Camelback Mountain Sunset Hikes CANCELLED: Avoid the fines
I hike either Piestewa Peak or Camelback Mountain several times a week, year-round. We’re lucky in Phoenix to have amazing hiking options right in the heart of the city!
A favorite tradition for years was my Sunday Camelback Mountain sunset hike, but I’ve had to readjust things due to new rules and fines on hikers.
The View from the Top
You get a 360-degree view of the Valley of the Sun, from Glendale to Phoenix to Tempe to Scottsdale and beyond.
The sun sets spectacularly behind Glendale and the White Tank Mountains on the far western edge of the Valley.
Especially with clouds in the sky, Camelback Mountain sunset hikes are just amazing. They’re irresistible for photographers, who don’t want to let a moment of the reds, oranges, and purples go to waste.
The days of lingering up on the mountain until after the sun has set are over. The city says: it’s too dangerous, for both hikers AND the firefighter crews who are forced to climb up to find and rescue stranded or injured hikers.
This photo, taken at sunset about halfway up the mountain, cost me $118:
The $118 photo
More than one hundred bucks, and it certainly didn’t go to the photographer!
In the spring of 2022, I overstayed my welcome at Camelback Mountain, and for the first time ever got fined.
I figure, I’ve hiked Camelback more than a thousand times over the years (literally, I’ve counted), so $118 is a small price to pay for the joy and mental stability it provides me 🙂
Several nights, I’ve been up there past closing time, and it finally caught up with me.
We were about 10 minutes after the “official” sunset, and heading down. We could see from the first overlook (before the steps and railing) the ranger drive his truck up to my car, pause for a minute, and leave a ticket.
I thought it might be a warning? Nope. But after many verbal warnings, it was my time.
Again, the $118 fine, seen below, was worth it, for all of those sunset hikes over the years.
The Warnings
If you pull into Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon parking lot around 90 minutes before sunset, you’ll be greeted by a friendly Phoenix City Parks Ranger, who informs you: the parking lot closes at sunset.
There are signs posted at the trailhead, warning of tickets.
As of late 2022, there are also signs on the first stretch of the trail, telling people to leave by sunset.
The entry gate closes at sunset, but the Echo Canyon lot is still full of cars on nice evenings beyond “closing time.”
Why Camelback’s Sunset Hikes were Cancelled
The City of Phoenix park rangers only started enforcing the “closed at sunset” rule in recent years.
We used to do sunset hikes all the time. The influx of tourists and nighttime rescues undoubtedly put an end to them.
In my “day job” as a TV reporter, I’ve covered countless hiker rescues on Camelback. After-dark rescues get much more dangerous.
Even for experienced hikers, you can easily wander off the trail at Camelback Mountain once you get beyond “the railings” and are halfway up. All rocks in the moonlight start looking the same!
The helicopter is often brought in to search for the lost or injured hiker, which adds another element of inherent risk to the first responders.
I do understand the reasoning, safety issues, and risk of having to send search crews of firefighters up looking for lost hikers.
Other Safety Changes at Camelback Mountain
In 2021, the most popular trails in Phoenix began closing on “excessive heat” days.
The term “excessive” is relative, but for us it usually means high temperatures of 110+.
The Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain and the main Summit Trail at Piestewa Peak close between 11:00am and 5:00pm to hikers on these days.
The city usually makes a public announcement the day prior on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Plus, your friendly local news people will remind you, too 🙂
How to STILL get Sunset Photos at Camelback
Fines and safety rules aside, you can still get sunset photos at Camelback.
You can ride your bike in and park it at Camelback, and ride out after sunset.
You can also take a rideshare to the driveway and walk up.
If you’re an early riser, you could always try for sun*rise.* During certain times of the year, you’ll have a line of cars waiting for the ranger to open up the gates to the lot before sunrise.
I check the sunset time each Sunday, and give myself the normal allotment of hiking time necessary (varies with the heat and the seasons). I just make sure I’m down to the final leg of the mountain (with the parking lot in view) by sunset.
The rangers aren’t aggressively looking to ticket hikers and ruin experiences, so I’ve found: they allow you to finish your hike in the post-sunset glow.
Usually.
With the sun setting in the west, the final leg of the Echo Canyon Trail on Camelback is perfect for sunset photos.
An Alternative to Camelback Mountain for a Sunset Hike
Piestewa Peak’s main lots close at sunset, too, but sunset hikes aren’t as forbidden here.
The first smaller lot remains open (before the gate). Plus, there are parking spots in the dirt along the road into the mountain preserve.
Many parts of the Summit Trail on Piestewa face west, so you’ll get the sunset from above, with the city behind you.
Night hiking is actually “a thing” at Piestewa.
You’ll routinely see night hikers with headlamps up on the trails at Piestewa Peak.
I’m not a fan of it. I’ve fallen too many times! Still, if you’re close to Piestewa at night, look up at the mountain and you’re bound to see headlights bouncing around, as people go up and down the trail.
The BEST Camelback Mountain Sunset Hike Photo Ever
I have to begin and end this blog about sunset hikes with my favorite Camelback Mountain sunset photo ever (below), courtesy of Matt Ehnes!
The sky was perfect, and the side of the mountain was lit in a perfect glow. I also love how tiny I am!
The scale shows how impressively immense the boulders, volcanic granite, and sedimentary rock are, which make up my favorite hiking spot in the world.
Can you tell I’m not bitter about the $118 fine from my last Camelback Mountain sunset hike?
And yes 🙂 I’m paid and in good standing with the City of Phoenix.
