The City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department announced the reopening of Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain, effective Sunday, Dec. 14. This iconic and highly visited trail is once again accessible to the public following an extended closure for critical safety and stabilization work.
Echo Canyon Trail was closed in mid-October after intense storms caused significant erosion, creating unstable conditions, including three loose boulders identified along the trail. At that time, the city determined that the trail should remain closed while engineering assessments and remediation plans were developed and implemented.
Over the course of the closure, the city consulted with geotechnical and civil engineers to formulate a plan to address the safety concerns. The remediation plan included stabilizing the loose boulders and injecting them with expanding grout, enabling them to safely separate.
Although the trail is reopening and safe for use, visitors may still observe additional construction activity along portions of the trail. Final work is underway to install safety cables, replacing the existing rope that guides hikers along the trail.
The city encourages trail users to continue practicing safe hiking by reviewing “Take a Hike. Do it Right.” guidelines and visiting the Parks and Recreation Department’s website for updates or advisories before visiting.
Phoenix is home to more than 41,000 acres of desert parks and mountain preserves, and 200-plus miles of trails. Millions of people enjoy city trails every year. For more information about Phoenix trails and safety guidance, visit www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails.
