Camelback Mountain

Camelback Mountain (O'odham: Cew S-wegiom) is a mountain in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The English name is derived from its shape, which resembles the hump and head of a kneeling camel.[3] The mountain, a prominent landmark of the Phoenix metropolitan area, is located in the Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area between the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix and the town of Paradise Valley. It is a popular recreation destination for hiking and rock climbing.

This article is about a mountain in Arizona. For the Pocono ski resort, see Camelback Mountain Resort.
Camelback Mountain
Highest point
Elevation2,706 ft (825 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence1,334 ft (407 m)[2]
Coordinates33°30′53″N 111°57′42″W[1]
Geography
Camelback Mountain is located in Arizona
Camelback Mountain
Camelback Mountain
LocationMaricopa County, Arizona, U.S.
Parent rangePhoenix Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Paradise Valley
Geology
Mountain typegranite, sandstone
Climbing
Easiest routeEcho Canyon trail, Cholla trail

History
High school student paints Camelback Mountain in 1964

A cave discovered on the north side of Camelback Mountain indicates that it was used as a sacred site by the prehistoric Hohokam culture before they abandoned the area in the 14th century.[4]

In January 1879, United States President Rutherford B. Hayes included Camelback Mountain as part of a one million acre (4,000 km2) reservation for the Salt River Pima and Maricopa American Indian tribes.[5] Six months later, at the behest of Charles Poston, the Arizona Territorial Legislature reversed the decision in order to ensure the primacy of the 5000 non-Indian area residents as well as their continued access to Salt River water.[6]

Efforts to protect Camelback Mountain as a natural preserve began in the early 1910s. However, by the 1960s, nearly all of the area had been sold to private interests. Federal and state authorities attempted to stop development above the one thousand and six hundred feet level. They failed to halt development and in 1963 efforts to arrange a land exchange failed in the Arizona State legislature. In 1965, United States Senator Barry Goldwater took up the cause and helped to secure the higher elevations against development. The area became a Phoenix city park in 1968.[7]

The peak lends its name to a major east-west street in the Phoenix area called Camelback Road that starts in Scottsdale and goes about 34 miles (55 km) west past the West Valley suburbs of Goodyear and Litchfield Park. It starts again past the White Tanks.

Camelback Mountain is designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride.[8]

Geology

The mountain is composed of a geologic unconformity between two separate rock formations. The higher part of the peak is Precambrian granite (ca. 1.5 billion years old). The head of the camel is predominantly red sedimentary sandstone from the Chattian stage of the Oligocene epoch (ca. 25 million years old).[9]

Recreation

Two hiking trails ascend 1,280 feet (390 m) to the peak of Camelback Mountain. The Echo Canyon Trail is 1.14 miles (1900 m) and the Cholla Trail is 1.4 mi (2300 m). Both trails are considered strenuous with steep grades. The hiking path has dirt, gravel, boulders, and some handrail-assisted sections. The average hike requires a round trip time of 1.5 to 3 hours.[10]

The Praying Monk is a red sandstone rock formation which is used for rock climbing. Located on the northern slope, the formation resembles the silhouette of a person kneeling in prayer.[11] It rises approximately 100 feet (30 m) and the eastern face has several permanent anchor bolts for attaching a belay rope.[12]

  • Aerial view
    Aerial view
  • View along the trail
    View along the trail
  • As viewed from Camelback Road.
    As viewed from Camelback Road.
  • Camelback summit, viewed from red sandstone formation to the northwest
    Camelback summit, viewed from red sandstone formation to the northwest
  • Cholla Trail.
    Cholla Trail.
  • Summit, viewed from Cholla Trail to the southeast.
    Summit, viewed from Cholla Trail to the southeast.
  • Ringtail cat at summit.
    Ringtail cat at summit.
  • Cave on north side of mountain.
    Cave on north side of mountain.
  • Rock formations, Echo Canyon trail.
    Rock formations, Echo Canyon trail.
  • Panorama, just below the summit, at right.
    Panorama, just below the summit, at right.
  • Red sandstone formation just off Echo Canyon Trail.
    Red sandstone formation just off Echo Canyon Trail.
  • View from south end of summit showing formations as well as distant Piestewa Peak (background, center).
    View from south end of summit showing formations as well as distant Piestewa Peak (background, center).
  • Echo Canyon Trail.
    Echo Canyon Trail.
  • Close-up of geological unconformity, off Echo Canyon Trail.
    Close-up of geological unconformity, off Echo Canyon Trail.
  • Sunrise panorama, Cholla Trail.
    Sunrise panorama, Cholla Trail.

See also

References
  1. "Camels Back 2". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  2. "Camelback Mountain, Arizona". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
  3. Driggs, Gary (2008). Camelback Mountain. Arcadia Publishing. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-7385-4840-1.
  4. (Driggs 2008, p. 23)
  5. (Driggs 2008, p. 27)
  6. (Driggs 2008, p. 27)
  7. Lindstrom, Matthew J.; Bartling, Hugh (2003). "8: "The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back"". Suburban sprawl: culture, theory, and politics. Rowman & Littlefield.
  8. "Phoenix Points of Pride". City Attractions. City of Phoenix. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-02-19. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  9. (Driggs 2008, p. 9)
  10. Liu, Charles (2006). 60 hikes within 60 miles. Phoenix: Menasha Ridge Press. p. 10. ISBN 9780897325936.
  11. (Driggs 2008, p. 20)
  12. Driggs, Gary (July 1998). Camelback: Sacred Mountain of Phoenix. Arizona Historical Foundation. pp. 146–156. ISBN 0-910152-17-9.
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