots. Restrooms and water st the start. Please don’t be that person to wear unsafe shoes. People were sliding with the gravel along the way because of shoe choices. I saw two dogs and that was fun. It’s definitely labeled correctly as extremely difficult but take your time and you’ll be fine.