Livin' Outside the Box!: Mt Lemmon in Arizona

There are many things to see and do here in the desert southwest and none is better than a drive to the summit of Mt. Lemmon. Link Mount Lemmon has the highest point in the Catalina Mountains at a little over 9100 feet. The mountain is accesible using the paved Catalina Highway or for the more adventurous and off road equipped, there is a dirt road going up "the backside" of the mountain from the town of Oracle. The area is home to a small town that is aptly named Summerhaven, where Tucson residents can go to escape the summer heat. The day we traveled up, the temperature at the desert floor was 85* and it dropped to a refreshing 58* at the summit! Mt Lemmon also has the southernmost ski slope in the continental US, the Mount Lemmon Observatory, hiking trails galore, camping, picnic areas, and awesome views at every turn. The winding uphill climb is about 23 miles and there were many bicyclists making the climb. Going up is 3+ hours of steady climb for them. I'm glad we took the car!

This is one of those things where pictures don't really do it justice but I tried to capture some of it to give you a feel of what to expect. It is definitely a great way to spend several hours if you're in the area. Diane and I want to go back in the evening to experience a sunset and the stars! Not to mention the city of Tucson lighting up the valley floor.

If you go, access the Catalina Highway on the East Side of Tucson. I reccomend driving to the top and then make your stops at the vistas on the way back down. Your brakes will thank you!