PHX Reporter

The City of Phoenix recently announced that the popular Cholla Trail at Camelback Mountain will reopen to the public on Sept. 30.

Cholla Trail has been closed due to construction and the realignment to move the trailhead from Cholla Lane to Invergordon Road.

The trailhead will now provide hikers added amenities such as a drinking fountain, restrooms and bike racks; a release from the City said.

“Knowing the public interest and popularity, I'm excited for the reopening of Cholla Trail as a safer trail experience for hikers and nearby residents," Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in the release.

Since the Cholla Trail was forced to close in 2020, park rangers, stewards and a contractors have put in hundreds of hours of work to improve the upper reaches of the trail; the release said. Included in those efforts were safety improvements to the trail and the addition of trail posts and wayfinding efforts.

“This project is a win-win for residents and hikers alike," Gallego said. “Yet, it is important to remember that - even with these wonderful new amenities - it is still very important to hike safely by taking the necessary precautions to avoid heat illness and hiking injuries."

Work on the trail was a joint effort between the Parks and Recreation Department, Street Transportation, Phoenix Fire Department and the Town of Paradise Valley; the release said.

“Our Cholla Trail is now ready to open," Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio said in the release. "After an extensive public and development process we are now open as one of the best local trails in Arizona, if not in the United States. I want to personally thank local residents and hikers for their patience in the construction of Cholla Trail. The new trail will reduce foot traffic on Cholla Lane, as well as provide new amenities to hikers with a drinking fountain and bathroom."