Mount Lemmon
10300 E Ski Run Rd, Mount Lemmon, AZ
Mount Lemmon, AZ
A cool, pine-clad mountaintop rising nearly two miles into the sky above the desert, where a single winding drive climbs from cactus to fir forest in an hour.
Mount Lemmon rises to nearly nine thousand feet at the crest of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the highest of the sky islands that surround Tucson. The Catalina Highway climbs its flank from the desert floor to the top, and in that single drive of roughly an hour you pass through a sequence of natural worlds that would otherwise take a journey of thousands of miles north, from cactus to cool conifer forest.
That is the wonder of a sky island: an isolated high range that pokes up out of the desert far enough to catch cooler, wetter weather, so that its slopes and summit hold forests and creatures more at home in the Rocky Mountains than in the Sonoran Desert below. For the people of Tucson, Mount Lemmon is a beloved escape, a place to trade the summer heat for mountain shade, and one of the most dramatic scenic drives in the state.
What Guests Love
- A scenic drive that climbs from saguaro desert to cool pine forest in an hour
- Escaping the Tucson heat to mountain air and shade in summer
- Sweeping overlooks across the desert and the city far below
- Snow and even a small ski area near the top in winter
Worth Knowing
- The mountain road is long and winding, so drive slowly and watch for cyclists and wildlife
- The summit is much cooler than the desert, so bring a layer even on a hot day
- Winter can bring snow and ice to the upper road, so check conditions before driving up
- Summer weekends are busy as people flee the heat, so start early for parking and trails
Details
Mount Lemmon, AZ
Learn about Mount Lemmon
A climb through many worlds
The Catalina Highway is the heart of a Mount Lemmon trip. It begins in the low desert on the northeast edge of Tucson among giant saguaros and continues up through rocky slopes studded with strange hoodoos and balanced boulders, past overlooks that gaze back over the city and the desert basin. As it climbs, the plants change: cactus gives way to scrub, then to oak and juniper, then to tall pines, and finally to fir and aspen near the summit.
Ecologists like to say that driving up Mount Lemmon is like driving from the deserts of Mexico to the forests of Canada, passing through several distinct life zones in the space of a few dozen miles. Each turnout offers a new view and a slightly cooler, greener world, making the highway itself the main attraction, a road that packs a continent of scenery into a single afternoon.
The sky island and its life
The Santa Catalinas are one of the great sky islands of southern Arizona, ranges that stand tall enough to gather the moisture and cool the air needed for high-country forests, cut off from other mountains by seas of desert. Because they are isolated, these ranges shelter unusual mixes of plants and animals, some stranded here since cooler, wetter ages long past.
On the upper slopes of Mount Lemmon grow ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and quaking aspen, home to black bears, mule deer, wild turkeys, and mountain birds rarely seen in the desert below. The isolation makes each sky island a natural refuge and a place of scientific interest, a green island floating high above the tan sea of the Sonoran Desert.
Summerhaven and the summit
Near the top of the mountain sits Summerhaven, a small forest village of cabins, a general store, and a few eateries, a cool retreat where Tucsonans have long escaped the summer heat. It is a modest place with a resilient spirit, having weathered a major wildfire years ago and grown back, and it makes a pleasant stop for a meal or a slice of pie before heading higher.
Above the village, near the summit, is one of the southernmost ski areas in the country, where in a good winter the mountain gathers enough snow for a small run, an unlikely sight above a desert city. Whether covered in snow or shaded by summer pines, the top of Mount Lemmon feels a world away from the desert below, cool and quiet under a high sky.
Season by season
Summer is when Mount Lemmon shines brightest in local hearts. As Tucson bakes, the mountaintop can be many degrees cooler, and city dwellers pour up the highway to picnic, hike, and breathe mountain air. Afternoon storms can build over the high country in the monsoon season, so an early start is wise.
Fall brings golden aspens near the summit and crisp, clear days ideal for the drive and the trails. Winter can dust or blanket the top with snow, opening the little ski area and turning the summit into a novelty for desert dwellers, though the upper road may ice up. Spring is mild and green, a fine time for hiking as wildflowers appear, making the mountain rewarding in every season for anyone seeking a break from the desert below.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Tucson
Summerhaven
Near the summit
A small forest village of cabins and a general store near the top of the mountain, a cool retreat above the desert.
Sabino Canyon
About 25 miles, an hour drive
A desert canyon on the Catalinas' south side, with a creek, waterfalls, and shaded trails at the mountain's foot.
Tucson
About 30 miles, an hour drive
The largest city of southern Arizona, ringed by saguaro forests and sky-island mountains, with museums, gardens, and a rich food tradition.
Catalina State Park
About 30 miles, an hour drive
A desert park on the range's western foot, with saguaro-lined trails, seasonal streams, and mountain views.