Highlights
- Eight hikers were stung by a bee swarm on Camelback Mountain Tuesday morning during the peak scramble hour.
- One hiker was transported to a hospital; Phoenix Fire responded and the mountain was briefly closed.
- Bee expert Mike Boyle of Burns Pest Elimination says spring and fall swarming season raises aggression risk on Arizona trails.
- Trails reopened Wednesday, according to AZFamily, with new signage posted at the trailhead.
Eight hikers are recovering after a bee swarm attacked the Echo Canyon and Cholla trails on Camelback Mountain Tuesday morning, sending one person to a hospital, according to FOX 10 and confirmed by KTAR and 12News.
Phoenix Fire crews responded to the scene during the morning scramble, and the mountain was briefly closed for safety. ABC15 reported that emergency crews were first called to the Cholla Trailhead around 9 a.m.
Mike Boyle, a bee expert from Burns Pest Elimination, told FOX 10 that bees swarm in Arizona during spring and fall, a seasonal pattern that elevates aggression on popular trails. Boyle warned that earbuds may prevent hikers from hearing an approaching swarm in time to react.
What should you do if bees attack on the trail?
Boyle told FOX 10 that hikers near a nest or swarm should move out of the area immediately. He identified one action hikers should never take during an attack, and outlined a method for properly escaping a swarm, though the specific details were shared in video format rather than text.
AZFamily reported that hiking trails at Camelback Mountain reopened Wednesday after being closed all afternoon Tuesday, with a new sign posted at the trailhead.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- Fox 10 Phoenix retrieved 20/05/2026 20:01
- ktar.com retrieved 20/05/2026 20:01
- ABC15 Arizona retrieved 20/05/2026 20:01
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 20/05/2026 20:01
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 20/05/2026 20:01
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 20/05/2026 20:01. Every claim traces to a source.
