Drive the Backside Road to Mt. Lemmon's Top
An Alternative Route to Summit Near Tucson Requires High Clearance
Oct 27, 2009
Mt. Lemmon is one of the gems of the Tucson, Arizona area, towering 6,000 feet over the city, and providing a cool getaway from hot desert days. A paved highway provides easy access to campgrounds and picnic sites along a smooth 25-mile drive from Tucson to Summerhaven near the top, but a second, rarely used dirt and rock road is another option.
Mt. Lemmon Near Tucson, Arizona
Mt. Lemmon, in the Coronado National Forest, rises 9,157 feet above sea level. The 25-mile Catalina Highway crosses 6 vegetation zones between Tucson and Summerhaven, from Sonoran Desert Saguaros to the mixed conifer forests of fir and spruce. This one hour drive showcases the same life zones one would encounter driving from Mexico to Canada. Summer temperatures near the summit are 30 degrees cooler than those in Tucson, and residents and tourists alike flock to the mountain when temperatures soar.
The mountain also boasts the southernmost ski area in the U.S., Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley, with chairlifts for snowboarders and skiers in the winter, and hikers in the summer. There are eight campgrounds on the mountain, as well as numerous hiking trails and picnic sites.
The scenic Catalina Highway curves around hoodoos and other spectacular rock formations, and provides frequent pull-outs and parking areas with incredible views. Another, seasonal, road also accesses the summit, joining the Catalina Highway just below Summerhaven.
The Backside (Control) Road to Mt. Lemmon from Oracle, Arizona
The small community of Oracle, on Arizona state highway 77, is about 35 miles north of downtown Tucson. The main road through Oracle branches off toward Oracle State Park two miles from highway 77, and passes the park entrance in another mile. Two miles later the pavement ends, and this dirt road continues past an Arizona Trail intersection for another six miles to Peppersauce Campground. Elevation at the campground is just over 4,600 feet.
From Peppersauce Campground, it is 20 miles to the intersection with the Catalina Highway. The road climbs very little for the first 10 miles, and is wide enough for 2 cars, although it's possible to complete the drive without seeing another vehicle. The road is fairly rugged, with fallen rock as well as ruts. The driving isn't difficult, but conditions hold the average speed to about 15 miles per hour. It does cross a number of washes, and these could be problematic during or shortly after rain storms. At eight miles from Peppersauce, the road crosses a large wash at a beautiful treed oasis, a good place for a rest stop or picnic.
Thirteen miles from Peppersauce, at 5,446 feet, a seasonal gate closes the road from December 15 to March 1. The road becomes increasingly rough from here, and climbs relatively quickly for the remaining seven miles. A high-clearance vehicle is necessary due to many large rocks on the roadway, and average speed drops to less than 10 miles per hour. At the 16 mile point, 6,400 feet above sea level, Ponderosa pines begin showing and there are sweeping views left to the east. The towers on Mt. Lemmon's summit become visible, and the roadway during the final mile turns from dirt and rock to granite. A Mt. Lemmon fire station is passed just before the road ends at mile 20, at the Catalina Highway, just short of the side road to Ski Valley.
Seasonal Road Closure on Mt. Lemmon's North Side
Note that the Control Road up the backside (north side) of Mt. Lemmon from Peppersauce Campground is closed from December 15 until March 1. The locked gate is located 13 miles from Peppersauce.
The Backside Control Road up Mt. Lemmon is a Low-Traffic Adventure
If you have a high-clearance vehicle and don't mind a bumpy ride, the 20 mile drive from Peppersauce Campground to the Catalina Highway can be a fun alternative to the paved road. The scenery isn't as spectacular, but you might have the road to yourself.
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