Mount Lemmon, Santa Catalinas
Just over a week ago I moved to Arizona's Sonoran Desert city of Tucson. Surrounded by mountains, I couldn't wait to explore. Having done a bit of research before hand, I came across The Mount Lemmon Science Tour App produced by the University of Arizona College of Science. The app provides scientific insight as you drive up Mount Lemmon Highway.
Scenic Byway Information
- Begins in the Catalina Foothills on East Catalina Highway
- 28 miles, one-way
- Windy Point Vista and Aspen Point Vista overlook the beautiful valleys below, numberous other pullouts are along the way
- 2,080 ft of elevation gain
** additional scenic byway information can be found at Go-Arizona
Background
- Summerhaven, a small town located on Mount Lemmon with a population of 40, was originally used by the U.S. Army as a military camp in the 1870s and 1880s
- It was named for Sara Plummer Lemmon, the first woman to reach the top of the mountain in 1881
- University of Arizona SkyCenter, established in the mid-1950s, sits atop Mount Lemmon; viewing tickets are available for purchase
