Mount Lemmon
A 'sky island' rising from desert to pine forest. The Catalina Highway climbs for about an hour, temperatures drop 10–15 °C, and viewpoints along the way overlook Tucson.
At 2,791 meters, Mount Lemmon is the highest peak of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The roughly 40 km Catalina Highway winds up from cactus desert, passing through oak woodland, pine forest, and fir forest. It's often described as driving from Mexico to Canada. Be sure to stop at Windy Point Overlook for its rock formations and panoramic city views, and grab a slice of pie in Summerhaven, the mountaintop village. In winter, the summit has one of the southernmost ski areas in the United States. The Mount Lemmon Sky Center offers night stargazing programs (reservations required). The road has many curves, and summer weekends are busy. In winter, you may need tire chains.
Opening hours
All day (roads may close due to weather)
Nearby sights
- Catalina State Park
- Sabino Canyon
- Biosphere 2
- DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
- Tohono Chul
- Tucson Botanical Gardens
- Saguaro National Park – Rincon Mountain District (East)
- Reid Park Zoo