This was a great experience! Camelback is a tough hike, but our guide Curtis helped make it a lot easier. He provided advice on how to ascend efficiently, provided water and snacks and took some great photos of us along the way. I would definitely recommend this if you’re visiting Phoenix!
Outstanding! I’m a solo traveler and after reading about Camelback, I decided to book a tour. Best decision!! Jason was amazing and my experience would have been much different without his insight. I didn’t realize they keep the tours very small to accommodate their guests. I do now and would recommend this tour group to everyone.
Curtis was absolutely amazing! He was very attentive and allowed me to go at a pace that was comfortable for me but also encouraged me when I felt like turning around. He was a great conversationalist and I enjoyed hearing about information regarding the mountain and city. Highly recommend!
Not for the weak! Awesome experience! If this is your 1st time or you are not in ship, you may struggle! Jason our guide was awesome and taught us alot along the way!
Hiked the Echo Canyon Trail with our guides Mike and Luke. They were great, providing us with backpacks if needed, extra water and Gatorade, and some fruit. Super friendly and professional. We took plenty of needed breaks, as this climb is not easy. They also took a bunch of great pictures for us. Highly recommend them and this adventure.
The Echo Canyon Trail hike was challenging and amazing all in one. SHEMITE did some rock scrambling and stairs climbing with steep incline. I had to stop and catch my breath a few times. My body called for lots of water during the hike. Michael Albrough was my adventure guide. He M(Mentored), I(Inspired), T(Teached), & E(Encouraged) SHEMITE on powering through the steep climb. He was amazing. As we climbed the Echo Canyon Trail, Mike gave me good conversation about the trail. SHEMITE enjoyed her hike. It is a must do hike. SHEMITE will hike this trail again
Wow what a beautiful hike, experience, and views! My tour guide Mike was excellent - definitely made the experience worth it🫶🏼
Hiked Camelback with Mike and it was awesome. Mike is so knowledgeable about the trail the area and the history. I would definitely use this company again!!!
Mike was an awesome tour guide!! Wouldn't have made it up the mountain without his encouragement... and extra waters.
This hike was truly one of the best experiences of my life. Being completely brand new to hiking, I did not know what to expect going into it. Fortunately, I was paired with the best Hiking guide in the world Curtis Whipple. He truly made the experience even better. With his uplifting personality, his patience and his motivation to reach the top I was able to conquer the hike and reach the top. Curtis does an amazing job of explaining how to navigate the hike to make sure we are prepared for what’s to come as we got closer to the top. He truly has a big heart and cares a lot about people, throughout the hike when we passed several people that looked like they were struggling a little bit or maybe just taking a break. He would always ask if they were okay, if they needed any water, or even if they needed a bandanna to cool down. He was also extremely prepared for the hike. He had a backpack filled with many different things to make sure that the extreme heat and weather conditions did not affect me in any way. This experience is truly something I will never forget and I look forward to my next trip to Arizona so that I can plan another hike with Curtis. I fell in love with Hiking on this trip and I hope to make it a new hobby of mine for the rest of my life. Thanks again Curtis, you truly are one of a kind!
I booked the tour as I was scared to climb Camelback Mountain with my 13 year old son by myself. Mad Desert Trekking was the perfect answer to my dilemma. I booked the tour and called the phone number listed to ask questions. The owner Matt Kalina answer all my questions. Matt actually was our tour guide for the climb and he was excellent. He explained all the sections of the climb, encourage us as we climbed, pointed out local plants, took wonderful pictures at the summit and pointed out local scenery I would have never been able to know about not being from Arizona. I wouldn't hesitate to book with Mad Desert Trekking if I was in Arizona again. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would!
I had an amazing experience hiking Camelback with Mad Desert Trekking! As a solo woman hiker, I felt completely comfortable and supported the entire time thanks to the guide, Doug. He was incredibly skilled, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout the hike, sharing great information while making sure I felt safe and encouraged. What really stood out was how mindful he was of everyone on the trail. On the trail, another hiker started cramping badly, and Doug immediately stepped in to help. As a medic, he handled the situation calmly and professionally. His experience and care made a huge impression on me. Highly recommend this tour for anyone wanting a challenging but rewarding Camelback experience with a truly exceptional guide!
Curtis led us on the tour of Camelback Mountain. He was extremely knowledgeable, light-hearted, and was friends with everyone on the mountain. Took the time to care for others on our journey, wonderful picture and action shots, and amazing service. The hike itself is difficult and contains breathtaking views. Would recommend Curtis, and this to anyone!
We had the BEST experience hiking thanks to our guide, Curtis! 🙌 From the very beginning, he went above and beyond—reaching out the day before with helpful tips on parking and what to expect, which made everything so smooth and stress-free. During the hike, he was incredibly patient and made sure everyone was comfortable and having a great time. Curtis truly made the experience unforgettable. He knew all the best photo spots, shared so much interesting history and information about Arizona, and even took photos and put together a video of our hike for us—such a special touch! If we’re ever back, we will 100% be requesting Curtis again. Highly recommend him to anyone looking for an amazing, fun, and memorable hike! Thank you, Curtis, for making our adventure so special! 🌄✨
We had an incredible hike on Camelback with Doug, truly couldn’t have asked for a better guide. From the start, we felt completely safe in his hands. He’s extremely knowledgeable, clearly highly trained, and knows the mountain inside and out, which gave us so much confidence throughout the hike. One of the highlights was a spontaneous side adventure into a cave—such a unique and fun experience we never would have found on our own! Doug was also incredibly encouraging, keeping the energy positive and helping us push ourselves just the right amount. He made everything feel easy by coming fully prepared with water, snacks, and all the gear we needed, so we could just focus on enjoying the experience. This was our second time booking with Mad Desert Trekking, and once again, they delivered an outstanding experience. We’ve had nothing but amazing guides and seamless trips - highly recommend both Doug and the company. It truly couldn’t have been better!
Wonderful hike and amazing guide Doug! He is very experienced and has been doing this for years. I would 100% recommend him as a guide for any hikes.
I did the Cholla trail. It is a Grade 1 scramble- limited exposure, no ropes or even poles needed. Sandstone is grippy and makes the scramble very doable. What made this possible for me to do solo, was my guide Doug! Doug was patient and very supportive. His “You got this!” got through some spicy bits laughing and with a smile on my face. He had water which I definitely needed after finishing the contents of my 1l water bottle at the summit. The descent is much easier than the climb up. I had a great time! Thanks Doug- for the encouragement and the numerous photos!
Hiking Camelback Mountain with Curtis was easily one of the highlights of my trip. He was exceptional - funny, engaging, and incredibly motivating throughout the entire hike. He set a perfect pace that made the experience both enjoyable and manageable, and the thoughtful touches like bringing snacks made a big difference. Curtis was the ultimate accountability partner, keeping me encouraged every step of the way while making the whole experience feel relaxed and fun. We had such a wonderful morning, and I couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Highly recommend!
On March 14th I hiked with guide Curtis Whipple for 3 hours in the Sonoran Desert and had a great time. He knew a lot about the desert and had some great stories to share along the way - along with snacks and extra water. He kept me safe and we had a good time. I can't recommend him highly enough. I'll look him up next time we're in the area!
I read an article on how it was highly suggested to have a guide on a first trip to Camelback Mountain due to the intensity and difficulty of the hike. We found Curtis through Mad Desert Trekking on Trip Advisor. I honestly don't think I would have enjoyed the hike as much as I did without him. He explained what was coming ahead, we rested at the perfect times, and he would show us exactly how to step around some precarious boulders along the route. He gave us valuable hints and tips and took several wonderful pictures as we made our way up and down the mountain. It was nice to have someone knowledgeable to help keep us safe!
Thoroughly enjoyed this booking! I didn’t realize this was a private trip when I booked it but it made it much more enjoyable since it could go at our pace instead of trying to keep pace with a group. Our guide Michael was amazing, full of knowledge, patience and an obvious love for the terrain! While my husband and I didn’t feel we could make the second half up to the peak, Michael took our 12 year grandson up and made it a great experience for him. If you get to choose a guide, ask for Michael. I was proud of myself for making it halfway and thrilled my grandson got to make it safely to the top. Thanks Michael!
My trek was warm but this trail was in the shadow of Camelback Mountain during the morning so it wasn’t bad at all. My tour guide, Curtis, was positive, pleasant, and well prepared for anything I might need. Clearly a knowledgeable & experienced hiker. We made great time but he would have gone any pace I needed. He checked in often to see how I was feeling and dealing with the demands of this challenging hike. Guys, it IS challenging. However, I loved it and the views are amazing!
I had an amazing experience on this hike! I was in Phoenix for work and arrived a day early so I could explore a bit on my own. I decided to book this guided hike solo, and I’m so glad I did. The description of the hike was completely accurate — it’s definitely strenuous and a real challenge, especially as you get higher up. It truly took my breath away (in more ways than one!). That said, it was incredibly rewarding. My guide, Doug, was absolutely fantastic. He was encouraging, patient, and supportive the entire way up — especially when I started to get tired toward the steeper sections. While you don’t technically need a guide to hike Camelback, having Doug there made a huge difference. He helped me feel confident navigating some of the trickier climbs, and I honestly don’t think I would have made it to the top without him. Doug was also a wealth of knowledge — not just about the trail, but about Phoenix in general. He was easy to talk to and made the entire experience fun and engaging. Reaching the summit and seeing the breathtaking views was the highlight of my trip. Doug even took tons of photos with his own camera, so I now have incredible memories captured from the top. The snacks he brought were a very welcome bonus, too! If you enjoy hiking and are looking for a rewarding challenge, I highly recommend this experience. It was absolutely worth the money and one of the best parts of my visit to Phoenix.
Curtis was an excellent guide on our trek to the summit of Camelback Mountain. Curtis provided excellent instruction along with food, water and gloves for our hike. As novices for this type of hike, Curtis was indispensable and provided us with instruction during our ascending and descending of Camelback Mountain. Curtis made the hike really enjoyable. Matt and Laura F.
We used this tour company to climb Camelback Mountain (2/21). Mike Hopkins was our guide. He was outstanding. It was worthwhile to get all the pictures he captured as precious memories. A part of me wonders if we would have turned back without his help. This is NOT an easy climb. Mike is an incredible athlete who runs ultramarathons. Rest assured, if one of us twisted an ankle he would have thrown you over his shoulder and carried you down all the while explaining the different types of rocks during the descent. We appreciated all the history, geography and pointers during the climb. Finally, sorry we went to the wrong start location.
I had such an amazing experience with Mike Hopkins as my guide! He was extremely knowledgeable and kept encouraging me as we climbed Camelback. i had no idea what I was getting myself into lol but he was so patient and kind and funny too! & took AMAZING PHOTOS!
We had a great experience hiking with Doug! We made it to the top with his support and knowledge and had some awesome photo ops along the way. Also learned a lot about the area and hiking. Would 10/10 recommend this hike with this company!
Mike was an amazinggggg guide! Super fun and just such a great spirit! Happy I had him to cheer me in when i wanted to quit (which was numerous times lol)
our hike with mike h. was great! he was very knowledgeable and very conversational. he also took so many amazing photos for us so we could focus on the hike and enjoy the views. we were able to move up the time of our hike to see the sunrise and it was 100% worth it. mike also gave us other recommendations of things to do in the area while in town. would definitely book with mad desert trekking again, can’t wait to come back!
The hike was incredible, difficult but worth it. Our guide Doug and a young lady (I’m so sorry I’m terrible with names) were awesome. Doug was a wealth of information and had so many fun facts about Arizona. If you’re up for challenge and some adventure you’ll love this tour. Ask for Doug 😊
It is a challenging adventure with an excellent and absolutely knowledgeable guide. Matt told me so many things about Camelback Mountain's history as well as the surrounding Phoenix metropolitan area.
This was such an incredible experience. Highly recommended!! Our guide, Curtis, was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. He came prepared and we had a blast. The views were amazing and we have pictures and videos that will remind us of this trip for years to come.
I realized too late what this entailed. I was very nervous and it was pretty extreme in some spots. However between Matt, Doug and Josh we were in the most excellent hands! They were extremely helpful with guidance, as well as making sure none of us fell behind. They had every necessity on this journey we could’ve wanted or needed.
A very strenuous climb, amazing views at the top. Wear shoes with good grip! This is an amazing experience. made all the more enjoyable by Mike the guide who was so knowledgeable about the local area.
Curtis was a great guide. Made a challenging hike fun, great pointers on bouldering, and interesting stories about the region.
It’s a public trail, so if you’re interested in just hiking at your own pace I recommend heading up there yourself. Save your money. Plenty people on the trail! If you’re looking for someone to keep you up to pace, with Knowledge of the mountain and its surroundings, then this tour is for you !
Perfect! If I could give more stars, I would. We had Curtis as our guide and he went above and beyond to make sure we had a good time. Steady routes, snacks at the top and so many good stories. Would recommend!
My 13yo son and I had a great time on this hike. Mike Hopkins was super knowledgeable about the plants and animals as well as the history of the area. This made for an excellent experience and helped us understand the terrain we were hiking through much more than we would have been able to on our own. The hike is strenuous, so be prepared for that. Overall a great way to spend an afternoon. 10/10 would use Mike Hopkins again.
Even on busy days it is nice to have a privat guide. Not only for getting lots of information about nature and the surroundings but also a person who knows secret, wonderfull shortcuts to avoid the crowds. Michael was awesom!
We hired Mike Hopkins at the last minute to guide us on this relatively short hike. He was extremely familiar with the route, local flora and fauna and the history of the surrounding area. The hike was also fairly Steep and Technical and it was helpful to have him guide us on estimated times up and down as well as reasonable Pace to set. There were a lot of photo ops which were not obvious and Mike showed us places along the trail to rest and take in the surrounding views. My son said it was the best hike he has ever been on; we often go on our own, but we always seem to get a lot more out of the experience when we hire someone to guide us on experiences in new areas. Mike was a perfect example of this and fun to hike with. 10/10 excellent value and good fun. Would use again.
Matt is a truly master of his craft here, making sure you're taken care of the whole way through. I admit I was unsure of the price at first, but realized I would be taking hours of his time, then booked it. He made the price worth it making sure I'd have anything I need (sunscreen, water, snacks) and was a tremendous resource throughout the trip. Additionally, I had the thought to go by myself, but having him there was wise because I would have smacked my head off of a rock once or twice without his careful guidance lol Definitely book if you want the most of your hike to Camelback. I was a bit more on the "out of shape" side for this, too, but he offers a great pacing with the breaks, and you get some time with him taking some action shots of you to share. Great guy, and made a great experience even greater.
Tour was amazing! We went for sunset and had such a great view. Our guide Steve was awesome and very nice, he knew so many cool facts and history about Arizona.
Amazing tour guide, went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and made sure we enjoyed our time. Took tons of videos and pictures of me and my family as well. Highly recommend Curtis we had a blast!!
Difficult hike but well worth it! Curtis was great. Not bad about halfway up, a little rock climbing needed to get to summit. Had a great time.
It was kind of a challenging hike for me, but I was able to do it with our tour guide, Curtis. He is very knowledgeable and thoughtful, brings plenty of water, snacks and took beautiful photos for us. Thank you !
Perfect timing for sunrise, Curtis took great care to ensure I had a great hike with plenty of water and snacks. Great conversation.
Curtis was an awesome guide. He made the hike very fun and memorable, and I enjoyed listening to his past hiking stories! We were able to get up in an hour and down in an hour fifteen, including breaks. If you have hiked before, even moderately, this hike should be no problem. The views were gorgeous, and I would absolutely do it again!
Organized, professional and awesome!! Highly recommend! All the photos the guide took were a bonus! Always felt safe and was a highlight of our trip!
This hike was very challenging, yet thrilling! Curtis was a very energetic, funny and overall cool guide. Getting to the top felt satisfying and exhilarating. The weather was perfect; not too hot and had a nice breeze with some sun. Definitely book the trip! It was worth it in every way.
Our guide, Matt, was outstanding. Beautiful scenery and challenging activity! Matt was friendly, encouraging and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this experience!
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