Mount Lemmon Scenic Drive

About

The Catalina Highway, also called the Sky Island Scenic Byway, is the paved road from the Tucson valley to the top of Mount Lemmon. It climbs nearly 6,000 feet, going from Sonoran Desert to pine forest along the way. Driving the road and stopping at vistas like Babad Do'ag and Windy Point costs nothing. Developed day-use sites such as the Molino Basin picnic area need a Coronado day-use pass, which is $8 per vehicle per day. The Forest Service suggests allowing about an hour of driving plus time for stops, and the road winds with blind turns. Temperatures drop around 5 degrees for every 1,000 feet you climb, so bring a layer even on a warm day.