Camelback Mountain hiking trails reopened Wednesday morning after Phoenix officials temporarily shut down the popular hiking area following a bee swarm attack that injured multiple hikers a day earlier.

According to Phoenix Fire officials, the incident happened Tuesday morning near the Cholla Trail on Camelback Mountain when a swarm of bees suddenly attacked hikers making their way down the trail. Emergency crews responded to the area around 9:15 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of hikers being stung.

Authorities said eight hikers were stung during the attack. One person was transported to a hospital for treatment, though officials later said that individual is expected to recover. The remaining hikers were treated at the scene and were reported to be in stable condition. No firefighters or rescue personnel were injured during the response.

Because of the bee activity, Phoenix Parks and Recreation officials immediately closed Camelback Mountain along with both the Cholla Trail and Echo Canyon Trail for much of Tuesday. Officials said the closure was issued out of an abundance of caution while bee specialists and exterminators evaluated the area for active hives or aggressive swarms.

By Wednesday morning, the trails had reopened to hikers after exterminators reportedly found no evidence of an active hive or continuing bee swarm near the trails. However, new warning signs were placed at the Cholla Trailhead advising hikers to remain alert for bees while hiking the mountain.

Video captured by one hiker during the attack showed several people frantically waving their arms, shaking their heads, and attempting to escape the swarm near the top portions of the mountain trail. Officials said some hikers near the Echo Canyon side and near the summit may also have been affected by the swarm.

Phoenix Fire officials used the incident to remind hikers that bees become especially active during warmer months in Arizona. Rescue crews also warned hikers to stay aware of other seasonal dangers on desert trails, including snakes and extreme heat conditions. Officials encouraged hikers to avoid using headphones or earbuds while hiking so they can remain aware of surrounding hazards.

Fire officials said that if someone encounters an aggressive bee swarm while hiking, they should attempt to protect their face and head while quickly leaving the immediate area.

The Camelback Mountain incident follows another serious bee attack that happened in April on Lookout Mountain in north Phoenix. In that case, a hiker was stung more than 100 times and had to be airlifted from the mountain in critical condition. Experts previously warned that Arizona’s warm winter may have contributed to an earlier and more aggressive bee season throughout the Valley.

Camelback Mountain remains one of the busiest hiking destinations in Arizona, drawing thousands of visitors weekly to its steep desert trails and summit views overlooking Phoenix and Paradise Valley. Officials are continuing to urge hikers to use caution as bee activity remains elevated across the region during late spring and early summer.

Source: AZFamily