Camelback Mountain tours: Summit Phoenix's highest peak

The scramble to the top takes hands and legs, not just feet.

You climb 1,300 feet of elevation over three to four hours to reach the 2,707-foot summit of Camelback Mountain, the highest peak in Phoenix. Your certified guide provides all water, snacks, sunscreen and gear. The scrambling sections use hands and legs, and the view from the top spans the Sonoran Desert for fifty miles. Plan for a strenuous morning and solid fitness. That's what makes the summit possible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided Camelback Mountain Hiking Adventure

• Meet guide at trailhead
• Receive backpacks and supplies
• Begin ascent of Camelback Mountain
• Scramble over rocky sections
• Reach summit for 360-degree views
• Descend back to trailhead
• Enjoy cold beverages and snacks

The experience

Camelback Mountain rises 2,707 feet above Phoenix: the highest peak in the city and the one everyone comes for. The trailhead is where you meet your Mad Desert Trekking guide, and from there it's 1,300 feet of elevation gain over roughly three to four hours. The first half climbs steady switchbacks through creosote and palo verde. Then the mountain gets steep, and you're using your hands on rock, pulling yourself up sections that feel less like hiking and more like climbing. It's not technical (no ropes, no gear), but it's real scrambling, and that's what makes the view from the top feel earned.

Your guide carries the logistics so you don't have to think about them. Backpacks, sunscreen, bottled water, sports drinks, snacks, all provided. The guide is either Wilderness First Responder or EMT certified, which matters on a strenuous hike in the Sonoran Desert where the sun doesn't negotiate. The pace is set to get you to the summit, not to rush past it. Once you're up there, the view opens in every direction: Phoenix sprawls below, and the desert stretches fifty miles out. On a clear day you can see the mountains that ring the whole valley. People stand there longer than they expect to.

The hike is strenuous (the reference material doesn't soften that word), and it's built for people with solid cardiovascular fitness and the kind of strength that comes from regular activity. The rock scrambling sections aren't dangerous if you're comfortable with exposure and uneven footing, but they're not a gentle climb either. Pregnant travelers and anyone with spinal injuries shouldn't do this one. Everyone else who can handle the physical demand gets a morning on the most popular peak in Phoenix, with a guide who knows the mountain and the desert around it, and comes back down with cold drinks waiting.

What’s included

Your hike includes a professional, certified adventure guide, backpacks, sunscreen, bottled water, sports drinks, trail snacks, and cold beverages after you return from the summit. The guide meets you at the trailhead and leads you through the 3-4 hour ascent, scrambling sections, and descent.

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day, 6 start times, from US$ 145 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: 06:30, 07:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 13:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 107 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Physically demandingPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Mad Desert Trekking

Is this one for you?Right for hikers with solid cardiovascular fitness who want the most popular peak in Phoenix with a certified guide handling water, snacks and safety. Expect strenuous climbing and hands-on rock scrambling. That's what gets you to the 2,707-foot summit and the view that makes it worth the effort.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Camelback Mountain hike?

Three to four hours total, including the ascent, time at the summit, and descent.

What is the elevation gain on Camelback Mountain?

1,300 feet of elevation gain to reach the 2,707-foot summit.

Do I need rock climbing experience for Camelback Mountain?

No, but the upper sections involve hands-on rock scrambling without ropes. You need comfort with exposure and uneven footing, not technical climbing skills.

What does the guide provide?

Backpacks, sunscreen, bottled water, sports drinks, trail snacks, and cold beverages after the hike. Your guide is certified in Wilderness First Response or EMT.

Who should not do this hike?

Pregnant travelers, anyone with spinal injuries, and travelers with poor cardiovascular health. The hike is strenuous and requires high physical fitness.

Where do I meet the guide?

At the trailhead in the hiking area. Public transportation options are available nearby.

What will I see from the summit?

A 360-degree view of the Phoenix metro area and the Sonoran Desert extending fifty miles in every direction.

Is this hike difficult?

Yes, it's rated strenuous. The scrambling sections and 1,300 feet of elevation gain require solid fitness and comfort on steep, uneven terrain.