Winter months provides a blanket of snow at the top of the mountain and a period of time for skiing and playing in the snow.
It's no wonder that
probably everyone who has lived or stayed in the area has been to Mt.
Lemmon at one time or another. To some, it is a regular pilgrimage
several times a year.
From the base of the
mountain range, all the desert plant and wildlife co-exist among the
ever creeping metropolitan city limits. Saguaro cactus abounds standing
tall against the backdrop of the enormous mountain range.
As you drive up the
winding road, now under construction for enlargement, you gain a sense
of awe as you watch the desert slowly turn into brush, then into an
array of windblown rock formations and finally into the midst of a deep
forest of pine and fir. If you visit in the winter, be sure to bring
your ski equipment or snow tires.
The busiest times to
visit Mt. Lemmon are weekends (of course) between 11am and 4pm. The
earlier you arrive, the better parking and picnic areas your find. Less
travelled days are weekend mornings and many weekdays.
Tucson, Arizona (approximately
2,400 feet above sea level) is just 60 miles north of the Mexico border
and about 150 miles south of the capital city, Phoenix- and about 500
miles east of Los Angeles and the ocean). Tucson is one of the last of
the wild frontiers, being the oldest inhabited city in North America
(inhabited first by the Hohokam Indians around 100AD). The valley is
home to a half million people who dwell in this Southwestern U.S. desert
environment. Visit the Tucson Home Page with maps, history, current events and home pages for dozens of groups and businesses.
Books about Mt. Lemmon and the Santa Catalina Mountains
Legends
of lost mines, lost cities and a lost mission have been passed down by
word of mouth for generations. The most famous legend, the Iron Door
Mine, helped launch the early American hunt for gold in the 1850s. Read
more about the legends and history behind them in a new local book on
the Treasures in the Santa Catalinas. Purchase copies of Treasures of the Santa Catalina Mountains: Unraveling the Legends and History of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Squeezing the Lemmon II... More Juice Than Ever: A Rock Climber's Guide to the Mt. Lemmon Highway, Tucson, Arizona
Climb Mt. Lemmon with one of the more popular hiking books about the
Catalina Mountains. Includes maps, photos, route topos and descriptions,
and general area information most climbers find handy. 324 pages. Eric Fazio-Richard, Author.
Biking the Santa Catalina Mountains
The Bike Mt. Lemmon website provides information and maps on Mountain Bike Trails, group rides, and tips on how to safely bike Mt. Lemmon. Bike up the mountain through 5 eco-zones, 26 miles, and 8,000 feet.
Free Interactive Bike Maps
of Tucson and the Santa Catalina Mountains, courtesy ofthe Arizona
Bicycle Association and Friends of The Oro Valley/Tucson Loop.
Tucson Bike Rentals,
Arizona leading bike rental and tours company, offers rental e-bikes,
road, mountain, gravel, tandem, kids, and long term bike rentals.
Provides rental for the Tucson Loop and for Mount Lemmon. Daily and
weekly bike rentals. Book online and choose from a variety of bicycles.
Call 520-260-8293.
Jutting
up 9,000 feet above sea level, this magnificent mountain peak stands
amidst the pale backdrop of the sparse desert sand and cactus.