When I think of hiking in Phoenix, there is one mountain that comes to mind above all others: Camelback Mountain. It stand as the tallest mountain within the city limits of Phoenix. There are two main trails that lead to the summit, coming from opposite directions. The Cholla trail ascends from the east, following the spine of the "camel's back". The parking situation is a little odd, since there is no parking at the trailhead. You actually have to park along Invergordon, and then walk about 1/4 mile to the trailhead. From that point, you're looking at about a 3 mile roundtrip that gains over 1,200 feet of elevation. This is one of the first hikes that started my life obsession with hiking. The trail is great, the views are awesome, and your heart will be pumping the entire hike. The only downfalls, in my opinion, are the parking situation, and the massive crowds that flock to the mountain in the cooler months. If you can stand the summer heat, there's nothing like having that trail all to yourself, drenched in sweat, standing alone on the summit. Call me crazy, but in the summer that mountain belongs to me.....all the pansies can have it when the weather cools off.
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