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Coronado Hiking Trails |
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Mount Lemmon Trail #5
Expansive views, lots of connecting trails and access to
the western portion of the Wilderness of Rock with its immense boulders
and picturesque formations characterize this high country trail. The
Mt. Lemmon Trail starts out near the summit of the 9,157 foot peak
for which it is named, at a parking area about a mile past Mt. Lemmon
Ski Valley near the end of Observatory Road. After following an access
road along a buried powerline, it strikes off on a more backcountry
course down one of the most prominent ridges that fan out from the
mountaintop. Views are big here, encompassing the Wilderness of Rock
to the southeast, Romero Canyon to the west and north, and most dramatic
of all, Pusch Ridge to the west, stairstepping its sawtooth course
toward Tucson.
The route the Mt. Lemmon Trail follows through this rugged,
mountainous country, is steep and rocky in a number of
places. Most notable of those difficult stretches are the series
of switchbacks where the
trail drops off the high ridge of the Catalinas toward
the Wilderness of Rock, and the section between the Wilderness of
Rock Trail #44 and
West Fork Trail #24 junctions where trail gradients are
as steep as they get in the Santa Catalinas.
The Mt. Lemmon Trail provides access to a number of other
trails in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, including Sutherland
#6, Lemmon Rock Lookout #12, Wilderness of Rock #44,
Romero #8 and West Fork #24 trails. Many who hike this
trail leave a second vehicle at one of these other
trailheads and use the Mt.
Lemmon Trail as part of a long day trip or a segment
of a multi-day backpack. Whatever option you choose,
chances are good
that you’ll be back
to try one of the others.
Attractions:
Fabulous views of Pusch Ridge
Overlooks of Wilderness of Rock
Access to Sabino Basin
Mountaintop to desert diversity
Arizona Trail segment
Season: Summer, fall
Length: 5.8 miles
Elevation: 7,500'-9,100'
Rating: More difficult
Use: Medium
USGS Map(s): Mt. Lemmon
Access: Take the Catalina Highway off Tanque Verde
Road in Tucson. Drive 4.2 miles to the Forest
boundary and continue 28
miles,
past Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, to the power substation
on Radio Ridge. Hike west on the trail to a dirt
road. Hike down the
road to the trail junction.
The Catalina Highway is paved and suitable for
passenger cars. Observatory Road is an
all-weather gravelled road. Both roads may be snow-covered in winter,
when
chains or 4-wheel
drive may be required.
Observatory Road beyond Mt. Lemmon Ski
Valley
is
not maintained for public use during
the winter. It is closed when snow-covered or icy.
Notes:
4.3 miles of this trail are in the Pusch
Ridge Wilderness.
Motorized and mechanical vehicles and
equipment, including mountain bikes,
are not permitted in
Wilderness. See the Wilderness section
of this guide for more wilderness
rules and ethics.
Water can be found along this trail
only during the wettest times of
the year. Purification of
water is recommended prior to use.
Before using this trail, call the
Santa Catalina Ranger District
for current trail conditions
which can vary with
season, weather and
maintenance status.
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