Andy Mink
Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
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As we were driving up to Mt. Lemmon just north of Tucson in the Coronado National Forest, it occurred to me that I don't think we have a "favorite drives" thread. We visit my mother in Tucson a few times per year and we try to make it up the road at least one of those times.
As you climb out of Tucson you first go through a saguaro forest, then open brush with canyons and water. As the road climbs amazing rock formations appear around every curve, and there are plenty of curves. Numerous pullouts provide ample photo ops and people are quite good about pulling off to let faster traffic by. Vista points are well marked and there are restrooms at one of those stops. Several campgrounds, day use areas, and trails can be found on the road. You'll be sharing the road with bicycles; we saw several dozen along the way. The 26 mile road has a 5,400' vertical with a steady 4-5 percent grade. Good for those folks!
At the top of the drive is Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley. It's a fun place to ski if you get the chance, with about 200 acres of terrain, almost 800' vertical, and a top elevation of between 9,022 and 9,157 depending on who you believe. They run the lift all all year and, when there is no skiing, you can ride it up and see the view of Tucson far below. Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley is truly a throwback to simpler times, relying entirely on Mother Nature to bring the goods. The season can run between Christmas and Easter but is entirely up to natural snow. Two two seat fixed grips and a surface tow provide access to the trails. The biggest issue the area has is when the snow falls, the road usually gets closed; summer tires in Tucson don't make for great snow tires on what can be a pretty slippery drive!
If you you're hungry, I suggest dropping in across the road at the Iron Door restaurant. The food is consistently good and the prices are reasonable. Get your name in early if the parking lot is full as seats go fast and, as in so many places, staff is short.
The rugged beauty of the Santa Catalina Mountains is something to see and the The Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, also called the Catalina or the Sky Islands Scenic Byway, delivers.
Saguaro forest near the bottom of the drive
It's interesting to see the growth right out of rocks
A small stream opens into a pond before flowing further down the mountain
I was somewhat surprised to see a frog well camouflaged in the water. Arizona seems more like a reptile destination!
Ochotillo becomes more prevalent as the elevation leaves the saguaro behind.
A glimpse of the road up high from down below.
A bit further and the landscape turns to massive rock formations.
The road passes quite near to some well-balanced rocks.
A peak at the road below. Lots of twists and turns with Tucson in the background.
The big view point has a lot of rocks that can be climbed around on.
@AKMINK testing her knee and her nerves!
Climbers were getting set to climb this hoodoo...
...under the watchful eye of one of the locals.
Sage advice can be located in the restroom at the Iron Door restaurant. The photo is from Mt. Lemmon.
Brats, German potato salad, cabbage, apples, and cornbread (and a beer) at the Iron Door. Excellent! The BBQ chicken salad in the background was awfully good too.
Not much snow now but I bet this old guy got a workout this season!
Ann pointing the way.
Old school
One chair passes almost right over the other.
The view down the east side of the mountain toward Oracle. The parking lot is where the restaurant is.
There was a big burn on Mt. Lemmon in the summer of '20 or '21.
Tucson from the top.
As you climb out of Tucson you first go through a saguaro forest, then open brush with canyons and water. As the road climbs amazing rock formations appear around every curve, and there are plenty of curves. Numerous pullouts provide ample photo ops and people are quite good about pulling off to let faster traffic by. Vista points are well marked and there are restrooms at one of those stops. Several campgrounds, day use areas, and trails can be found on the road. You'll be sharing the road with bicycles; we saw several dozen along the way. The 26 mile road has a 5,400' vertical with a steady 4-5 percent grade. Good for those folks!
At the top of the drive is Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley. It's a fun place to ski if you get the chance, with about 200 acres of terrain, almost 800' vertical, and a top elevation of between 9,022 and 9,157 depending on who you believe. They run the lift all all year and, when there is no skiing, you can ride it up and see the view of Tucson far below. Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley is truly a throwback to simpler times, relying entirely on Mother Nature to bring the goods. The season can run between Christmas and Easter but is entirely up to natural snow. Two two seat fixed grips and a surface tow provide access to the trails. The biggest issue the area has is when the snow falls, the road usually gets closed; summer tires in Tucson don't make for great snow tires on what can be a pretty slippery drive!
If you you're hungry, I suggest dropping in across the road at the Iron Door restaurant. The food is consistently good and the prices are reasonable. Get your name in early if the parking lot is full as seats go fast and, as in so many places, staff is short.
The rugged beauty of the Santa Catalina Mountains is something to see and the The Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway, also called the Catalina or the Sky Islands Scenic Byway, delivers.
Saguaro forest near the bottom of the drive
It's interesting to see the growth right out of rocks
A small stream opens into a pond before flowing further down the mountain
I was somewhat surprised to see a frog well camouflaged in the water. Arizona seems more like a reptile destination!
Ochotillo becomes more prevalent as the elevation leaves the saguaro behind.
A glimpse of the road up high from down below.
A bit further and the landscape turns to massive rock formations.
The road passes quite near to some well-balanced rocks.
A peak at the road below. Lots of twists and turns with Tucson in the background.
The big view point has a lot of rocks that can be climbed around on.
@AKMINK testing her knee and her nerves!
Climbers were getting set to climb this hoodoo...
...under the watchful eye of one of the locals.
Sage advice can be located in the restroom at the Iron Door restaurant. The photo is from Mt. Lemmon.
Brats, German potato salad, cabbage, apples, and cornbread (and a beer) at the Iron Door. Excellent! The BBQ chicken salad in the background was awfully good too.
Not much snow now but I bet this old guy got a workout this season!
Ann pointing the way.
Old school
One chair passes almost right over the other.
The view down the east side of the mountain toward Oracle. The parking lot is where the restaurant is.
There was a big burn on Mt. Lemmon in the summer of '20 or '21.
Tucson from the top.
