Palisades Visitor Center
Mount Lemmon, at over 9,000 feet, is the highest peak in the Santa Catalina Range. Palisades Visitor Center is the gateway to this sky island and the surrounding peaks, where travelers can stop for information, hiking essentials, and keepsakes of this area. Visitors can experience over 250 miles of hiking and biking trails, plenty of camping and backpacking opportunities, and stunning dark skies.
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Discover Palisades Visitor Center
Before exploring the breathtaking landscapes of Mount Lemmon, make Palisades Visitor Center your first stop. Whether you're planning a scenic drive, a day hike, a camping trip, or a weekend of adventure, the visitor center is the perfect place to get oriented, discover what to see and do, and pick up maps, books, and gifts that support the stewardship of this remarkable place. It's also a perfect place to bird watch or rest stop for cyclists making the strenuous ride of Catalina Highway.
Called Babad Do'ag (Frog Mountain) by the Tohono O'odham, Mount Lemmon is the tallest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountain Range. This mountain and the surrounding landscapes have been inhabited for thousands of years and continue to be important to many Indigenous peoples today, including the O'odham, Apache, Hopi, Zuni, Pascua Yaqui, and others.
Part of Coronado National Forest, the Mount Lemmon area includes Pusch Ridge Wilderness and over 70 miles of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Rich in history, heritage, and outdoor recreation, the mountain offers opportunities to hike, bike, camp, backpack, stargaze, ski, swim, birdwatch, and enjoy spectacular views along the scenic Catalina Highway.
The knowledgeable staff at Palisades Visitor Center can help you make the most of your visit, whether you're searching for the perfect trail, looking for current conditions, or hoping to learn more about the mountain's unique ecosystems, wildlife, and cultural history. It's the ideal starting point for discovering everything Mount Lemmon has to offer.
Shop the WNP store
Visit the store at the Palisades Visitor Center, operated by Western National Parks (WNP). Visit with friendly, knowledgeable store staff and shop collectibles, keepsakes, apparel, trail guides, and more. Every item in a WNP store is an extension of your visit, carefully curated in collaboration with the Forest Service. And every purchase directly supports Coronado National Forest.
Things to do at Mount Lemmon
Drive or ride the Sky Island Scenic Byway
Twenty seven miles long and with over 6,000 feet of elevation gain, the Catalina Highway is not to be missed.
Ski Mount Lemmon
Just outside the mountain town of Summerhaven is the southernmost ski destination in the continental United States.
Experience the night sky
Take in the glittering expanse overhead with a viewing event at Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter, home to the largest dedicated public telescopes in the Southwest
Hike the Arizona Trail
Nearly 70 miles of the Arizona National Scenic Trail traverses the Santa Catalina Ranger District. Hike Passage 10: Redington Pass (13.2 miles) , Passage 11: Santa Catalina Mountains (18.7 miles) (or alternate 11e, 18 miles) and Passage 12: Red Ridge (17.8 miles) as individual out-and-backs or connect them for a several day adventure.
Camp
Camp at one of the many sites, including Gordon Hirabayashi, Rose Canyon, or Spencer Canyon. Make a reservation for some campgrounds, while others are first come first served. Be sure to check for updates before you make the drive up the mountain.
Hike the many trails
Hike the many trails across Mt. Lemmon. Choose from a wide range of difficulty levels, from trails great for first-time hikers to more strenuous treks. Hike and backpack the Aspen Trail or the many trails in the Wilderness of Rocks. You'll find accessible trails as well! Discover some of the 1,100 miles of trails in Coronado National Forest and get outside.
Picnic among the pines
Enjoy the many scenic picnic areas on Mount Lemmon. Bring plenty of snacks and water if you plan on tacking on an easy stroll after lunch.
Treat yourself at the General Store
Make your way to Summerhaven and pick up some world-famous fudge from the General Store. Treat yourself to some samples and take home a variety!
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Three days exploring Mount Lemmon
Explore the highest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains on this three-day adventurous itinerary.
Visit smart
Prepare for the altitude
Dress in layers, hydrate well, and make sure your car is well-equipped to handle steep ascents and descents.
Make a plan
Mount Lemmon and the surrounding areas have plenty to do in every season, but many campgrounds and stores have seasonal hours. Do your research ahead of time.
Watch for road closures
In inclement weather, the Catalina Highway may close. Contact Coronado National Forest for the most up-to-date information.
Leave it as you found it
These landscapes are on the homelands of many Indigenous peoples. Visit with respect.
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Chiricahua National Monument
A wonderland of towering rock pinnacles waits for you to explore. The eight-mile paved scenic drive and 17 miles of day-use hiking trails reveal the beauty, natural sounds, and inhabitants of this 12,025-acre site. Visit the Faraway Ranch Historic District and experience the beauty of an astounding landscape to discover more about the people who have called this area home, including the Chiricahua Apache.
Fort Bowie National Historic Site
Fort Bowie and Apache Pass remain tangible connections to the turbulent late-1800s. Learn about the almost 25-year conflict between Chiricahua Apache and the US Army as you hike the 1.5-mile trail to the visitor center and remains of the fort structure. Today’s peaceful landscape stands in stark contrast to the violence that once gripped this land as the Apache, who had inhabited this land for generations, came into contact with enroaching Spanish, Mexican, and later US civilians and military.
Saguaro National Park
The nation’s largest cactus, the giant saguaro, finds protection in two districts on the east and west sides of the modern city of Tucson, part of the small portion of the United States where you can find these majestic plants. Wander among these enormous cacti, the universal symbol of the American West, in this Sonoran Desert preserve.
Tumacácori National Historical Park
At a cultural crossroads in the Santa Cruz River valley, O’odham, Yaqui, and Apache met and mingled with European Jesuit and Franciscan missionaries, settlers, and soldiers, sometimes in conflict and sometimes in cooperation. The timeworn paths reveal stories that connect us to enduring relationships, vibrant cultures, and traditions of long ago.
Coronado National Memorial
Seeking cities of gold, 339 European soldiers and hundreds of Aztec allies traveled through arid deserts and rugged mountains, a journey that would have long-lasting impacts on the cultural and natural landscapes. No physical evidence of the Coronado Expedition exists here, but the park offers a sweeping view of the San Pedro River, which the expedition followed to find the mythical CÃbola.
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Our contribution
Over $176 million
Since our founding in 1938, WNP has provided more than $176 million in aid to our partner parks to fund educational programs, initiatives, and scientific research.
Over 70 parks to explore
