Phoenician Resorts to reserve land for potential new Camelback Mountain trailhead

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Camelback Mountain dominates the skyline, just north of Downtown Phoenix. It is estimated that around 700,000 people climb the mountain every year, but one of the trailheads could soon be on the move.

The Cholla Trail is a beautiful way to get to the top of Camelback Mountain, but people who live by the trailhead say they have to deal with 10,000 hikers a week, when weather conditions are nice. That, for some, is too much to handle.

"With those type of crowds, we worry about foot traffic, and us, as residents coming to and from in our cars, we worry about loitering, leaving trash behind," said Darlene Quinn, who lives in the neighborhood.

Not to mention people using neighbors' yards to "relieve themselves", as there are no restrooms at the Cholla trailhead, or water fountains.

Is there, however, a possible solution?

Next to the trailhead is a golf course, which is part of the Phoenician Resort. The resort's new owners want to turn part of the golf course into 338 housing units, and they're willing to offer neighbors a right of way to hikers, in order to move the trailhead off Cholla.

"The Phoenician is willing to reserve, along its northern border, a 100-foot area in width that could be used as a future trail," said Paul Gilbert, an attorney for Phoenician Resort. "We are wiling to make that property available to the city, should they wish to install a trail."

The Phoenician also willing to kick in $100,000 to help make it happen, but it could cost more than that.

Some of the neighbors on Cholla Lane said they think the deal just might work.

"We feel the trailhead would be a win-win for us, safety of hikers, and access to trail," said Quinn.