91 miles with 8,700 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Mount Lemmon - State Visited:
Arizona
Mount Lemmon - Cities/Towns Visited:
Tucson
Mount Lemmon - Climbs:
Mile 17 (HC), 40 (cat. 4), 42 (cat. 3), and 52 (cat. 4)
Mount Lemmon - Stops (Self-Supported):
Mile 44 (Ski Valley)
Mount Lemmon - Description:
Mount Lemmon is one of the top bike climbs in the United States in terms of elevation gain, and can be accessed from downtown Tucson.
After entering Coronado National Forest, Catalina Highway ascends 20 miles to Palisades, 25 miles to Summerhaven, and 27 miles to Ski Valley. From Ski Valley, Ski Run Road climbs another 2 miles to the observatory, which is located at 9,100 feet above sea level.
The road is smooth, with a wide shoulder, mile markers, and a steady 5 to 6 percent grade. Only the 2 miles to Ski Valley are steeper, around 8 percent, and the last 2 miles to the observatory are the steepest, exceeding 10 percent. The turns are wide enough for a very fast descent.
Vegetation ranges from saguaro cactus at the bottom to pines and aspens at the top.
Mount Lemmon - Pictures:
[Coronado National Forest]
[Catalina Highway]
[Catalina Highway]
[Windy Point]
[Catalina Highway]
[Catalina Highway]
[Hoodoo]
[Bear Country]
[At 8,000 Feet]
[Ski Run Road]
[Observatory]
Mount Lemmon - Personal Notes:
Sandra and I went to Arizona for a long weekend.
On Friday I rode Mount Lemmon and she was crewing for me. She convinced the guard at the top to let me ride to the observatory, even though Ski Run Road was closed due to construction. She was also waiting with warm apple pie from Iron Door Restaurant, when I returned from the summit.
On Saturday we went to Phoenix and relaxed. On Sunday Sandra ran Phoenix Half Marathon in preparation for Boston Marathon, finishing 13th out of 1,697 in her age group.
I want to return to Mount Lemmon in spring or fall and ride Oracle Control Road, a dirt road on the backside of the mountain. This road is seasonally closed due to ice and snow.
Mount Lemmon - Current Weather:
See also Top Bike Climbs in the United States.