Part of the Santa Catalina range, Mount
Lemmon—named for Sara Lemmon, the first woman to reach
the peak of this mountain, in 1881—is the southernmost
ski slope in the continental United States, but you
don't have to be a skier to enjoy the area: in
summer, it's a popular place for picnicking, and
there are 150 miles of marked and well-maintained trails
for hiking. The mountain's 9,157-foot elevation
brings relief from summer heat (temperatures are
typically 25 degrees lower than in Tucson).
Mount Lemmon Highway twists for 28 miles up
the mountainside; driving time from midtown is about an
hour. Every 1,000-foot climb in elevation is equivalent,
in terms of climate, to traveling 300 miles north:
you'll move from typical Sonoran Desert plants in
the foothills to vegetation similar to that found in
southern Canada at the top. Rock formations along the
way look as though they were carefully balanced against
each other by sculptors from another planet.
Even if you don't make it to the top
of the mountain, you'll find stunning views of
Tucson at Windy Point, about halfway up. Look for a road
on your left between the Windy Point and San Pedro
lookouts; it leads to Rose Canyon lake, a lovely
reservoir.
Just before you reach the ski area, you'll
pass through the tiny alpine-style village of Summerhaven,
which has some casual restaurants and gift shops.
There are no
gas stations on Mount Lemmon Highway, so gas up before
you leave town and check the road conditions in winter.
To reach the highway, take Tanque Verde Road to Catalina
Highway, which becomes Mount Lemmon Highway.
