Outdoors · Tucson

Mount Lemmon & the Catalina Highway

Mount Lemmon is the high point of the Santa Catalina Mountains and the crown of Tucson's "Sky Islands" — and the drive up the Catalina Highway (the Sky Island Scenic Byway) is half the experience. In under an hour you climb from saguaro desert through oak and pine into cool coniferous forest, gaining a mile of elevation and, often, a 20-degree drop in temperature.

At the top sits the tiny village of Summerhaven, with a café and a general store, plus trailheads, picnic spots, and dramatic pullouts along the way like Windy Point. In winter, Mount Lemmon is home to one of the southernmost ski areas in the country; in summer it's a beloved escape from the valley heat.

The road is paved and winding, so take your time and watch for cyclists. From a Tucson rental it's an easy day trip — bring a layer even in summer, since the summit runs much cooler, and top off your gas before you head up. Cookies at the Summerhaven bakery are a local tradition.