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Outdoors Santa Catalina Mountains, Catalina Foothills

Mount Lemmon

An outdoor spot in Santa Catalina Mountains, Catalina Foothills, free to visit and worth about 4 hours. Best time to go: Jan 1 afternoon.

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Why go

The Catalina Highway climbs from saguaros to pine forest and, after winter storms, snow at the top.

It is one of 6 curated places we feature in Catalina Foothills, alongside 2 places to eat, 2 outdoor spots and 1 place to stay. The closest of our other picks is Sabino Canyon, 8.4 mi away as the crow flies. Set aside about 4 hours here; it works best as the anchor of a day rather than a quick stop.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Santa Catalina Mountains
Price
Free
Time needed
4 hr
Best time
Jan 1 afternoon

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 1 beyond Catalina Foothills. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Sabino Canyon

    A desert canyon with a year-round creek, cottonwoods and saguaro slopes; an electric shuttle runs up the canyon road.

    Outdoors · 8.4 mi straight-line
  2. 2
    Hacienda del Sol

    A 1929 hillside guest ranch whose Grill serves brunch with city views; it hosts a New Year's Eve dinner and dance.

    Food · 12 mi straight-line
  3. 3
    Westward Look Resort

    A Foothills resort with city views that has hosted a New Year's Eve dinner and ballroom party.

    Stay · 12 mi straight-line
  4. 4
    Tohono Chul

    A desert botanical garden in the northwest Foothills with shaded walking paths, art galleries and a bistro.

    Outdoors · 13 mi straight-line
  5. 5
    Blue Willow

    A long-running breakfast and lunch spot on Campbell Avenue with a shaded patio.

    Food · 16 mi straight-line
  6. 6
    Rialto Theatre

    A 1920 theater across from Hotel Congress that is now Tucson's main mid-size concert hall.

    Activity · Downtown Tucson · 18 mi straight-line

On these curated routes

Mount Lemmon is a stop on our Tucson New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

When to go

Average daily highs in Catalina Foothills run from 62°F in December to 102°F in June; July is usually the wettest month. For Mount Lemmon itself, we suggest: Jan 1 afternoon.

Modelled monthly averages for Catalina Foothills from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Catalina Foothills weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Mount Lemmon, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Coordinates
32.44296, -110.78848
Destination
Catalina Foothills, Arizona

Mount Lemmon: quick answers

How much time do you need at Mount Lemmon?

Plan on about 4 hours at Mount Lemmon. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Mount Lemmon?

Our pick: Jan 1 afternoon. Insider tip: Check road conditions; chains or 4WD can be required after snow.

Is Mount Lemmon free?

Yes, we list Mount Lemmon as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Which TripsCircle routes include Mount Lemmon?

Mount Lemmon appears on Tucson New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Mount Lemmon to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Catalina Foothills.

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Lists & regions

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.