The hump-shaped sandstone-and-granite mountain sits on the boundary between Phoenix and Scottsdale and tops out at 2,704 feet. Two trails reach the summit: Echo Canyon (1.2 miles, hand-over-hand scrambling and railings) and Cholla (1.6 miles, longer but slightly less brutal). Both gain roughly 1,400 feet and both are full-on, especially in the heat.
The summit gives the best 360° view of the metro area: downtown Phoenix to the west, the Superstitions to the east, and the South Mountain range in the haze beyond. Start before sunrise from May to October, and never attempt the climb in afternoon heat — the trail closes when temperatures rise above 100°F to keep ill-prepared hikers off.