Mount Lemmon

Mount Lemmon is a breezy oasis away from the desert heat of Tucson. With only around an hour + fifteen minute drive from the city, Mount Lemmon makes a perfect day trip!

SCENIC HIGHWAY

Take the scenic Catalina Highway to reach the top of Mount Lemmon. There’s many places to pull over along the way to take in the wonderful views! You’ll pass by a bunch of cyclists enjoying a good workout, feel the temperatures slowly cool down, + notice the dry desert terrain turn into pine tree-topped mountains. It’s such a relaxing ride + a perfect opportunity to roll down the windows + listen to your favorite music!

HIKE + CAMP

I had a whimsical time hiking the Butterfly Trail. I didn’t get to experience the entire route, but what I did see was incredibly beautiful! The trail follows along the edge of a forest where you see a mountainous landscape in the distance. A hummingbird + other magnificent fauna shared the hike with me. Please be on the lookout for rattlesnakes as I saw one very close to the path! The trail is 10.8 miles, dog friendly, + passes by a waterfall. You can also explore other local hiking trails such as the Aspen Trail + Marshall Gulch Loop, Mount Lemmon Trail, Green Mountain Trail, or Meadow Trail! Check out this amazing source here that goes into detail about additional Mount Lemmon hikes!

Camping is another adventurous option for your stay. Spencer Canyon, Rose Canyon, or General Hitchcock are some of the many campgrounds you will find along your way to the summit!

WINDY POINT

Next, you can drive up to Windy Point where you can view the gorgeous scenery of Tucson + the surrounding area. You may also see rock climbers scale the famous + otherworldly Hitchcock Pinnacle Rock!

SUMMERHAVEN

Finally, when you reach the top of Mount Lemmon you’ll come across the cute little town of Summerhaven. Here you’ll find ice cream parlors, restaurants, gift shops + more! The Mount Lemmon General Store + Gift Shop is famous for its fudge + provides a variety of kitschy + unique gifts! Visit the Cookie Cabin for the best baked batch of treats you’ll ever taste! I also ate at the Iron Door Restaurant, which was delicious + had cozy cabin-like decor. Close to this restaurant is a ski lift, which is open to use any time of the year. I went in the summer + rode it to the top to see indescribable views below. The calming ride ascends amongst pine trees + gives you different perspectives in each direction. Be sure to bring a camera as the mountains in the distance on the way down seem surreal!