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

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. The start of the climb.
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.
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.
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.
Geology Vista
An overlook interpreting the banded rock the road has been climbing through. A quieter alternative to Windy Point just up the road.
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.
Mount Lemmon (Summerhaven)
The top of the drive: the alpine village of Summerhaven and Ski Valley, the southernmost ski area in the country, in spruce-fir forest near the 9,150-foot summit.

Babad Do'ag Viewpoint

Molino Canyon Vista

Seven Cataracts Vista

Windy Point

Geology Vista

San Pedro Vista

Mount Lemmon (Summerhaven)