Mount Lemmon

The view from the summit of Mount Lemmon, Arizona. Note the non-desert plant life. Mount Lemmon, Arizona from below. Mount Lemmon is a famous "sky island" that is an approximately 45 minute drive from Tucson, Arizona @ E Tanque Verde Rd & E Catalina Hwy. The mountain is at an elevation of 9,157 feet which makes the overall climate very different from that of the surrounding desert area and makes it a popular tourist destination for those in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, particularly in the summer months. Mount Lemmon is located in the Coronado National Forest, is the home of Ski Valley, is the location of the town Summerhaven, and is the site of an astronomical observatory. Understand History Landscape Flora and fauna Climate On average the climate at the summit is at least twenty degrees cooler than it is at the base. Please note that this means ample amounts of snow can, and do, fall on the mountain during the winter months. Get in The only way to really reach the mountain is on the Catalina Highway that begins in Tucson. During the winter months it is advisable to use vehicles that have four wheel drive and/ or snow chains as the road can become very slippery. Fees/Permits Catalina Highway is a toll road for activities such as camping, hiking or even to use the restroom. When approaching the toll booth, there is a lane to pay and there is another lane that bypasses the toll booth. It is a good idea to pay the toll if you plan to camp, however, if you plan to hike and/or use the restroom, or have a picnic at one of the many picnic tables with charcoal grills avaliable beside the highway. paying the toll is on the honor system as rangers won't bother people with verifying the payment of the toll unless they are camping. Paying the toll is not required if you simply plan to sightsee and go up to the town of Summerhaven. Get around See The town of Summerhaven, which has a year-round population of 100 that swells up during the summer months. Most of the town is being completely rebuilt after the 2003 Aspen Fire destroyed most of it. Do The Ravens climbing area Astronomy Camps are run at the Mount Lemmon astronomical observatory throughout the year for teenagers, adults, and educators. Campers spend time learning how to use the astronomical facilities, which range up to telescopes 61" in size, and collect their own research data. Truly a must-do for any astronomy guru, although the camps tend to fill very quickly so check their website for details. [1] Ski Valley is the southernmost ski resort in the United States. It's a very small resort with short runs.[2] Rock Climbing is popular throughout Mount Lemmon. With a variety of rock formations to match the climatic zones, the area is quite diverse with thousands of climbing routes and has everything from sport, trad, single-pitch and multi-pitch climbs. A guide book that covers the area can be picked up in Tucson. Buy Eat Iron Door At Mt Lemmon Ski Valley, Across from Ski Valley. Pricey but beautiful. "Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin", At the far side of Summerhaven. They serve the best giant cookies." "Mt. Lemmon General Store", Fudge.....the BEST Drink Sleep Lodging All commercial lodging was lost in the Aspen Fire 2003. There are several private owners who rent cabins. Camping Backcountry Stay safe Dehydration is very easy on the mountain and altitude sickness is very common so be sure to drink plenty of water in order to avoid both! Take a pack of gum with you on the highway because Tucson's elevation is at around 2500 feet and Mount Lemmon is over 7000 feet Get out Once you reach the top of the mountain, you can take a shortcut that will take you to Oracle, Arizona but it is recommended that only 4 wheel drive vehicles use it This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!