Update: A Look at Why Hiking Camelback Mountain's Cholla Trail Is So Popular

The Cholla Trail at Camelback Mountain was in the news again this week as people who live on Cholla Lane in Phoenix are annoyed at the number of hikers who pass through their neighborhood and want the city to move the trailhead and part of the trail.  The trail is so popular because it is a stunner, as you see in this slideshow from 2014. At the summit, or the camels biggest hump at 2,704 feet, you have killer 360-degree views of the entire Valley and even all the way over to Superior. While it is considered an "urban" hike, it is one of the most difficult, and you should come prepared. The Cholla Trail starts at the tail of the camel. You can park on 64th Street and walk up Cholla Lane to get to the trailhead. The trail winds its way up the first hump, down through the saddle, and finally up the second hump, ending at the summit. It's a distance of approximately 1.5 miles one-way. Bring water and your camera. Read the complete feature story on Camelback Mountain's Echo Canyon here.

Photos by Andrew Pielage