Located in the Santa Catalina Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest is the Sky Island Scenic Byway. Also known as the General Hitchcock Highway, it begins in the Sonora Desert north of Tucson and ascends to the top of Mount Lemmon (9,157’). John and I visited Mount Lemmon last month (www.windsofdestiny-rvlife.blogspot.com/search?q=mount+lemon) and decided to make a return visit with our friends, Liz and Mike.
Our first stop Molina Canyon Vista. On the opposite side of the highway we spotted several rock climbers…here’s one of them. Liz and I walked down the trail to check out the canyon.
The Pusch Ridge Wilderness is almost 60,000 acres that was set aside in 1978. Hiking and horseback riding are allowed in the area, but no motor vehicles.
Stopping at multiple pull outs along the highway, below are photos of Duck Rock, hoodoos, and Cathedral Rock.
And I made Liz and Mike pose for a few photos, too!
The Palisades Visitor Center (7,850’) has interpretive exhibits about the five life zones of Mount Lemmon as well as a small shop with books, maps and other gift items.
We continued the drive to the picnic area at Lemmon Summit Trailheads. The views from the summit are fabulous, as you would expect!
The Mt. Lemmon Sky Center (Observatory and Science Center) can be seen in the distance. And, this guy had the right idea, enjoying the views from his hammock.
The contrast between the desert and the mountain is so striking! It made for a fun day in the cool temperatures found at higher elevations (usually 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor). Ski Valley is a popular destination in the winter, but you might need chains on your tires to get here in the winter.
For additional information about Mount Lemmon, go to www.visitarizona.com/uniquely-az/parks-and-monuments/mount-lemmon or www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/coronado/recarea/?recid=25678.
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