Dennis Begin
Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway along Molino Canyon
By Dennis Begin
When thinking of Arizona, the Grand Canyon, saguaro cacti and howling coyotes, generally come to mind. Most travelers don’t think about the snow, downhill skiing and alpine forest that are also part of Arizona’s repertoire. Although Arizona is a desert state, there are actually four ski resorts including Snowbowl (Flagstaff), Elk Ridge (Williams), Sunrise Park Resort (Greer) and Mount Lemmon Ski Valley in Tucson. Although Tucson is in the Sonoran Desert, the city is also surrounded by five mountain ranges, the Santa Rita, Rincon, Tortolita, Tucson and the Catalina Mountains, but only the Catalina range is suitable for skiing. (The name Catalina originated from Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in honor of St. Catherine, a popular patron saint.) The mountain range towers over Tucson, and Mount Lemmon is often seen covered in snow at 9,157 feet (2,791 m).
The ‘Scenic Byway’ or highway refers to the 43 km (28 mi) of paved road that winds itself to almost the summit of Mount Lemmon. The Byway is also referred to as the Hitchcock Highway, Catalina Highway or the Sky Island Parkway. This scenic highway is part of the US National Scenic Byway Program and received its accreditation in April 1995. The entrance to the highway is in the northeast part of the city with access from E. Tanque Verde or Houghton Road.
Mt. Lemmon is named for Sarah Lemmon, a biologist who hiked and wrote about the Catalina Mountains in 1881. It was a local rancher, E.O. Stratton, who named the mountain peak in her honor for hiking to the summit. Near the top of the mountain range is a little village called Summerhaven, which caters to both skiers and summer tourists. Summerhaven has accommodations at the Sky Lodge, a General Store, restaurants and the Cookie Cabin, which sells homemade tasty treats. Since Mt. Lemmon is on average 20 to 30 degrees cooler than Tucson, it is a great place to beat the 115 degree summer heat. The major ski lift or chair remains open throughout the year.
Dennis Begin
Sky Pinnacle along Byway
Construction of the Scenic Byway
The Scenic Byway was built from 1933-50 under the direction of Frank Harris Hitchcock, who was the Postmaster General of the United States. In order to afford the construction, Hitchock built a federal prison camp at Mile 7 and used the prisoners as cheap labour. This idea was repeated during World War Two, when the prison camp was turned into an Internment Camp for Japanese Americans. prison site is now called the Gordon Hirabayashi Recreational Camp in memory of one of the internees. Work continued on the road until its completion in 1950 and was finally paved in 2007.
Dennis Begin
Thimble Peak/Vista.
Spectacular Scenery
An old proverb states “…It is not the destination that matters, only the journey”. The Scenic Byway is the journey and not a racetrack to the top. Slow down, bring your camera and take in the spectacular scenery. The drive consists of numerous hairpin turns, winding roads, drop-offs and rocky pinnacles guarding the highway. Stop at the Palisades Visitor Center at Mile 19.9 for a map. There are great viewpoints at Windy Point, Seven Cataracts and San Pedro Vistas, just to mention a few. Windy Point Vista at Mile 13.7 is the most popular with the Hitchcock Pinnacle overlooking the vista. Do not expect a view of Tucson, as the city is too far away.
Dennis Begin
Byway near Windy Point Vista [Mile 13.7]
Mount Lemmon Activities
The highway also provides areas for mountain biking, horseback riding, back packing, day hikes, picnic areas and camping. The Rose Canyon Lake and Campground is available for overnight camping. re is a small fee for using the camping facilities, but not for tourists on a ‘daycation’. Catalina Mountains are also known for rock climbing, such as the Barnum Rock and the Gumby Rock Wall. Avid cyclist and marathon runners use the highway for training. If you enjoy astronomy, visit the Mount Lemmon Sky Center (Observatory) for a night program called Sky Nights, operated by the University of Arizona.
Tucson has a base elevation of 728 m (2,389), with a climb of nearly 1829 m (6,000 feet) to the base of Mount Lemmon ski hill. There is a very diverse topography with elevation changes, starting with saguaro cacti, mesquite trees, rocky canyons and finally stands of oak, ponderosa pine and aspen trees. The alpine section is officially called ‘The Canadian Zone’ and resembles driving through many parts of British Columbia.
Patricia Begin
Hitchcock Pinnacle.
Ski Valley
Yes they do ski in Tucson! Ski Valley has a 292 m (957 foot) vertical descent, with a base elevation of 2,500 m (8,200 feet). There are two chair lifts, one tow rope, and 22 runs/trails. In a good year, there can be up to 508 cm (200 in) of snow, but in a bad year, the ski hill may rarely be open. Ski Valley is classified as intermediate skiing and cannot be compared to Whistler/Blackcomb in B.C., but it does have the distinction of being the southernmost ski hill in the United States.
For snowbirds, snow in Tucson is a rare event and Ski Valley comes as a surprise. The Catalina Mountains, however, have so much more to offer other than skiing. Plan on taking an hour to reach the summit and spend the afternoon exploring the area. Buses and RVs over 6.7056 m (22 feet) are not allowed. While driving the Scenic Byway, slow down, stay away from the edge and enjoy the picturesque highway.
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Dennis Begin
Cookie Cabin in Village of Summerhaven.
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Dennis Begin
Ski Valley