Mount Lemmon

This is one of the greatest attractions in Tucson, and what makes the city so livable. It provides a nice reprieve from the desert heat, with temperatures 20 – 30 degrees lower than the desert floor. The drive is not boring, there is a different vista at every turn in the road.
Besides the obvious picnicking and camping areas, there are endless opportunities to explore off the main road. There are unforgettable experiences to be had in all four seasons, such as winter hikes, moonlit winter night drives down the mountain, fall hikes through aspen and maple at peak color, gorgeous birdcalls in the forest, that rare encounter with a wild animal, etc.
Bring warm clothes, and remember there are no gas stations, and the cell phone reception is poor at the top.

Oh dear. I miss Tucson already. This gem is, as many have stated, a reprieve from the city that is super close by. Amazing views of greater Tucson with tons of trails off the main road. I’d imagine in those particularly toasty months, this place is a real treat.

So fun to go on the ski lift (no snow) It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and there was no snow. We had breakfast across the street, and you get a FREE LIFT RIDE with each breakfast purchase (normally $ 11 I think). Also the gift shop had a nice supply of warm hats, scarves, mittens, etc.
The ride is longer than it appears from the ground. Be sure and bundle up!

Depending on what you decide to do, this can be a fun day. On early fall weekends, they have a small Oktoberfest with music and brats. We also went up the ski lift for $ 11 per adult and ate at the Iron Door. Parking is $ 5 for the festival which really isn’t much, but you have to pay it even if your not going unless you park past the metal barrier.
The only problem was the fudge shop does not take plastic, so we were denied fudge until we went down to the general store. It takes about an hour to get up top depending on how many vista’s you decide to linger and enjoy the views. You must stop at the main point (you will know it by all the cars) and a few other points are worthy. This was a good, fun day with temps only in low 70’s in late September. Lovely.

There’s a little town in the process of expanding at the very top so just in case you need food or anything, you know there’s a community there to help you.
Also if you are in need of pizza and cookies, you will be more than satisfied at the cookie cabin.

Sometimes great memories get 5 stars. We went here for a work party the first time and got to ride the ski lift free. Got stuck in the rain and laughed. Went back again yesterday. It takes about 30 minutes to ride and it’s a beautiful view.

While visiting Tucson we decided to drive up to the ski lift. While it was hot outside our drive up was nice and refreshing. We stopped at many sites along the way to enjoy the sites and take pics. Getting to the ski lift area I wasn’t aware if the lifts we’re running so instead we walked around the area. Two gift shops and a cookie sjop5. The ride alone is worth the trip. Everything you can see and do along the way is a bonus to this day trip.

I’ve held off on making the trek up since I get pretty carsick, but I am glad that we made the trip as it was a nice cool getaway from the 100 degree Tucson weather in the summer. I still got sunburnt though, which is actually a first ever for me, so be careful even though it feels cooler!
Our dog had the best time being off leash.
It is definitely a long, windy 25 mile drive from the base of the mountain to the Summerhaven village, but there are numerous vista points along the way to catch a breath of fresh air and snap a shot of the mountains. It’s really neat watching the terrain evolve from a sea of cacti to a lush forest of pine trees.
After mile 18 or so, you’ll start to see signs for campsites, trailheads, and picnic areas. We picked three random trails to do, of which I would recommend the Butterfly trail. It was lush and mostly shaded; the terrain can be a bit narrow and rough. I saw one butterfly. We also started on the Sunset Trail, but many of the trees had burned down so there wasn’t much shade. The trails are a few-​many miles long, and we just turned back when we hiked enough.
Some of the trailheads have outdoor bathrooms, that were well maintained. Of note though there is no running water (ie sinks or fountains), so definitely bring water and your own hand sanitizer!
If you do run out of water, snacks, supplies etc, head to the Summerhaven Village’s general store. Don’t forget to stop by the Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin !
Definitely make a stop at the General Hitchcock Memorial (on the left if you are traveling up)– there are huge slabs of rock which are impressive in and of themselves as far as their formation, but are also fun to climb atop with expansive views of Tucson.

Our family stayed on Mt. Lemmon during our trip to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. It was fantastic. The hour long drive up and down the mountain was fun and beautiful. We stayed in the Heaven on Earth cabin owned by some locals. One day we did get snowed in and couldn’t drive down the road (because we are southerners and do not know how to drive in snow), but the local store was open, so we were able to get some food and toys/​activities for my two year old. And I didn’t mind being stuck on that mountin for a day. So beautiful. I will go back for sure!

Just an hour from downtown Tucson and you have a whole different world than our desert! Pine trees, snow, superb hikes and city views.
Such a good day trip or weekend camping adventure!

Oh the ways to count how much I miss Mt. Lemmon. I live in Colorado now, so mountains are definitely a part of my life, and compared to the San Juans, Lemmon is tame, but that is not what makes it so special. I’m an avid rock climber and absolutely love the feel of gneiss on a Saturday morning. Most of the 1000+ routes are easily accessible from the highway. There is climbing year round here too, which is unheard of in most of the world. In the summer, look to higher elevations such as the summit crags, or ridge line and munchkinland. In the winter, hairpin, bear canyon or really anything below 6000 ft elevation. It is AZ after all, even if it’s cold, the sun will most likely be out radiating warmth off the rock.
I also have an addiction to snowboarding, and have been to ski valley many a time. If you don’t expect world class runs, and if they have sufficient snow, you will not be miserable. It can get icy, and they don’t groom, so make sure your edges are razor sharp, or wait for fresh snow. No terrain park, but I’ve brought a shovel up and made a few of my own before, so choose your own adventure. It’s a place to hang out and day drink by your car, then hit a lift with no line. You can also get to the top and hike out to some tree runs if you feel so inclined. The view of Tucson from the top is splendid.
The name of the game on Lemmon is diversity. When I tell people I’m from Tucson, it’s the standard, «it’s so hot and flat there» not true, at least entirely. Mt Lemmon makes up for the 110 degree summers with beautiful desert at the bottom, high grasslands and scrub oak in the mid elevations and sub alpine conifer forest at the top. Plus, it helps make Tucson to be considered the #1 climbing city as rated by climbing magazine.

Awesome time driving up the mountain and seeing all there was to see. Can’t wait to visit again! Highly recommended, way better than I thought it was going to be!

What do I love about Mount Lemmon?
It presents a wonderful reprieve from the regional heat. And we are lucky here in Tucson.
Phoenix? Phoenix doesn’t have the great benefit of having such a diverse geological range. Up there, the city has no high elevation escape from heat when the asphalt starts munching at your rubber soles. Of course, Phoenicians do have excellent access to the White Mountains.
But in Tucson, you can find a good range of campgrounds on the mountain, not just Rose Canyon, Spencer and Peppersauce. Trails abound and water sometimes in abundance, it is easy to imagine that you have fallen into some nursery rhyme or fairytale book — literally. There are also scary things on the mountain: large spiders, snakes and bears. Though you will find that with some planning and common sense, you’ll be fine.
For those less familiar with the mountain, a few things to know:
1. Mount Lemmon offers a large range of walking and hiking options, whether you are a novice beginning or whether you are training for the Ironman. There also are wheelchair and stroller accessible trails. Be attentive to signage, and be sure to take care during low elevation summertime hiking.
2. Check out the Seven Cataracts, but do not stop there. Also, don’t just make a mad dash for Summerhaven. Spend some time at the mountain enjoying the open air. A couple of good places, requiring even a brief hike in, are Box Camp and Bigelow. And know that as you are going up the mountain, many of the trail on the right side of the road present some lovely, wide open views of Oracle. Simply stunning!
3. There is a simply gorgeous picnic area, with a small stream, located across from the Marshall Gulch trailhead. At peak summer season in Tucson, when it is 110 degrees, you can easily find a shady spot that will require a light sweater.
4. The SkyCenter Observatory, run by the UA, is located at the top of the mountain. Be sure to RSVP for the awesome programs offered there.
5. At times, there is so much water on the mountain. You can find little streams, pools and waterfalls all over the place after we’ve had a nice snowmelt and rain. The Sierra Club is a good resource for planning and exploring:
This is just a teeny-​weeny snippet.
The mountain offers so, so, so very much more.

Beyond beautiful views! Multiple places to park at different levels so you can make your hike as intense or leisurely as you want! The ski lift was running and takes you round trip for $ 10 a person, but they still charge you $ 10 to just go down.

Great place out of the city for cooler temperatures, smell of pine trees, peacefulness up the lifts, and music from the Iron Wood restaurant. B
Look out for the bear sitting on the lift too! Too cute!
$ 10/​adult. Runs continuously. You can bring kids. White and gray sleeping cats at each counter at the little shop.

It’s beautiful up in the mountains especially during the wintertime. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, get in your car, and enjoy the drive up for the gorgeous scenic view of Tucson while playing in the snow!

There are no lap belts on the ski lift for children or adults! If you have a squirmy child on your hands, stay put! It is not worth it.
The views are incredible coming down but quite frankly, you can get the same views standing on the ground too!

Highlight of our weekend… absolutely stunning views on the 25+ mile drive up the mountain! You go through many different climate zones and the temperature drops about 25 degrees, so come prepared with proper clothes. Your drive ends in Summerhaven… a quaint little town with a few conveniences. Make sure to take advantage of many of the pullovers to take some great photos. This is a MUST do for those visiting the Tucson area.

This is always a good trip whether it is winter, summer or some time in-​between.
For winter fun, when there is snow you can go to Ski Valley and enjoy the slopes. You can also stop along the side some where up the mountain and make a snowman or go sledding.
During the other months you can enjoy a nice ride up to the cooler weather. I typically enjoy going up and down on my motorcycle. As mentioned before with the other motorcycle rider you need to be careful because there are a lot of bicycle riders going up and down the mountain as well. You will find the mountain pretty empty in the morning and during the week days. If you go on the weekend or holiday there are a lot of people going up and down.
As mentioned with other reviews there are nice places to relax and eat either in Summerhaven or at Ski Valley.
If you enjoy going off the beaten path, there are many trails to adventure off to with a lot of scenic places to visit on those trails.
Enjoy

I don’t live in Tucson but when I was there many time to visit, I LOVE Mt. Lemmon!!! Summer or Winter… doesn’t matter. Why? Beautiful and majestic place. You get a scenic hour-​long drive from the desert floor of Tucson to a lush, growing forest over ⁹⁄₀₀₀ feet in the sky!
It’s a long winding drive up there but boy, the view is great. We event stopped at times just to get out of the car, and walk around to enjoy the breathtaking view of Tucson. =)
You’ll experience a wide spectrum of life zones along the route, from lush forest to scrubland. The granite tower of Mt. Lemmon are visible from the trail. You’ll even find unusual formations of stone in the Wilderness of Rocks trail.
Elevation Gain: 3,450 ft
Trailhead elevation: 6,100 ft
Top elevation: 9,300 ft
Length: 6.3 total miles
Best time to go: April — October
You can camp, walk, hike, run, bike, fish, picnic, ski/​snowboard here! This is the place for everyone and anyone.
At Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, you’ll have an awesome adventure skiing/​snowboardin there! There is a ski school and you can rent equipements. Lift tickets are reasonable price for All Day and ½ Day (after 12:30 pm).
WOW…70+ is FREE and so is child age 12 under. (Anyone skiis/​snowboards at age 70???)
Hungry? Go to Summerhaven.
This is a must-​go place in Tucson. One of my favorite places there. Multiple outdoor activities for you to enjoy while enjoyiing the beautiful view and get in touch with nature. =) 5 stars way way way up!

We sure are lucky to have Mount Lemmon pretty much on our backyard, truly on of Tucson’s best places. Mount Lemmon gives so much back to all of us Tucsonan’s whether we are seeking an athletic experience (via cycling, hiking, running, walking, and even paragliding), camping, fishing, picnics and even skiing. Yep. There really is a ski hill in Southern Arizona, and yes, it has more than one run. It has 22, thank you very much!
For the unfamiliar, Mount Lemmon is the highest point in the Catalina Mountains, just over 9,000 feet! Aside from being an outdoor haven, Mount Lemmon is also home to the Mount Lemmon Observatory/​Steward Observatory Telescope. Awesome, right?
Other attractions include:
Summer Haven: Which is essentially the top of Mt. Lemmon. Here you’ll find the famous cookie cabin & pizza, the general store and fudge! Bring your friends, family, and dog! Everyone is welcome here.
Ski Valley: Just a couple miles above Summer Haven you’ll find Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, the southernmost ski resort in the United States. Unfortunately, ski season is hit or miss since we don’t always get consistent snow fall. I can’t speak to the quality of the runs because I’ve never been. If anything, I’ll go sledding! Is that allowed?
Mt. Lemmon boasts all kinds of trails for every level. I recently did the Meadow Loop trail which is an easy 1.5 mile loop. I didn’t find it difficult, but there are some steep spots to watch for. Depending on your pace, you can get a decent workout out of this one. The Wilderness of Rocks trails is a challenging 8 mile down and up hike. It’s pretty rocky and steep and takes about 5 hours. Bring plenty of water and snacks!
–Rose Canyon is a great spot for camping and a fishing lake.
–There’s an annual Oktoberfest celebration at Ski Valley. It’s awesome! It’s outdoors, the weather is cool and crisp, they offer free rides up the ski lift, Polka music, beer and brats! It’s not to be missed.
If you’ve never been… do it! The drive alone is incredible; literally starting the drive surrounded by mesquite trees and saguaros and ending at the top with pine trees and fresh air!
A note to drivers: Mount Lemmon is a destination for cyclists (including the pros). It’s important to drive the speed limit and watch out for them and share the road!