Mount Lemmon (Catalina Highway)

Driving

by Plot Along: Southwest

The Catalina Highway, officially the Sky Island Scenic Byway, climbs 27 miles from the northeast edge of Tucson to the village of Summerhaven near the 9,150-foot summit of Mount Lemmon. In that one drive you gain over 6,000 feet and pass through as many life zones as you'd cross driving from the Sonoran Desert to Canada: saguaro forest at the bottom, oak and pine in the middle, spruce and fir at the top, often 25 to 30°F cooler than the city below.

It's a strong driving road on its own, with well-graded curves, hoodoo rock gardens, and big desert overlooks at Windy Point and the named vistas. It ends at Ski Valley, the southernmost ski area in the United States.

Fully paved and open year-round, though the top gets snow in winter and chains may be required. It's a fee area (Coronado National Forest day pass). Go early, because Windy Point and the upper pull-offs fill on weekends.

Learn more: en.wikipedia.org

1
Catalina Highway / Tanque Verde Road
The mile-0 start of the drive, where the Catalina Highway leaves the Tucson street grid at its junction with Tanque Verde Road on the city's northeast edge and begins the climb. The Le Buzz Café on the corner is the traditional staging spot for cyclists tackling the ascent.
2
Babad Do'ag Viewpoint
The first overlook above the desert floor, named with the Tohono O'odham words for Mount Lemmon. Saguaros below, the whole Tucson basin spread out behind you.
3
Molino Canyon Vista
A canyon overlook in the lower desert zone, with seasonal water sliding over the rocks below and the first real sense of the elevation to come.
4
Seven Cataracts Vista
A pull-off looking across to a chain of waterfalls that step down a side canyon after rain. One of the byway's best views.
5
Windy Point
The most famous overlook on the mountain: a knob of wind-carved hoodoos at about 6,400 feet, popular with rock climbers and a near-mandatory stop for the sweeping view back over Tucson.
6
Geology Vista
An overlook interpreting the banded rock the road has been climbing through. A quieter alternative to Windy Point just up the road.
7
San Pedro Vista
A north-facing overlook into the San Pedro River valley, where the pines take over and the air turns cool and resinous.
8
Mount Lemmon Ski Valley
The end of the public drive, at the Ski Valley parking area high on Mount Lemmon in spruce-fir forest. Ski Valley is the southernmost ski area in the United States, with the Iron Door Restaurant and a summer sky ride. The road climbs on toward the 9,157-foot summit and its observatory from here, but is gated to the public beyond this lot. Summerhaven village sits just below.

Catalina Highway / Tanque Verde Road

Babad Do'ag Viewpoint

Molino Canyon Vista

Seven Cataracts Vista

Windy Point

Geology Vista

San Pedro Vista

Mount Lemmon Ski Valley