Mt. Lemmon, Tucson

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Summerhaven is a tiny little town at the top of Mt Lemmon. A great retreat for people to escape the summer desert heat. There are only a few shops and restaurants up here. So much was destroyed in the Aspen fire in the summer of 2003, still 5 years later you can see the damage to the forest.

Going through this drive is like going from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada in one hour. You start going through the residential areas of Tucson, then go through the desert passing large saguaros. Slowly, as the elevation increases you'll notice some trees. By the end of the drive you'll be surrounded by dark green trees more reminicent of the Rockies and if it's winter you'll see snow. The road up Mt. Lemmon is long (about 25 miles) but well worth the drive. Along the way there are dozens of stops, each giving you a unique view at various elevations. The mountain itself is over 9000 ft. Near the top is the town of Summerhaven, which doesn't really have too much, but is a nice break. If you want to hike to the top of the mountain (or ski - yes you could ski near Tuscon), turn right off the road near Summerhaven. Unless you're visiting Summerhaven, you'll need to pay a $5 entrance fee.

One strange sight on this trip was dozens of people shoveling snow on top of their cars near the top.

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While camping at Mt Lemmon we were fortunate enough to be able to tour the observatory that is located there. The kids enjoyed being able to look through the enormous telescopes to view the night sky. The hike up to the observatory has beautiful views of Tucson in the distance.

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Mt Lemmon is a winding drive with panoramic views! A little gem tucked away in the Catalina mountains, with an elevation of over 9,000 feet there is enough snow up here in the winter to go skiing. A wonderful spot to camp, which is exactly what we did here. Nice and cool, pretty views, and a wooded camp site that I didn't even know existed until last year. There are plenty of places to hike and just enjoy nature. If you drive a little furthur north you will hit Summerhaven which is a really small town mostly "summer homes".

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It took a long time to get up and down Mt. Lemmon, but I would say it was worth it. It's a little cooler at the top (9,000 feet), and there are some tourist shops and other things to do up there. Not too long before we were there, a fire had burned a lot of the trees, and we could still see the consequences of that fire. There were several places to stop and take pictures.

In the higher areas, there are four campgrounds: General Hitchcock, Showers Point, Spencer Canyon and Rose Canyon, all of which are right on the main road. These all close in October though, when it begins to get too cold. Lower campgrounds (Peppersauce and Molino Basin) are open year-round. All require a $10/site fee.
If you don't mind roughing it though, there are several areas where you can just park your car and pitch your tent. Just off of the main road, Mount Bigelow Road leads a little further into the wilderness. Camping is free here, but the road is closed off sometime in the late fall. There are also often fire restrictions in place that prohibit campfires outside of campgrounds.
Allot for about two hours driving from the east side of Tucson to reach the top of Mount Lemmon. The speed limit is 35mph for the entire length, and is often patrolled by the county, although people typically speed, and get up to 65 on the way down sometimes. Obey the signs and use the pull-offs if you don't want to go that fast and/or are not in a hurry. Also keep in mind that there is no gas on Mount Lemmon, so you'll need to fill up beforehand in town.
There is a back way up the mountain on Oracle Control Road (called such because there was a once a signal that controlled traffic because it was too narrow for two-way travel). This is 30 miles of gravel and dirt, oftentimes very bumpy, and is definitely not for the faint of heart, although it is possible in a passenger car. Not advisable during the winter after the snows, or during monsoon season when you run the risk of getting stuck by flash floods.

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Mount Lemmon, in the Santa Catalina Range is just one of several "sky islands" in Southern Arizona, called such because of their striking differences in temperature and vegetation from the surrounding desert.
The front way into Mount Lemmon is 30-mile-or-so-long, curvy, paved road often looming over large drop-offs. There are some gorgeous views of Tucson along the way up, with the best being at Windy Point, where the road makes a 180. This road, and particularly this spot, was recently re-built, and is now much safer and much more tourist friendly. If you go after a big rain, or when the snow is melting, you'll be treated to dramatic waterfalls and a beautiful, flowing creek.
Most people go up during the summer because, when it's 100 degrees in the valley, it's often 75 on the mountain. I like the winter the best though, after a big snow. It's relatively isolated (too cold for Tucsonans), and it's even more gorgeous. Many of the forest roads are closed off during the winter, as they are not plowed, but this just provides a nice hike, as many of the trails are then inaccessible due to the ice.
Whatever season, Summerhaven is a must-see. The cafe there is famous for its pies, and although they're something like $6/slice, they're very deserving of the fame. Much of the village was destroyed during a large fire in 2003, but much has been re-built at this point.
The ski resort is normally open, but skiing is only open about two times per year. Otherwise, this is about the only restaurant on the mountain.

Mt. Lemmon is a cherished place for Tucson residents. It allows the 500,000 something people to escape the summer heat (115 degrees this summer and over 30 days over 100.) and retreat to a cool 70's with a great view.