So fun to go on the ski lift (no snow) It was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and there was no snow. We had breakfast across the street, and you get a FREE LIFT RIDE with each breakfast purchase (normally $11 I think). Also the gift shop had a nice supply of warm hats, scarves, mittens, etc. The ride is longer than it appears from the ground. Be sure and bundle up! read more

Mount Lemmon - View from top in December 2015 - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Favorite place to get away from the heat and get some exercise in. This is off sunset hiking trail. read more

Mount Lemmon - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

View from the top of the mountain is pretty good. Check out the pic! I was able to see the whole city. read more

Mount Lemmon - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Ski in Southern Arizona??!?!?!? $*QE*R&@Q@? Yes my friends - Mt Lemmon is high enough (9157 ft) to be graced with snow now and again - and there is a sweet ski lift to access the top of the slopes. And it remains open during the hotter months to serve as a cool ride over the mountain!! I felt like I was in Switzerland - and was almost expecting to see Heidi running bare-footed under my seat... Old-fashioned, incredibly slow but so, so fun!! Go there during the Oktoberfest and grab a beer and a sausage afterward!! read more

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Wow!!! The geology here is amazing!!! I really didn't know much about Mount Lemmon until recently, when a colleague told me about Summerhaven and the wildfire there several years ago. I decided to drive down from Tempe on a Saturday afternoon and see what this mountain was all about. The Catalina highway was one of the most beautiful and breathtaking roads I have ever been on in my life! After just a few minutes, you start to see stunning views of surrounding mountains and desert. Soon you also notice the temperature dropping (highly appreciated in Arizona) and the air feeling better. The highway was relatively busy with road cyclists (gotta go back and do that), groups of bikers, and families - obviously a lot of people know this is the place to be. Along the route, there are several different places to pull off and look at the view, camp, or start a hike. We went up to Summerhaven, which was pretty crowded, then continued to the summit at 9000+ feet. The view up there was so beautiful, it's unreal! It feels like the northeast US or maybe somewhere in California, not Arizona. While it was 100+ degrees in Tucson, the temperature at the summit was in the 60s and felt kind of chilly. I let Callie off the leash and we hiked for about an hour. I recently got a Garmin GPS so it was a fun place to test it out. As for the rocks, this area is a geologist's dream... igneous and metamorphic rocks abound and the roadcuts tell an amazing story with their igneous intrusions, faults and folds. Not to mention, the boulders and hoodoos are super dramatic! You don't have to know a lot about geology to simply appreciate it. But it would be a great place to bring an undergraduate class for a day of investigation. I can't wait to return to this beautiful mountain, especially in the winter when I can ski! It is truly a year round destination and an amazing escape from the Arizona heat. Be back soon! read more

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So to put it lightly, my mom (who lives in Tucson) doesn't get out much. So while visiting her I came up with the brilliant plan of taking her out for a drive up to Mt. Lemmon for an afternoon trip. I hadn't taken the drive for years and years, so we gas up the rental and head out. The drive is absolutely beautiful, especially during the non-summer months. Although the last time I was up there, it was during the summer...which means that in the course of the drive, you will go from scorching temperatures down in the Tucson valley to much cooler weather as your climb the mountain (at least a 20-30 degree drop). The drive takes you up the 9,000 plus foot mountain with plenty of breathtaking views of Tucson and once you get to the top of the mountain, views of the Oro Valley also come into view. On this particular trip, the upper elevations were covered with quite a bit of snow. Summerhaven is a community located near the summit of the mountain but much of the community is being rebuilt due to the 2003 Aspen Fire. There are many vista points where vehicles can pull over and passengers can take in the many amazing views Mt. Lemmon has to offer. It's quite amazing to watch the progression of the environment as you climb the mountain. You start with mainly cactus littered desert...leading up to rocky mountain passes...and eventually bringing you to mountainous forest covered with huge pine trees. Besides being a drive, you can also hike...picnic...ski...and off-road down the backside towards the town of Oracle. There is a park fee for visitors who plan to do more than just drive up and back down. Definitely a place for anyone in Tucson to visit if they love natural beauty and spectacular views. read more

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First of all, from the foothills of Santa Catalina's to the top will take about one hour. For some of the most breathtaking views that you'll ever see. Get someone else to drive up and take in the different eco systems as you head up Mount Lemmon. There are a few vistas along the drive where you can stretch your legs, take pictures or just admire the beautiful scenery around you. Several hiking paths if you are so adventurous.For the campers 5 pay by night campgrounds , plus another 5 free along the way. This is one of those reviews that's tough to put into words. * Elevation is a little over 9000 ft. to the top by the ski lift. Which happened to be closed on a Tuesday when we headed up. This is open during the summer months the other five days. And yes it's open for a short ski season from December to February every season. This time of year,there is even a lake to go canoeing or fishing. Take it all in and enjoy. * Arizona's beauty at it's finest. read more

I don't live in Tucson but when I was there many time to visit, I LOVE Mt. Lemmon!!!! Summer or Winter...doesn't matter. Why? Beautiful and majestic place. You get a scenic hour-long drive from the desert floor of Tucson to a lush, growing forest over 9/000 feet in the sky! It's a long winding drive up there but boy, the view is great. We event stopped at times just to get out of the car, and walk around to enjoy the breathtaking view of Tucson. =) You'll experience a wide spectrum of life zones along the route, from lush forest to scrubland. The granite tower of Mt. Lemmon are visible from the trail. You'll even find unusual formations of stone in the Wilderness of Rocks trail. Elevation Gain: 3,450 ft Trailhead elevation: 6,100 ft Top elevation: 9,300 ft Length: 6.3 total miles Best time to go: April - October You can camp, walk, hike, run, bike, fish, picnic, ski/snowboard here! This is the place for everyone and anyone. At Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, you'll have an awesome adventure skiing/snowboardin there! There is a ski school and you can rent equipements. Lift tickets are reasonable price for All Day and 1/2 Day (after 12:30 pm). WOW...70+ is FREE and so is child age 12 under. (Anyone skiis/snowboards at age 70????) Hungry? Go to Summerhaven. This is a must-go place in Tucson. One of my favorite places there. Multiple outdoor activities for you to enjoy while enjoyiing the beautiful view and get in touch with nature. =) 5 stars way way way up! read more

This should be on your MUST DO list for Tucson! The drive up is amazing. Cacti on the ground, snow on the top! Highly recommend for a half-day activity! read more

Mount Lemmon is where we go for alternative climates in the Tucson area. I love the hiking, the camping, the sunset views and evening sparkling lights of city and sky. I have seen the brightest shooting star on this mountain, the most breathtaking scenery, and a large variety of wildlife. This mountain holds a special place in my heart. read more

Oh the ways to count how much I miss Mt. Lemmon. I live in Colorado now, so mountains are definitely a part of my life, and compared to the San Juans, Lemmon is tame, but that is not what makes it so special. I'm an avid rock climber and absolutely love the feel of gneiss on a Saturday morning. Most of the 1000+ routes are easily accessible from the highway. There is climbing year round here too, which is unheard of in most of the world. In the summer, look to higher elevations such as the summit crags, or ridge line and munchkinland. In the winter, hairpin, bear canyon or really anything below 6000 ft elevation. It is AZ after all, even if it's cold, the sun will most likely be out radiating warmth off the rock. I also have an addiction to snowboarding, and have been to ski valley many a time. If you don't expect world class runs, and if they have sufficient snow, you will not be miserable. It can get icy, and they don't groom, so make sure your edges are razor sharp, or wait for fresh snow. No terrain park, but I've brought a shovel up and made a few of my own before, so choose your own adventure. It's a place to hang out and day drink by your car, then hit a lift with no line. You can also get to the top and hike out to some tree runs if you feel so inclined. The view of Tucson from the top is splendid. The name of the game on Lemmon is diversity. When I tell people I'm from Tucson, it's the standard, "it's so hot and flat there" not true, at least entirely. Mt Lemmon makes up for the 110 degree summers with beautiful desert at the bottom, high grasslands and scrub oak in the mid elevations and sub alpine conifer forest at the top. Plus, it helps make Tucson to be considered the #1 climbing city as rated by climbing magazine. read more

Mount Lemmon - Hitchcock pinnacle at Windy Point vista. - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Camping mt. Lemmon was a wonderful experience and very fun. It's always nice to get away from the city and the heat. We did Marshalls Gulch early in the am. The trail is an easy 4 mile hike, easy to low moderate. We did the hike with out little pug and he rocked it. The trail is well maintained, amazing views throughout the hike. It also has several streams and it smells forresty. We started Marshalls gulch and followed the Aspen trail head. It has great areas to stop and admire the views, eat an orange or trail mix and just forget about the world. We will definitely do this one again. Highly recommended. read more

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One of my favorite places to go in Tucson. Especially in th summer as it is generally 20 degrees cooler. It's fun to stop at all the stops a long the way and take in the beautiful views. There's dinning at the top or bring a picnic. Take a ride on the ski lift and see from the top. There is also a observatory too. read more

We visited Spencer Canyon CG and had a good ole time. Camp Host Mark was a great guy, We will definitely be back. read more

My husband and I go here almost every weekend to get away from town and the heat. So many activities to do here and our favorite is rock climbing and hiking. Dog friendly hiking trails. Plenty of camping, hiking, picnicking, moutain bike riding, road bikes, or just enjoy the Vistas. We take friends and family here everytime they visit. Play more outside :) read more

Mount Lemmon - Getting a little climbing on a beautiful day - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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As a Tucson native I absolutely love Mt Lemmon. It's gorgeous and an amazing getaway from the valleys summer weather. I along with majority of Tucson go up Mt Lemmon several times throughout the year. Yesterday a group of us went up to the mountain to enjoy the snow and go snowboarding. We are all professional boarders and go to Colorado during the winter. 1st the slopes are rough and unfortunately two people in our group ended up falling into the rocks. Both ended up getting scraped up and when asked for some minor medical attention they were treated horribly. 2nd Do Not waste your time going to the Iron Door Restaurant in Ski Valley Valley. It's one of the worst places to go! The service is horrible and the food is just as bad. The host was disrespectful and all the staff were incredibly disrespectful. For years I have gone to this restaurant and it's been horrible. Don't waste your time going here. The pie even sucks. read more

needed rental. the wait to get the skis was more than two and a half hours. terrible experience.

tip: come early or be forced to park far from the resort!! Southern arizona's only place to ski and snowboard. extremely small compared to the ones in california, big bear or tahoe (take your pick) but it gets the job done. they have rentals there so if you didn't bring your board, no prob. the lifts are okay, could be better but not dangerous by any means. has a cafe in case you didn't bring any sandwiches or snacks. overall, if you wanna ski in the desert, mt lemmon does the job read more

Beyond beautiful views! Multiple places to park at different levels so you can make your hike as intense or leisurely as you want! The ski lift was running and takes you round trip for $10 a person, but they still charge you $10 to just go down. read more

Mount Lemmon - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Just an hour from downtown Tucson and you have a whole different world than our desert! Pine trees, snow, superb hikes and city views. Such a good day trip or weekend camping adventure! read more

Mount Lemmon - Christmas day sledding - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The name says it all ... Mt Lemmon, i knew it would be enjoyable but simple, compared to places like mammoth in California. The giant cookies are good up here and so is a little sledding and such but don't waste your time on the lift unless you jar want to catch some views. The drive there takes long due to old grannies driving Rv's so leave early! And tucsonans should be ashamed of themselves I'm only the third person to review this place and I'm from LA ! read more

Mount Lemmon - Yes it actually does snow here! - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We drove up to the top of the mountain late in the afternoon, stopping several times along the way at the lookouts, and to take pictures. It's just beautiful, and the views are breathtaking. It is so interesting how things change as you go up the mountain. First its pretty warm and there are cacti everywhere. As you continue driving up it gets cooler...and cooler...and the cacti give way to pine trees. Then you arrive at the top and its downright COLD, and there is snow. Its amazing how in a half hour drive things can change that much before your eyes. I imagine it must be very refreshing in the summer. The only drawback for me...since I am prone to motion sickness, my tummy was NOT a happy camper with all those twisty windy roads. But the views and experience were worth it. read more

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Amazing place to go to escape the heat. High 70s in the mountain, 105 in town. The difference is incredible. There are trails here to satisfy many level of experience and the views are incredible. I need to come back in different times of the year to see what its like then. It is about an hour drive from the foot of the mountain to the peak, but it is absolutely worth it. read more

Mount Lemmon - Wild raspberries on the trail - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Something for everyone here! Scenic drive from Tucson that ends at around 8500 feet. So many scenic pullovers. People enjoying cycling, birding, hiking, fishing, camping and just taking in the sites. Stop at the Palisades visitor center for helpful information, green trail maps and gifts. Check out the restaurants and gift shop in Summerhaven and at the ski lift. Fish at Rose Canyon Lake. SO many camping options at various elevations. read more

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We've lived in AZ for 16 years and only recently found this gem. From Tucson it's just a short one hour drive from bottom to top with many beautiful spots to stop and explore along the way including overlooks and hiking trails. We even saw a group rock climbing and repelling at one stop. The true rewards at he top where the temp is almost 30 degrees lower then the start with beautiful views in all directions. The pictures tell the rest of the story... read more

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Really awesome experience. Be sure to download the Mt Lemmon app. It gives you a narrated tour as you drive up the mountain. It gives you the mountains history and goes over the different ecological systems you will see. Fair warning though, if you have little ones in the car the audio tour will bore them out of their mind so bring headphones for them. There are plenty of stops on the way up that let you view the vista and climb on rocks. There are also plenty of picnic tables when you get up in the wooded area so bring lunch. After you reach the summit, you will go into a little town with gift shops, general stores, and places to eat. The best part of all of this is the dramatic drop in temperature. It went from 104 to 75 in less than an hour. It's is the perfect escape from the summer heat. read more

Mount Lemmon - Cacti everywhere! - Hiking Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

did the chair lift wow WHAT A RIDE!!! i recommend to all to take it to the top get off walk around both left and right sides... it's like views to forever! read more

Great spot to cool off when you are in Tucson for the summer! Go for a quick hike or go for a picnic with the whole family! You decide!

I've lived here for 15 years + and one of the top reason why I love Tucson is Mt. Lemmon. Its a short drive just to see a beautiful thing. Well, it does take about an hour to get to the top but time flies when your distracted by the amazing view. You can visit any time of the year and this place is just stunning. Dont wanna drive too far up? Windy point is a great turnout spot, barely half way up with the best view of tucson. Make it on time and you can see the sunset over the mountains. You will find a lot of Tucson locals in this area. Ski Valley/Summerhaven is open Thursday to Monday if you wanted to stop at a coffee shop or have dinner at the Iron Door restaurant. Otherwise, the whole park is open to explore. Come during the winter when and its the perfect snow slope for beginners or to warm up for the season. This is where i learned to snowboard! read more

"A visit to Mount Lemmon is a scenic hour-long drive from the desert floor of Tucson to a lush, regrowing, forest over 9,000 feet in the sky." -- Entertainment Magazine (http://emol.org/tour/mtlemmon.html) The views? Pretty & a little scary. The weather? Windy & cool. The drive? It's jolly good fun on a motorcycle, but made me a little dizzy when we went up in a truck. On the way down, though... boy oh boy, was that fun. :D Be careful on the road, as there are lots of cyclists. There's hiking trails & stops along the way. There's not much to do once you get to the top. Depending on the time of day, you might be able to grab some pizza or fudge. There's a skiing place & a restaurant that I haven't checked out, so I can't really comment on them. Even though there's not much to do, I've gotta give it four stars since there's great views & nice weather. & because it's nature, & for the most part, I like nature. :) read more

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There's a reason that Lance Armstrong trains in Tucson most every year and the reason is the Mount Lemmon highway. I can't say I've ever braved the climb but many do. I don't believe I've ever driven the highway and not seen a group of bikes. You start off at about 2,557 ft surrounded by saguaro cactus and mesquite trees and climb as high as 8,198 ft to pine tree vegetation and cool air. The ride down must be a rush as you'll see the bikes usually bypassing the cars!! If you're not up for the ride, the drive is a beaut! There are several pull-offs along the way; one of the most popular being Windy Point where you'll find hikers, rock climbers, picnics and more. Be careful driving in this area, lost of pedestrians and bike traffic. If you do make it all the way to the top, perhaps enjoy some lunch at ski valley, ride the ski lift up during all times of the year and don't forget to go to Summerhaven and get you some famous, mouth-watering fudge. Fudge and I have a love/hate relationship but that's usually one of the only reasons I go to Summerhaven, other than the obvious nice temperatures! Mount Lemmon is a must for visitors as well as Tucson natives. read more

Mt. Lemmon is a great place to go all year round. During the winter, there is snow and during the spring and fall, it is a great place to hike and during the summer, awesome that it is much cooler as you go up higher! From the standpoint of road biking, it is a great place to train. You can park your car at the corner of Tanqueverde and Catalina Hwy. There is a shopping plaza (with a McDonalds) and start biking up Catalina Hwy. It is 26 miles from the base to the town of Summerhaven at the top. There are stops along the way at mile 5, 11, 14, 19 and 21. In particular, there is NO WATER available until mile 19 at Palisades although there are restroom stops at the other "stops". It is a gentle and gradual uphill and is a good place to learn how to climb on the road bike. The views and the change in scenery from the full on desert landscape to the wooded forest as you get closer to the top are amazing. The hiking trails are amazing and really fun. In particular, the Butterfly Trail is a good 6 mile hike. I love how it can be 90 degrees in the city and yet only a nice cool 75-80 degrees closer to the top. Unfortunately, I feel that Summerhaven itself at the top is not all that much to see. There is a rustic country shop with some fudge (I didn't find the fudge super great or anything) and a cookie/pizza shop. I am not a fan of cookies or pizza so I can't really say if it was great or not. There are a couple of other small shops that one could stroll through. Right before Summerhaven, there is also a turn-off on the right side that leads to the skiing and a restaurant. There is a small trail and if you continue up, you reach the observatory. If you are on a bike, this last little bit of road from the ski lift to the observatory is very steep and the road is very pot-holed! Oh, and there is a place before mile 19 that is called Rose Canyon. It is a great place to camp out and get away from school for a week(end) and there is a fishing "lake" that is often restocked. Overall, this is a great little place to go for all kinds of activities throughout the year! read more

What do you mean you haven't been up Mount Lemmon yet? Get off of Yelp and GO NOW! Stunning desert oasis at the bottom merging into a spectacular pine forest at the top. Seasonal snows in the winter, and about the only place to hike/bike/climb/etc without roasting in the summer. Simply amazing views and scenery. The back road to the mountain is also fun, if you have a four-wheel drive. The road gets pretty rough! There are some great eats in Summerhaven. I've been to both the Cookie Cabin and the new one, I think it is called the Saw Mill or something similar. And there are several great hiking trails where the road through Summerhaven ends. read more

This is always a good trip whether it is winter, summer or some time in-between. For winter fun, when there is snow you can go to Ski Valley and enjoy the slopes. You can also stop along the side some where up the mountain and make a snowman or go sledding. During the other months you can enjoy a nice ride up to the cooler weather. I typically enjoy going up and down on my motorcycle. As mentioned before with the other motorcycle rider you need to be careful because there are a lot of bicycle riders going up and down the mountain as well. You will find the mountain pretty empty in the morning and during the week days. If you go on the weekend or holiday there are a lot of people going up and down. As mentioned with other reviews there are nice places to relax and eat either in Summerhaven or at Ski Valley. If you enjoy going off the beaten path, there are many trails to adventure off to with a lot of scenic places to visit on those trails. Enjoy read more

The beautiful drive up was a highlight of our trip to Tucson. My fiancé was getting impatient as we drove up since I'm a sucker for scenic vistas, but every minute of the drive was stunning. My favorite overviews were Babad Do'ag, Seven Cataracts, and Windy Point. Windy Point was probably the pinnacle, so if you're running short on time, you can turn around there and not really have missed anything (at least if you're from the North and have seen snow and pine trees before). That being said, you should do the whole drive! It's all awesome! We didn't visit Arizona expecting to see snow, but it was a really neat experience. We drove up in the afternoon (it took about 2.5 hours stopping a lot for photos), and managed to get back down to Babad Do'ag just in time to catch a gorgeous desert sunset. Memorable and beautiful, definitely a must-do! Since we had limited time in the city, we actually chose this over a hike (even though we're avid backpackers), and have no regrets! read more

We visited Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley during the summer months... so I can't comment on the ski season. But I can say that we had a great time here without snow. This is such a nice escape from the desert heat and we truly felt as though we were in another part of the country. During the summer the gift shop is open and you can purchase tickets to ride the ski lift to the top of the mountain. I think the tickets were $7 each, but we used the Groupon we snagged earlier this year. The ride to the top was so peaceful and relaxing. I think it was about 10-15 mins each way. The view of the valley below is spectacular. We wanted to hike around at the top but had trouble finding a good trail--next time we will ask the ski lift operator. There is also a sit down restaurant on-site, but I can't speak for it. There are only porta-potties available for use at the ski lift... I can't imagine that is super user-friendly while donning ski gear in the winter. If you are looking for a true ski resort this probably isn't your place. read more

While visiting Tucson we decided to drive up to the ski lift. While it was hot outside our drive up was nice and refreshing. We stopped at many sites along the way to enjoy the sites and take pics. Getting to the ski lift area I wasn't aware if the lifts we're running so instead we walked around the area. Two gift shops and a cookie sjop5. The ride alone is worth the trip. Everything you can see and do along the way is a bonus to this day trip. read more

Mt Lemmon is a great place ot visit year round...especially in the summer to escape the Tucson heat! It's about a 30 - 45 minute drive from the bottom, and significantly cooler (temp. wise)! Although I'm an avid skier, I've never skied at Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley...there are only a few runs, so I would rather make the 4 hour jaunt to the White Mountains if I have the ski urge. Ski Valley also hosts the Mt Lemmon Oktoberfest, in which I had the pleasure to attend a couple years ago. Nothing too crazy...just some yummy German food and German dancers in lederhosen! Summerhaven is nearby, they have some cute shops, and delicious eats to satisfy your hunger! Whenever I go camping with friends, we always go to the Mt. Lemmon area (Mt. Bigelow, usually). It's always cool, and it's nice to spend some time under the treetops for a night to change things up! read more

spur of the moment getaway and totally worth it! we all loved the beautiful scenery coming up the mountain and you won't even notice that your trip is an hour long. All the lookout point we stopped at is breathtaking. We took as much pictures as we can and the view never disappoints. My son who is kind of leery hiking up mt. lemmon totally loved it and can't get enough of it and i was the one who kept shrieking whenever he and his dad would go on the ledge and climb the rocks. There is also a bunch of little souvenir shops and restaurants at the town atop. On winter season you could also ski there and they have ski lifts that'll take you up higher and we'll surely come back here. read more

Always a beautiful place to visit. Makes for a great day trip. BRING YOIR CAMERA. Ski valley has a great restaurant called The iron door. They are known for their chilli and cornbread. You can sit outside on the patio which overlooks the ski lift and mountains. Hummingbirds are chirping from the feeders they have hung. Today I had brats and a Munich beer. read more