Mt. Lemmon: A Day Trip from Tucson

If you’re looking for something to do during the summer months in Arizona, a day trip from Tucson to Mt. Lemmon is a great option.  My husband and I (okay, it’s mostly me) are always looking for things to do on the weekends.  About once a year, during the summer, we take a drive to Mt. Lemmon, which is about an hour away from central Tucson.  When it’s not pouring rain outside, it’s a beautiful drive.  The scenery is beautiful and and the views are amazing. 

Day Trip from Tucson

The drive to Mt. Lemmon has several pull-out areas where you can park your car and take pictures of the vistas along the way.  Located in Coronado National Forest, there are several things to do on Mt. Lemmon, like camping, hiking, and fishing.  You can learn more about the hiking trails on Mt. Lemmon, including levels of difficulty, by clicking here.

Summerhaven

The main town on Mt. Lemmon is called Summerhaven.  It is a small town and can get very crowded, especially during the weekends, making parking difficult.  When my son was younger, a friend of ours told us about a little trail that’s perfect for younger children, near Summerhaven, called Faul Preservation Area.  My son loves this area – it has pine cones throughout, it’s nicely shaded, and it’s not strenuous to walk.   

The area also has a couple of benches to sit down and relax.

 

Exploring the trail doesn’t take very long, so sometimes we explore other areas like Marshall Gulch.  We like that we can take our time, and we especially love seeing people with their dogs.

Summerhaven Restaurants

There are four dining options/restaurants in Summerhaven:  Sawmill Run Restaurant, Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin, Iron Door Restaurant, and Beyond Bread Cafe (located inside the Mt. Lemmon Lodge).  During my family’s last visit, we ate at the Beyond Bread Cafe.  The food is delicious, but the Cafe itself can get very crowded and the line to order food can get very long.  It seemed to get more crowded as the day progressed, so try to go there earlier in the day to avoid the long wait and crowds. 

Mt. Lemmon Ski Lift

My favorite thing to do during the summer months on Mount Lemmon is ride the ski lift.  The ski lift moves at a slow pace and is very relaxing.  To find out more about the ski lift, including prices, click here.  It loops around, so you can enjoy the scenery going up the mountain, as well as the scenery as you go down the mountain.  

I love these kinds of days…….days where time seems to stand still…..days that involve the opportunity to experience something new, like a ski lift.

I’d love to hear from others what they recommend to see/do while at Mt. Lemmon!  And if you’re looking for other day trips from Tucson, click here to read about Colossal Cave and here for Kartchner Caverns.