Camelback Mountain tours: Summit Phoenix's highest peak

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/18

Duration3h

GroupUp to 10

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

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.

Good to know

Demanding physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for 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.