Another must-have is a map or guide ... Here's what you need to know. Camelback Mountain has two main trails: Echo Canyon and Cholla. Echo Canyon (about 1.2 miles) is a steeper, shorter and ...

Soaring more 2,700 feet in elevation, Camelback's summit offers spectacular views of Phoenix and Scottsdale and can be reached from the 2.5-mile (incredibly steep) out-and-back Echo Canyon Trail.

But this year, we've rediscovered the pleasures of Cholla Trail on Camelback Mountain — especially the killer scramble up the last fifth of the 1.75-mile hike to the summit. If you enjoy a hands ...