Mount Lemmon
Exploring Mount Lemmon just outside Tucson Arizona
USA
A common day trip to escape the sweltering heat of Tucson is Mount Lemmon. When we arrived in Tucson in mid-October and it was unseasonably warm with multiple days of triple digit Fahrenheit temperatures. Our solution was to escape to Mount Lemmon which was about an hour east of the city. With its higher elevation, the temperature became pleasant instead of oppressing.
Much of the elevation gain is completed by driving, as you ascend to higher altitudes, the scenic views that unfold before your eyes are truly stunning. The landscape changes from desert to lush greenery with trees making a forested hillside. Combined with the majestic mountains, this creates a picturesque landscape.
We then headed up to the Palisades Visitor Centre, where you can find several park rangers happy to help and answer your questions about the trail network on the mountain. They provided us with some paper maps of the different hiking options and highlighted where to turn. Armed with this information, we continued to drive up to the Mount Lemmon Trailhead entrance on Google Maps to hike the Meadow Trail #5.
When we arrived at the first viewpoint and got out we found that the air was cool, crisp and refreshing. We took in the scenery slowly and view the panoramic vistas stretching out in every direction. Whether you choose to hike the various trails or simply relax at one of the lookout points, you are guaranteed to be captivated by the natural beauty that surrounds you.
On our drive up we first stopped at Windy Point Vista. Here you park on the right hand side and cross the street to the slickrock viewpoint. Aliya was just starting to get her walking feet an happily climbed the trail with maybe a little too much confidence as she walked over the rocks.
Just a few minutes walk back down the road, there was another lookout with a staircase and railing setup to take in the views.
The trail was forested with some forest fire prevention strategies being worked on, with slash piles and small prescribed burns having been previously carried out. We hiked for about 25 minutes to get to a lookout and sat down for a snack. We took in the views, Aliya played with some pinecones, and then we headed back to the car to get to our hotel for the night.
Mount Lemmon is a great destination to get out of the oppressive heat and has some amazing views of the surrounding area. Access to the trails was easy and the helpful visitor center staff will be able to help you find a viewpoint worth making the trip for. Happy exploring!
