Part 5 - Mount Lemmon

Part 5 - Mount Lemmon.

Warning: Not for drivers (or passengers) who are scared of heights.

Catalina Highway can be seen winding through the valley at the bottom of this picture and up the mountain on the top left. 

We had been recommended by friends to take a drive up to the top of Mt Lemmon in the Santa Catalina mountains. So we squeezed this in on one of my few free days, right before starting my new job. Mt Lemmon is best accessed via Catalina Highway, a 27 mile stretch of road that winds through the mountains up to the peak. There are many pull overs with scenic vistas, trail-head parking, and camping areas.


Mt Lemmon is named after Sara Allen Plummer-Lemmon, who in 1881, was the first white woman to make it to the peak.  It classified as a "Sky Island", which is defined as a isolated mountain surrounded by a drastically different lowland environment.  Tucson has several sky islands surrounding the city, which is why it is such a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts.


The coolest thing about this drive is the biological diversity you get to see. After leaving the Lower Sonoran Desert Zone at the bottom, you pass through the Upper Sonoran Desert Zone, and start to see the Saguaro cacti thin out. The next zone is the Transition Zone, and is characterized by Oak trees and Ponderosa Pines. The Canadian zone contains Fir Forests, and then you end up in an aspen forest at the top of the drive.

Starting from the bottom, the first vista point is the Babad Do'ag Vista. The vista isn't that impressive in the daytime, but it is very popular at night for its views of the Tucson city lights below.  Next up is the Molino Canyon Vista where seasonal water can sometimes be found in the canyon. Further up the road is the Molino Basin Campground, where the Arizona Nationa Scenic Trail crosses from Redington Pass, and up into the Catalinas.

The picture below is the Molino Canyon Overlook: A Shin Dagger Agave in the foreground, with Catalina Highway in the Background.

More Molino Canyon Vista.

A strange bit of history here, is the fact that prison labor was used to construct the Catalina Highway. In 1939, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons authorized the camp and it was expanded in 1940. The Japanese Americans interned at the 'Honor Camp' on Mt Lemmon were conscientious objectors to the war and were given a less strict captive environment than their peers.  The former site of the prison camp is now called Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area, it is just up the road from Molino Basin, and is named in honor of one of its outspoken prisoners.

Its almost like there is something from this shameful, xenophobic part of our past that we could learn from...Trump...we are looking at you. Here is a link which goes into more detail about that sad, but interesting part of our history. 

Website: The Gordon Hirabayashi Story

Somewhere near the 5000 ft elevation mark, you will come to the Thimble Peak Vista. We pulled over here by accident, not knowing how big of a landmark Thimble Peak is. We can see it from our RV park at Cactus Country.

Thimble Peak Vista...The small dome on the ridge-line behind Scott's head is Thimble Peak. 

In hindsight, we really should have taken more pictures, but the narrow road and steep drops had Jenny feeling kinda queasy. NO WAY was I trying to take pictures while driving here either.

Our next favorite vista point on the way up is EVERYONES favorite, and despite the many parking spots, its usually so busy that parking is difficult to impossible. The reason its so popular? The views. There is a long, flat, outcropping of rock that overlooks the Sabino Canyon area, and many people picnic out there or just get out of the car to play on the rocks.  Rock climbers are often seen practicing here. We have also seen rescue teams running drills and fake rescues.

A little farther up the road is the entrance for Rose Canyon Lake. There is an entry fee, so we kept driving. To my understanding it is a very nice lake for fishing and has a campground. Here is a  link to the U.S. Forest Service page for Rose Canyon Lake

Website: U.S. Forest Service, Rose Canyon Lake


Getting closer to the top of Mt Lemmon. The Loma Linda picnic area is probably the best one on the mountain. The views are incredible, and we actually did grill out up here once with friends from my job at the hospital.

Loma Linda picnic area. 

Just around the bend from Loma Linda, there is an intersection with the unpaved fire road that goes down the North slope to the town of Oracle. This is known as the back way up Mt Lemmon and requires a high clearance 4x4 vehicle. Staying on the paved road brings you to another intersection. Staying right leads you to the summit, and veering left will take you into the town of Summerhaven.

Summerhaven is a small cluster of houses and businesses near the summit of Mt Lemmon. The temperatures are generally 30 degrees cooler than the valley below, and it is a great place to hike or relax in the hot Summer months. You can AirBnB a cabin for the weekend up here. There is one restaurant in town called the Sawmill Run. We ate there once and the food was only OK. There is a general store to keep you from driving 27 miles down the mountain for beer. The jewel of Summerhaven tho has got to be the Cookie Cabin. Don't let the name fool you...they also sell delicious pizza by the slice. Here is their website if you need to plan your cookie/pizza order before your visit.

Website: Cookie Cabin on Mt Lemmon

Back on Catalina Highway, heading uphill, you will come to what looks like a ski-lift. Can you have a ski-slope this close to Mexico? Yes you can. Mt Lemmon is the Southernmost ski-slope in the U.S. There is another restaurant here, called the Iron Door...but the sheer amounts of people we run into every time we drive by, has kept us from ever trying to eat there. Climbing another bend, the highway passes the parking area for the top of the ski slope, and continues to the observatory and parking at the top.

(Below) About as close as you can get to the top of Mt Lemmon from the road. 

The top of the ski lift is right in front of us in this picture.

If you only do one thing while in Tucson on a short trip, we recommend taking the drive up to the top of Mt Lemmon.

Thanks for reading!

Here is a link to our previous article:

Part 4 - Desert Trails RV Park Review

Here is a link to our next article:

Part 6 - West Side