Seen from miles around, Camelback Mountain is a Phoenix landmark and Valley of the Sun centerpiece. Heaps of rusty boulders give way to green slopes dotted with $1 million homes.

     Two paths of varying difficulty will get summit seekers up her sides. Approaching from McDonald Drive, the trail climbing out of Echo Canyon is by far the most popular of the two.

     On weekdays, parking in the muted lot is as challenging as finding a parking in downtown San Francisco on the day after Thanksgiving. On weekends, don't even bother.

     Out on the trail hikers will be led up the first quarter mile or so with the help of railroad tie steps. A well-used, almost overused, dusty path picks up where the stairs vanish.

     Skirting steep ledges, hikers are kept back by hideous yet functional chain-link fencing. Still, the trail affords the nimble an up-close look and feel of smooth, red rocks.

     Much of this particular hike is more scrambling than hiking. Slick slabs reaching 70-degree angles and giant boulder-laden chutes will give the prepared a good workout and the unsuspecting a shock.

     Continuing up through heat flashes and perspiration-sopped clothes, hikers' sweat equity is soon rewarded with panoramic views of a bustling metropolis.

Cholla Trail

     To avoid much of the urban hiking bravado, try scaling Camelback from the east. This more gradual slope begins near Invergordon off Cholla Lane just north of Camelback Road. Parking is along the side of Invergordon, which gives urban mountaineers a little walking warm up before hitting the trail.

     The first part of the 1.5-mile trail skirts several holes along the Phoenecian's golf course. Steering away from wealthy, knicker-clad vacationers, the path continues at a steady 15 percent grade.

     At times becoming obscured, the trail snakes over and around moderate-size boulders before spilling onto the summit. All in all a great alternative to the main drag.

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