Camelback Mountain

The iconic camel-shaped peak rising between Phoenix's Arcadia neighborhood and Paradise Valley, and the highest point in the metro at 2,706 ft. Two routes reach the summit — the Echo Canyon Trail (west) and Cholla Trail (east) — both short, steep, fully exposed, and rated extremely difficult, with hand-over-hand scrambling and sweeping valley views up top. Not a casual stroll; start early, bring plenty of water, and expect a packed trailhead lot.