Camelback by bike feels like a cheat code. This Camelback E-Bike & Hike Tour mixes relaxed pedaling with a walk on the famous Cholla Trail, plus narration through an audio headset.

I love the setup: helmets, an audio receiver so you don’t miss the guide’s stories, and easy pacing built for mixed comfort levels. I also like the route choice—riding the Greenbelt Bike Path and the Arizona Canal area gives you a different Scottsdale view than you’d get in a car.

One possible drawback: the hike portion is short but not flat. Even on the more beginner-friendly stretch, the Camelback climb can feel steep if you go higher than marker #7 or #11.

Key Points I’d Bet On

• E-bikes make Camelback approachable without turning the whole trip into a workout
• Audio receiver included, so the guide’s history and local tips stay audible
• Small group max 8 travelers, which helps the guide keep everyone together
• Cholla Trail markers #7 or #11 give a clear, doable turnaround plan
• Arizona Canal ride to Paradise Valley is a very local-feeling stretch
• Lake Marguerite is optional if time allows, so you may get an extra calm stop

Why This E-Bike + Cholla Trail Combo Works So Well in Scottsdale

This tour does two things that fit Scottsdale perfectly: it uses electric bikes to cover ground smoothly, then it switches to a short hike where you earn the views on foot. The big win is balance. You’re not stuck either grinding a steep trail or speeding through neighborhoods without seeing them properly.

The other smart choice is the geography. The route moves from Old Town Scottsdale toward the Greenbelt Bike Path, then crosses into Paradise Valley via the Arizona Canal corridor. That canal stretch is one of the few ways to see the area that feels both scenic and practical.

Finally, the small group size matters. When you’re capped at 8 people, you get more attention during the bike coaching and more chances to ask questions while you’re rolling.

Old Town Scottsdale Start: Setup, Safety, and First Miles

The experience starts at Segway of Scottsdale Tours at 7330 E Earll Dr Suite #R. From there, you ride just a few blocks to the Greenbelt Bike Path. That short hop matters because it gets you into the biking rhythm before the longer “pretty route” portion begins.

Expect a quick start with the gear: helmet provided, plus an audio receiver so you can hear the guide clearly while you ride. The audio piece is a big deal on an e-bike tour—your attention is on traffic awareness, balance, and the path ahead. When you don’t have to guess what the guide said, the whole tour feels smoother.

Most guides on this route also spend time making sure everyone is comfortable on the e-bikes before moving into slower, safer streets. If you’ve never ridden an e-bike before, this kind of coaching is the difference between feeling nervous and feeling in control.

The Greenbelt Bike Path and Continental Golf Club Side Streets

One of the first “wow” moments comes early: the tour heads along the Greenbelt Bike Path beside the Continental Golf Club area. This is the part of the day where you’re mostly thinking about scenery, not steering around complicated intersections.

Why it’s worth your time: paths like this give you a clean sense of direction. You can look up at the skyline and surrounding homes without doing stop-and-go driving choreography. If you came to Scottsdale for the mix of desert views and upscale neighborhoods, this segment is a very efficient way to see it.

You should still ride with standard caution. Even when the path feels calm, you’re sharing space with other users and you’ll be wearing a headset, which can change how aware you feel of your surroundings. The good news: the tour’s pacing stays slow and safe for the road stretches later on.

Crossing the Arizona Canal Into Paradise Valley

After the initial bike-path stretch, the tour crosses toward Paradise Valley, following the Arizona Canal corridor. The tour description calls out that canal ride as unique to this area, and I agree with the logic. It’s one of those “you’re here, not just passing through” moments.

What you’re really getting from this segment is variety. You’re going from controlled paths to a more “neighborhood reveal” feel. You’ll see residential areas and a different angle of the valley, while still having an easy-going route compared to a full day of city cycling.

This is also where the audio narration helps most. You’re moving through a landscape of private property and upscale homes, and the guide can help you understand what you’re seeing—without you needing to know anything ahead of time.

The Most Expensive Zip Code in Arizona: Slow Streets and Big Homes

A chunk of the ride is on slow, safe streets passing homes in one of Arizona’s priciest areas (the tour notes a range from about $5 million to $17 million). Whether you’re into architecture, local culture, or just people-watching, this is the part of the tour that turns into a “wow, check this out” slow cruise.

The value here isn’t the price tag. It’s the pacing. You’re not stuck in traffic, and you’re not forced to rush past houses and views. You get time to notice the details you’d otherwise miss if you were driving yourself.

One practical thought: these are neighborhood streets, so you’ll want to keep your focus on the basics—bike position, spacing, and listening for the guide’s instructions for regrouping.

Camelback Mountain Trailhead and the Cholla Trail Hike Plan

The headline moment arrives at the Camelback Mountain trailhead, where you park the e-bikes and switch from biking to hiking. Good news: the trailhead has restrooms, which takes one stress off a morning hike.

This portion is built around the Cholla Trail, described as the most popular easy route in the Phoenix area. The tour plans to hike up to marker #7 or #11, depending on timing and how everyone feels.

Here’s what to know before you go:

• Even if the tour is framed as an easy option, Camelback still climbs.
• Going higher generally means more steepness, and the trail can feel tough if your fitness level or footwear isn’t ready.

If you’re the type who wants control, this is a plus. One account notes that you can hike higher as your group’s time allows, with some doing around 60 minutes on the Cholla stretch. Translation: you don’t have to force it—you can stop when you hit your comfort line and still get great photo opportunities.

Also, do yourself a favor and bring solid hiking shoes if you have them. Some people do it in tennis shoes, but proper footwear makes the scramble feel less sketchy on uneven rock.

The Ride Back Through McCormick Ranch and the Scottsdale Club Stop

After the hike, the tour reconnects with the Arizona Canal and bikes toward McCormick Ranch. This is a return-to-flow section: you’ve earned the hike, now you get to enjoy the ride without pushing your legs as hard.

There’s also a stop along a Scottsdale club area, where you ride by the grounds and scenery while the guide continues sharing facts and local context. It’s not a long museum-style stop. It’s more like: you get to see a part of Scottsdale that feels curated and well-kept, then you keep moving.

If you’re hoping for picture stops, this part of the day tends to deliver. Just keep in mind you’ll be on a schedule, and the group size is small enough that the guide can steer you to quick, practical photo moments rather than long detours.

Lake Marguerite If Time Allows: A Calm Extra at the End

If the timing works out, you might visit Lake Marguerite. The tour notes this as optional, so don’t build your whole day around it.

Still, I like this kind of “maybe stop” because it gives your tour a bit of flexibility. If you’re feeling good, you get an extra change of pace—water views instead of only trail and neighborhoods. If you’re running behind in energy, the bike-and-hike plan keeps you on track without turning the day into a marathon.

Pace, Comfort, and What to Bring (Without Overthinking It)

This is a 2.5-hour experience on average, with the whole flow designed to keep people together without rushing anyone off the trail. The pace tends to feel friendly to mixed groups because the e-bikes reduce the strain on the cycling portions, while the hiking portion is relatively short.

Here’s what I’d bring based on what you’ll actually feel during the day:

• Hiking shoes or grippy sneakers for Cholla Trail (best upgrade you can make)
• A light layer for shade changes
• Sunscreen and sunglasses (especially on exposed sections)
• A bottle of patience for uphill moments—because Camelback is still Camelback

The tour includes free bottled water, and that’s a thoughtful inclusion for a desert hike day. Still, it helps to have your gear ready so you’re not searching for things while the group is moving.

Price and Value: What $135 Gets You (and Why It Feels Fair)

At $135 per person for roughly 2 hours 30 minutes, you’re paying for three things you can’t easily DIY in a car:

1. Guided route through iconic areas (Old Town Scottsdale, canal corridor, Paradise Valley feel)
2. E-bike support with helmets and a plan that keeps you safe and on-schedule
3. Headset narration so you get context while you ride

It’s not a budget tour, but it’s also not trying to be one. You’re essentially buying convenience plus a guided experience that stitches biking and hiking into one coherent morning. For many people, that’s the value: you get views, local stories, and a real activity without needing navigation skills or biking experience.

Also, the pricing is easier to swallow because the group limit is 8 travelers, and the tour includes the key comfort items: helmet, audio receiver, and water.

If you’re wondering about tipping: gratuity for the tour guide is not included in the price, so factor that into your total.

Guides You’ll Want to Ask For: Safety Coaching and Story Timing

One of the most praised parts of the experience is how guides handle two jobs at once: they get you riding smoothly and they keep the stories audible and timely through the audio system.

You’ll see names like Anthony, Jace, Jackson, Jonathan, Cole, Hector, Jason, and Max tied to the tour experience in feedback you can use as a signal. The common thread across these guides is a focus on making sure people feel comfortable on the bike before moving into busier parts of the route—and keeping the hike break organized at the trailhead.

If you’re nervous about biking, your best move is to ask the guide questions right at the start. The early coaching is where you build confidence fast.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Skip)

This is a strong match if you want:

• A first-time friendly way to do biking in Scottsdale
• A short hike with views from Camelback Mountain
• An easy way to see Paradise Valley and canal-side scenery without planning

It might be less ideal if:

• You’re unwilling to handle any steep hiking at all. The hike is described as easy, but Camelback can still feel steep if you push higher.
• You don’t have decent footwear and you hate uneven ground.

For families, couples, and solo travelers, the small group size and headset narration make it feel inclusive. You get structure without being stuck on top of one another.

Should You Book This Camelback E-Bike & Hike Tour?

I think it’s a very smart book if you want a morning that hits three boxes: great views, real exercise in bite-size form, and local context while you move. The e-bike + Cholla Trail pairing is a practical way to reach Camelback without turning the day into a full endurance mission.

Book it if you:

• Want a guided ride with safety coaching
• Plan to wear good shoes for the hike
• Like the idea of canal-side scenery plus upscale neighborhood glimpses

Skip it if you:

• Want a purely flat walk with no steep sections
• Think you’d struggle with any hike effort even at markers #7 or #11

If your goal is to see more of Scottsdale than you could by car, in less time than you’d spend planning and navigating solo, this tour is built for that exact problem.

FAQ

How long is the Camelback E-Bike & Hike Tour?

It runs about 2 hours 30 minutes on average.

What is the price per person?

The tour costs $135.00 per person.

What’s included in the tour?

You get a safety helmet, an audio receiver for narration, and free bottled water.

Is tipping included in the price?

No. Gratuity is not included in the tour price.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 12 years.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 8 travelers, which keeps it intimate.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Segway of Scottsdale Tours, 7330 E Earll Dr Suite #R, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the hike on the Cholla Trail?

The plan includes hiking from the trailhead, with the tour noting 30 minutes for the trailhead portion, and the hike length can vary based on time and how far you go (some accounts mention about 60 minutes).

What if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation window for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount you paid is not refunded.