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Rising majestically above the Tucson skyline, Mount Lemmon is the tallest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains, nestled in the city’s northeastern range. Despite being only an hour’s drive from downtown Tucson via the picturesque and winding Catalina Highway, the summit feels a world away from the iconic Sonoran Desert landscapes below. This striking juxtaposition is why Mount Lemmon is often called a "sky island" – a secluded mountain range with a unique, high-altitude ecosystem.

At 9,157 feet, the summit is cloaked in a mixed-conifer forest, with aspen groves sprinkled throughout. The area also supports an array of distinctive wildlife, from black bears, foxes, and coatimundis to red-trailed hawks, violet green swallows, and broadtail hummingbirds.

Hiking - with more than 2,500 established routes, Mount Lemmon is one of the most developed and popular rock-climbing areas in Arizona. Visitors find crags to climb at elevations from 2,500 feet in the foothills to more than 9,000 feet at the highest summits, making this a year-round destination for traditional crack climbs, bolted sport climbs and bouldering. Beginners can join an expedition with local outfitters while experienced climbers can test their mettle on gravity-defying granite slabs. The pinnacles at Windy Point, located directly off Catalina Highway, attract onlookers who admire the climbers’ skill and bravery.

Visitors are surprised to find a city atop Mount Lemmon, a charmer shaded by pines at 8,000 feet. Summerhaven offers rental cabins plus a general store and a handful of places to eat and mingle with locals. Ski Valley, the southernmost ski resort in the continental U.S., is another of Arizona’s best-kept secrets. Skiers play on more than 20 trails that range from green circle to black diamond. During the warmer months, the ski lift carries nature lovers to some of the best viewpoints in Arizona.