A few weeks ago, Barbara, Ellie and I wanted to escape the heat of Tucson, so we took a drive, northeast of town, up the Catalina Highway to the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Mount Lemmon at an elevation of 9,171 feet mean sea level (MSL). Due to the elevation change from the valley floor to the top of Mount Lemmon, the temperature at the summit is generally 20 to 30 degrees cooler. This was a welcome change for us.
In the valley, we were surrounded by mostly Saguaro and Barrel Cactus. About half way up the mountain, the cactus gave way to small oaks and at the top of Mount Lemmon mostly conifers were found. This is a very well-maintained road, which made for an enjoyable and scenic drive. On our adventure, we used an app that Barbara downloaded to her phone that guided us along the Catalina Highway, telling us about the history of the area, places to stop, and about the geology and vegetation seen along our way. There are a lot of cyclists on this road so be sure to keep a sharp eye out for them.
The drive is approximately 30 miles, round trip, and took us about three hours to complete. So, if you are ever in the Tucson area and would like to escape the heat, you might think about a drive-up Mount Lemmon. It’s definitely worth the time.
RV There Yet? 