Mt. Lemmon is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains at 9,171 feet — a 27.2-mile drive from northeast Tucson that climbs 6,782 feet from the desert floor to pine, fir and aspen forest. The Santa Catalina Ranger District holds roughly 240 miles of national forest trails, and the best of them start within a few minutes of our cabins in Summerhaven. This guide gives you the real numbers: official Forest Service trail names and numbers, one-way distances, the fee rules, trailhead parking, and where the dog rules actually change.
Before you drive to a trailhead: Marshall Gulch is under construction
Marshall Gulch Trailhead parking is closed until December 15, 2026 (Forest Service closure order 03-05-05-26-009). The Marshall Gulch picnic area and restrooms are closed for the duration of the reconstruction project.
Trails #3, #93, #90 and the Arizona Trail are open to pedestrian use on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and all federal holidays only — Mondays through Thursdays the entire area is closed for active construction.
While that lot is closed, park at the new Pima County lot on Sabino Canyon Park Road just south of Summerhaven (75 paved spaces, plus 21 spaces along the road) and walk in. Mint Springs Trail #20 is the best fully open alternative — details below.
Trails Within Minutes of Summerhaven
These are the ones we send guests to first — a short walk or a five-minute drive from the cabins. All distances are one-way unless noted, straight from the Forest Service trail pages.
Meadow Trail #5A EASY DOG FRIENDLY
0.8 mi · 1.8-mile loop with Mt. Lemmon Trail #5 · Mount Lemmon Day Use Area
Our top pick for a first afternoon, and the Forest Service's designated pet-friendly loop — it sits outside both the Pusch Ridge Wilderness and the Bighorn Sheep Management Area, which is why dogs are welcome here when they are not allowed on the summit trails. Mixed conifer and aspen, mountaintop views, and it is one of the few bike-legal links in the Summerhaven network.
Getting there: about 25 miles up the Catalina Highway to the Ski Run Road turnoff, then right past Ski Valley to the Day Use Area lot on the left. Parking is a small dirt lot — do not block the observatory access gate. The site becomes unreachable by car when the winter gate closes at Ski Valley.
Marshall Gulch Trail #3 EASY $8 DAY PASS
1.3 mi · 7,434 to 7,937 ft · trailhead at the end of the road, 26 mi up
The classic shaded canyon walk, and half of the most heavily used loop into the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. Cool riparian habitat, wildflowers and small pools — a good choice on a hot day. A Coronado National Forest or Interagency pass must be displayed; day passes are sold at the site for $8.
Now closed to parking until December 15, 2026, and the area is closed Mondays through Thursdays. Come Friday through Sunday or on a federal holiday, park at the new Summerhaven lot, and walk in.
Aspen Trail #93 MODERATE $8 DAY PASS
3.9 mi · 7,432 to 8,159 ft · pairs with #3 for a 4-mile loop
Pair this with Marshall Gulch #3 and you get the mountain's signature loop — the Forest Service calls the combination "a great 4-mile loop." The first half mile passes the bare granite walls of upper Sabino Canyon, where the path sparkles with flakes of mica and quartz, then climbs to Lunch Ledge and Marshall Saddle for wide views of the Wilderness of Rock, Lemmon Rock and Romero Pass. Same $8 pass, same current construction access rules as Marshall Gulch.
Mint Springs Trail #20 EASY FREE PARKING
1.6 mi · climbs to 8,118 ft · Mint Springs Trailhead, E Carter Canyon Road
The best open option right now while Marshall Gulch is fenced off, and it is also the Arizona Trail's recommended detour. It climbs quickly through an aspen grove and a creek crossing into the old Aspen Fire burn scar, with a spectacular view back over Summerhaven. Park in the free paved turnaround about 2 miles up E Carter Canyon Road — the trailhead is across the road.
Aspen Draw Trail #423 MODERATE
1.9 mi · 7,938 to 9,025 ft · one of the few bike-legal trails up here
An often-overlooked climb through aspen stands inside the Ski Valley permit area, rising to just over 9,000 feet. Popular with hikers and mountain bikers. There is no dedicated trailhead — start from the free Mint Springs Trailhead or from Ski Valley.
Sunset Trail #90 EASY
1.3 mi · 7,725 to 7,428 ft · two trailheads, mile 22.5 or Marshall Gulch
Follows the ridge above Sabino Creek past rock escarpments the creek has carved, and it is one of the easiest ways to link into the mixed-conifer life zone. Hikers, runners, bikers and equestrians all use it. There are two starts: the quiet one on the Catalina Highway at about mile 22.5, or the Marshall Gulch end (subject to the closure above). The highway end runs through a residential cabin area on dirt roads for its first half mile.
Horses share these trails — Sunset #90, Marshall Gulch #3 and the Aspen Trail all allow equestrian use.
The high country opens up fast once you climb above 8,000 feet.
Summit and High-Country Trails
Bigger country, better views, thinner air. These need a car to reach and a little more planning.
Mount Lemmon Trail #5 STRENUOUS NO DOGS
5.8 mi · 9,084 down to 7,269 ft · trailhead 28 mi up, past Ski Valley
The high-country route, starting near the summit at the Radio Ridge parking area and dropping off one of the most prominent ridges on the mountain. Expansive views of the Wilderness of Rock, Romero Canyon and Pusch Ridge. The Forest Service warns it is steep and rocky in places, and that the section between the Wilderness of Rock #44 and West Fork #24 junctions is as steep as gradients get in the Santa Catalinas.
Two rules people miss: dogs are prohibited in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area portion of this trail, and from January 1 to April 30 you may not travel more than 400 feet off the trail during bighorn sheep lambing season.
Lemmon Rock Lookout Trail #12 VERY STEEP NO DOGS
1 mi one way to the lookout (9,084 to 8,812 ft) · 2.3 mi to the Wilderness of Rocks junction (down to 7,247 ft)
Short and punishing: it drops roughly 2,000 feet in two miles. The reward is a rocky overlook at the top of Lemmon Rock beside a historic Forest Service lookout cabin, with views across much of southeastern Arizona. Same bighorn restrictions as Trail #5.
Wilderness of Rocks Trail #44 STRENUOUS
4.0 mi · granite formations and the mountain's most dramatic scenery
Immense boulders and sculpted granite towers in a dense pine and oak forest. There is no trailhead of its own — you reach it through Marshall Gulch #3 (the main access), Mount Lemmon Trail #5, Lemmon Rock Lookout #12, or the Romero Trail #8 from Catalina State Park. A full-day objective for fit hikers, and the payoff for all the climbing the other trails ask of you.
Butterfly Trail #16 MODERATE $8 DAY PASS
5.2 mi · Bigelow Trailhead at Palisades, mile 19 · upper trailhead 4 mi further at Soldier Camp
One of the most biologically rich hikes on the mountain — the trail passes through a designated Research Natural Area set aside for its diversity, with ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, southwestern white pine, Arizona madrone, bigtooth maple and alligator juniper. Views open both east over the San Pedro Valley and west over the range. A short side trip tops out on Mt. Bigelow. The main trailhead (signed Bigelow Trailhead) sits just before and across the highway from the Palisades Visitor Center, with 14 parking spaces and a vault toilet.
Green Mountain Trail #21 MODERATE FREE
4.2 mi · 10 parking spaces, no fee · San Pedro Vista or General Hitchcock Campground
A steady descent through ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and Arizona cypress to Bear Saddle at the head of Bear Canyon, with junctions to the Brush Corral and Maverick Spring trails. Two clearly marked trailheads, both free, and no restroom or water at either — carry what you need.
Lower-Mountain Trails: The Cool-Season Hikes
Below 7,000 feet, these are winter and fall hikes — the Forest Service calls Bug Springs "a great winter/fall hike." In summer they are hot and exposed.
Bug Springs Trail #10 ARDUOUS FREE
4.7 mi uphill from the Bug Springs trailhead to the Lower Green Mountain trailhead · 12 mi up the highway
The Forest Service calls this an arduous 4.7-mile uphill climb, and it is genuinely popular with mountain bikers as a recommended Arizona Trail route. It is part of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass. The parking area has no day-use fee. A separate 0.8-mile continuation drops to the Gordon Hirabayashi Campground.
Sycamore Reservoir Trail #39 EASY
2.4 mi · Gordon Hirabayashi Recreation Area, near milepost 7
Starts among the ruins of the old Catalina Federal Honor Camp — the prison camp that gives the area its old nickname — and walks to a reservoir built to supply it, past alder, willow and sycamore and a small sand beach. The road through the camp is closed seasonally, which adds about a mile and a quarter each way. Inside the wilderness, so no bikes.
Molino Basin Trail #11 EASY $8 DAY PASS
2.5 mi · rolls through desert grassland at about 4,400 ft
A different mountain entirely — saguaro and grassland instead of pines, and part of the Arizona National Scenic Trail. Access from the Molino Basin Trailhead or from Gordon Hirabayashi. Molino Basin's campground season runs November 1 to May 1, the opposite of the upper-mountain campgrounds.
Babad Do'ag Trail #705 MODERATE FREE
2.2 mi · park at the Babad Do'ag Vista, about mile 2
Switchbacks up a saguaro-studded slope with big views back over Tucson, starting almost at the bottom of the highway. The name is Tohono O'odham — Babad Do'ag, Frog Mountain, the people's name for Mount Lemmon. Note the vista parking area is closed 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. except for hikers.
Bear Canyon Trail #29 STRENUOUS
6.7 mi · from the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center parking area
The Seven Falls hike, and the most famous waterfall walk in the range. It climbs to Bear Saddle with views of both Sabino and Bear canyons, where it meets the Sycamore Reservoir Trail #39. When water is running your feet will get wet. Sabino Canyon is a fee area, and the Bear Canyon Shuttle can cut the approach.
Oracle Ridge Trail #1 BACKCOUNTRY
11.5 mi · Control Road (FR 38), 25 mi up, past the Loma Linda Picnic Area
A long, relatively quiet north-side route that follows one of the earliest known ways to the top of the mountain — believed to be the route John and Sara Lemmon themselves took in the early 1880s. It passes old mining prospects and close to Rice Peak. The Forest Service warns it can be quite hard to follow in places; the trail leaves a parking area on the left just beyond the first cattle guard past the Mt. Lemmon Fire Station.
Arizona National Scenic Trail, Passage 11 MODERATE TO DIFFICULT
18.7 mi · Gordon Hirabayashi Campground to Marshall Gulch Trailhead
The AZT crosses the whole range on its way north, and this passage ends one mile from our cabins. It climbs a vertical mile to Romero Pass, threads the Wilderness of Rocks, crosses Lemmon Creek and drops into Marshall Gulch. Water can usually be found at Hutch's Pool in Sycamore Canyon and seasonally at Lemmon Creek — purify everything. Dogs are not permitted on West Fork #24 because of the bighorn sheep closure, which makes the passage inaccessible for hikers with dogs. Equestrians are asked to use the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Bypass instead.
Ask us about our same-day hiker rate — text (520) 277-2478 when you come off the trail.
Arizona National Scenic Trail, Passage 12: Oracle Ridge MODERATE
17.8 mi · Marshall Gulch Trailhead to American Flag Ranch Trailhead · begins in Summerhaven
This is the passage that actually starts in the village. The Arizona Trail Association describes Passage 12 as including "a short road walk and resupply opportunity in the mountaintop community of Summerhaven" before it turns north, dropping down Red Ridge and Oracle Ridge toward the town of Oracle. In other words the AZT does not merely pass near Summerhaven — you can walk onto it from your cabin, and a thru-hiker can walk off it into a bed.
Water is available in Summerhaven, which makes the village a real resupply stop on this stretch, and the new Summerhaven lot on Sabino Canyon Park Road carries an Arizona Trail information kiosk alongside a 0.4-mile concrete sidewalk that doubles as the AZT bypass.
Restocking between passages? The village general store and restaurants are a short walk from our cabins. Ask us about our same-day hiker rate — text (520) 277-2478.
Rose Canyon Lake Trail #37
Rose Canyon Lake Trail #37 ACCESSIBLE $11 PER VEHICLE
0.2 mi · concrete walkway to a fishing pier · spring, summer and autumn
The easiest walk on the mountain, and the only one that complies with trail accessibility guidelines. It is a 0.2-mile concrete walkway to a fishing pier with pullouts to sit and look over the water — not the longer lake loop some guides describe. Rose Canyon is the only stocked trout lake on Mt. Lemmon, at about 7,000 feet.
Note the fee structure here is different: it is a concessionaire site charging $11 per vehicle for day use, and federal passes are not accepted at concessionaire-managed sites. The campground is open roughly April through October, and the gate is closed in winter (walk-in fishing only).
How Long Does It Take to Hike Mt. Lemmon?
There is no single answer, because "hiking Mt. Lemmon" means at least three different things, and the answers you find online are each describing a different one. That is why the same mountain comes back as 4 hours, 7 to 8 hours and 9 hours, and why the same trail shows up as both 8.4 and 11.4 miles. Here is the breakdown, using the Forest Service's own distances.
The short version:
- A normal hike near the top: 1 to 3 hours.
- Mount Lemmon Trail #5, the trail actually named for the mountain: 5.8 miles one way, about 5 to 6.5 hours round trip.
- Climbing the whole mountain from the desert floor: a full day, roughly 7.5 to 12 hours, and it needs a car shuttle.
Times for the Main Mt. Lemmon Hikes
| Route | Official distance | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Rose Canyon Lake Trail #37 | 0.2 mi (accessible) | 15 minutes |
| Meadow Trail #5A | 0.8 mi · 1.8 mi loop | About 1 hour for the loop |
| Marshall Gulch Trail #3 | 1.3 mi | 45 min to 1 hour one way |
| Lemmon Rock Lookout Trail #12 | 1 mi to the lookout | 1.5 to 2 hours round trip (steep) |
| Mint Springs Trail #20 | 1.6 mi | 1 to 1.5 hours one way |
| Aspen Trail #93 | 3.9 mi | 2 to 2.5 hours one way |
| Wilderness of Rocks Trail #44 | 4.0 mi | 2.5 to 3 hours one way |
| Mount Lemmon Trail #5 | 5.8 mi · 9,084 down to 7,269 ft | 2.5 to 3.5 hours one way, 5 to 6.5 hours round trip |
| Arizona Trail, Passage 11 | 18.7 mi | A very long day or an overnight, 9 to 12 hours |
| Arizona Trail, Passage 12 (starts in Summerhaven) | 17.8 mi | Most walk just the village stretch — see below |
Note on the Mount Lemmon Trail #5 numbers: it descends from the Radio Ridge parking area near the summit down to 7,269 feet, so the way back is the hard half. If you see it listed at about 11.4 miles, that is the round trip — 5.8 miles each way. If you see 8.4 miles, that is somebody measuring a different turning point. The Forest Service figure is 5.8 miles one way.
Climbing the Whole Mountain from the Desert Floor
This is the hike people mean when they ask how long it takes to hike Mt. Lemmon rather than a trail on it. It starts at Catalina State Park, north of Tucson, and finishes at the summit. There is no single official distance, because it is a chain of trails rather than one route, but the pieces are documented:
- Romero Trail #8, from the trailhead to Romero Pass: 7.2 miles with about 3,300 feet of elevation gain — Catalina State Park publishes that as roughly 10 hours round trip on its own.
- The full traverse: route guides put the point-to-point at about 13 miles, with trip reports of 14 miles and more. Budget 7.5 to 12 hours depending on pace, and plan to finish before dark.
- You need a car shuttle. It is a one-way route: leave a vehicle at the top, or arrange a ride. Our cabins are a mile from where the Arizona Trail reaches the village, so guests finishing the traverse can walk to a bed instead of driving home.
- Dogs are prohibited on much of it. Romero #8 and the Mount Lemmon Trail #5 cross the Bighorn Sheep Management Area, where no animals are allowed at any time of year.
Passes and Fees: What You Actually Pay
Driving the highway
Free. There is no entrance station and no fee to drive the Catalina Highway up and back. You pay only if you stop at a developed fee site.
Fee trailheads and picnic areas
$8 per vehicle per day, $10 per week. A Coronado National Forest pass or an Interagency (America the Beautiful) pass must be displayed. Buy at the site with cash or check, or a digital pass through Recreation.gov.
Rose Canyon Lake
$11 per vehicle, day use. Run by a concessionaire, and federal passes do not apply here. A concessionaire annual pass runs about $72.
Always free
Windy Point Vista, Babad Do'ag Vista, Aspen Vista, Hoodoo Vista, the Green Mountain Trailhead (10 spaces), Mint Springs Trailhead, Lower Bug Spring Trailhead, and parking at Ski Valley.
Fee-free days: fees are waived at most standard-amenity sites on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 19), Presidents Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), National Get Outdoors Day (Jun 13), July 4, Constitution Day (Sep 17), National Public Lands Day (Sep 26), Theodore Roosevelt's Birthday (Oct 27) and Veterans Day (Nov 11). Expanded-amenity and concessionaire fees still apply.
Display your pass on the driver's side of the dashboard. A pass covers the holder and all passengers in one private vehicle; the forest charges no per-person fee for visitors who walk or bike into a site.
Trailhead Parking
Parking is the long-running complaint on this mountain, and it improved in 2026. Along the Catalina Highway there are now 23 improved, designated trailheads providing 326 parking spaces.
- New Summerhaven lot — 75 paved spaces plus 21 more along N. Sabino Canyon Park Road, about 900 feet south of the E. Carter Canyon Road intersection. It has two public restrooms, a 0.4-mile concrete sidewalk that doubles as the Arizona Trail bypass, and an AZT information kiosk. This is where you park while Marshall Gulch is closed.
- Marshall Gulch — 15 spaces in the main lot, 6 in the small lot, 8 across the bridge. Closed to parking until December 15, 2026; the rebuild takes capacity from 30 to 32 vehicles.
- Butterfly / Bigelow Trailhead — 14 spaces, fee site, vault toilet.
- Green Mountain Trailhead — 10 spaces, no fee.
- Mount Lemmon Day Use Area — limited dirt parking. Do not block the observatory access gate, and no trailers.
Arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends, holidays and fall-color days. It is the difference between parking and circling.
Dogs on Mt. Lemmon Trails
The Coronado National Forest is dog friendly, and your cabin is a good base for it — 12 of our 21 cabins welcome pets with no pet fee. The rules are simple, with one important exception.
- Dogs must be leashed in developed recreation sites — campgrounds, picnic areas, Rose Canyon Lake, Ski Valley day-use. On forest trails they may be off leash if under voice control.
- Clean up after your dog everywhere, and pack the bag out — do not leave it on the trail to collect later.
- The exception: dogs are prohibited in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness, at any time of year. That covers portions of Mount Lemmon Trail #5, Lemmon Rock Lookout #12, Sutherland #6, Romero #8, West Fork #24 and others.
- From January 1 to April 30, no travel more than 400 feet off trail anywhere in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area, for lambing season. This order runs through February 7, 2028.
- Best bet with a dog: Meadow Trail #5A, which the Forest Service singles out as an ideal hike with pets because it sits outside both the wilderness and the sheep management area.
Altitude, Weather and Safety
9,000 feet is real
The air at the summit holds noticeably less oxygen than Tucson's. Drink more water than you think you need, take the first day easier than you planned, and treat a headache or unusual breathlessness as a signal to slow down rather than push through.
Temperature drops about 5°F for every 1,000 feet of elevation, which is why the mountain runs up to 30°F cooler than the valley. It also means the mountain makes its own weather: Summerhaven averages close to 30 inches of rain a year against Tucson's 12.
- Monsoon afternoons (mid-June through September): storms build fast. Start by 7 or 8 a.m., be off exposed ridges by early afternoon, and carry a rain shell. Lightning above treeline is the real danger.
- Winter: the highway is plowed to Summerhaven, but upper roads including Observatory Road beyond Ski Valley are unmaintained and close when snow-covered or icy. Chains or 4-wheel drive may be required.
- Cell service is spotty or absent on many trails. Download an offline map before you leave the cabin. The road information hotline is (520) 351-3351.
- Altitude range to plan around: from 2,724 feet in Sabino Canyon to 9,171 at the summit.
When to Hike: A Month-by-Month Guide
Summer (June - September): hike early, beat the monsoons
Peak season. Tucson hits 100-110°F while Summerhaven sits in the 70s and low 80s — this is why the mountain exists as a hiking destination. But monsoon storms roll in most afternoons from mid-June through September. Start by 7-8 a.m., be off exposed ridges by early afternoon, and carry a rain shell. Lightning above treeline is the danger — do not be the tallest thing on a ridge at 2 p.m.
Fall (October - November): aspen gold, the best hiking of the year
Crisp mornings, clear skies and quaking aspen turning gold along Marshall Gulch and Aspen Draw. Color starts at the highest elevations in late September, peaks mid to late October, and usually fades after Halloween. Trails and trailheads are busiest on October weekends — arrive early for parking.
Winter (December - March): snow, quiet trails and the sheep closures
Snow turns the upper mountain into a winter playground, and the trails go silent. Note that Marshall Gulch's seasonal gate closes December 15 through February 28, and the bighorn sheep rule bars travel more than 400 feet off trail from January 1 through April 30. Check our live Mt. Lemmon weather page and cameras before heading up.
Spring (April - May): wildflowers, mud and lingering snow
Snow lingers on the high trails into late April — expect mud and icy patches in the shade. Lower trails bloom with wildflowers first, and by late May most upper trails are clear. Our plants and wildflowers guide covers what you will see and where.
What to Pack for a Mt. Lemmon Hike
Tap each item to check it off as you pack.
Refuel After the Hike
Back in Summerhaven everything is within a few minutes of the trailheads: Iron Door Restaurant on Ski Run Road, Sawmill Run Restaurant, The Cookie Cabin for something oversized, and the Mt. Lemmon General Store for supplies you forgot. Our dining guide covers all of them with hours and what to order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Arizona Trail go through Summerhaven?
Yes. The Arizona Trail Association describes Passage 12 of the AZT as including "a short road walk and resupply opportunity in the mountaintop community of Summerhaven," and the passage begins here — it runs 17.8 miles north to American Flag Ranch. Summerhaven also has water available, which is why it is a genuine resupply stop rather than just a nice view. On the other side of the village, Passage 11 ends at the Marshall Gulch Trailhead, about 1.5 miles up Sabino Canyon Park Road. So the trail effectively brackets Summerhaven: arrive from the south on Passage 11, resupply and sleep in the village, leave north on Passage 12.
Can I hike a short section of the Arizona Trail from Summerhaven?
Yes, and you do not need to be a thru-hiker to do it. The easiest taste of the AZT is the 0.4-mile concrete sidewalk at the new Summerhaven lot on Sabino Canyon Park Road, which doubles as the Arizona Trail bypass and has an AZT information kiosk. For something longer, walk or drive the 1.5 miles up to the Marshall Gulch Trailhead and pick up the southern end of the route — remembering that Marshall Gulch parking is closed until December 15, 2026 and the area is closed Mondays through Thursdays, with the AZT open to pedestrians Friday through Sunday and on federal holidays only.
How long does it take to hike Mt. Lemmon?
It depends which hike you mean, and that is why the answers online disagree. A normal hike near the top of the mountain takes 1 to 3 hours — Meadow Trail #5A is about an hour as a 1.8-mile loop. Mount Lemmon Trail #5, the trail named for the peak, is 5.8 miles one way and runs about 5 to 6.5 hours round trip. Climbing the whole mountain from Catalina State Park at the desert floor is a full-day traverse of roughly 13 miles and 7.5 to 12 hours, and it needs a car shuttle.
Why do different sites give different times for the same Mt. Lemmon hike?
Because they are not describing the same route. The Mount Lemmon Trail #5 figure of 5.8 miles gets quoted as a round trip (about 11.4 miles) by some sources and with a different turning point by others, so the same trail appears as 4 hours, 7 to 8 hours or more. Catalina State Park measures its Romero Trail #8 at 7.2 miles to Romero Pass with about 3,300 feet of gain, and calls that about 10 hours round trip on its own. We use one-way Forest Service distances throughout this guide so you can compare like with like.
Can I hike from Catalina State Park to the Mt. Lemmon summit?
Yes, and it is a serious full-day objective. The route chains the Romero Trail #8 from Catalina State Park up to Romero Pass, then the Wilderness of Rocks #44 and on to the summit — roughly 13 miles point to point, climbing from about 2,700 feet at the park to 9,171 feet at the summit. Budget 7.5 to 12 hours, start before dawn, carry more water than you think you need because there is no reliable water on the upper mountain, and arrange a shuttle because it is one-way. Dogs are prohibited on the Romero and Mount Lemmon Trail #5 sections because they cross the Bighorn Sheep Management Area.
When is the best time of year to hike on Mt. Lemmon?
Fall is the best all-around season — crisp mornings, clear skies and aspen color peaking mid to late October. Summer is the most popular because the mountain runs up to 30°F cooler than Tucson, but you have to hike early to avoid monsoon storms. Spring brings wildflowers with lingering snow and mud on the high trails. Winter is quiet and beautiful, with the caveat that the Marshall Gulch gate closes December 15 through February 28 and the bighorn sheep rule limits off-trail travel from January 1 to April 30.
Is the Marshall Gulch trailhead open?
Not for parking. Marshall Gulch Trailhead parking is closed until December 15, 2026 while the picnic area is rebuilt, and the area itself is closed Mondays through Thursdays for construction. Marshall Gulch Trail #3, Aspen Trail #93, Sunset Trail #90 and the Arizona Trail are open to pedestrians on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays only. Park at the new Summerhaven lot on Sabino Canyon Park Road and walk in, or hike Mint Springs Trail #20 instead — it has free parking and is fully open.
Do I need a pass or permit to hike on Mt. Lemmon?
Driving the Catalina Highway is free, and you need nothing to hike trails that start outside a developed fee site. At fee trailheads and picnic areas — including Marshall Gulch, Molino Basin, Butterfly/Bigelow and the Mount Lemmon Day Use Area — a $8 per vehicle day pass or a displayed Coronado National Forest or Interagency (America the Beautiful) pass is required. Rose Canyon Lake is separate: it is run by a concessionaire at $11 per vehicle, and federal passes are not accepted there.
Can I bring my dog on Mt. Lemmon trails?
Yes on most of them, and your cabin welcomes pets. Dogs must be leashed at developed recreation sites and may be off leash on forest trails if under voice control. But dogs are prohibited in the Bighorn Sheep Management Area portion of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness at any time of year — that includes parts of Mount Lemmon Trail #5, Lemmon Rock Lookout Trail #12 and several others. The Forest Service's recommended dog hike is Meadow Trail #5A, which sits outside both the wilderness and the sheep management area.
Which Mt. Lemmon hike is best for families?
Meadow Trail #5A: 0.8 miles one way, forming an easy 1.8-mile loop with Mount Lemmon Trail #5 through aspen and mixed conifer near the summit, on a trail the Forest Service recommends for pets too. Rose Canyon Lake Trail #37 is the other easy one — a 0.2-mile accessible concrete walkway to a fishing pier — though it charges $11 per vehicle and does not accept federal passes. Mint Springs Trail #20 is the best short option right now while Marshall Gulch is under construction.
How do I get to the trails from the hotel?
Everything within minutes of Summerhaven is a short walk or a five-minute drive from the cabins — Marshall Gulch and Aspen are at the end of the road through the village, Mint Springs is about 2 miles up E. Carter Canyon Road, and the summit trails are roughly 20 minutes further up the Catalina Highway past Ski Valley. Come out of your cabin, turn onto the highway, and you are on the mountain.
Is there a lake hike on Mt. Lemmon?
Rose Canyon Lake, at about 7,000 feet, reached by Rose Canyon Lake Trail #37 — a 0.2-mile accessible concrete walkway to a fishing pier. It is the only stocked trout lake on the mountain and the easiest walk up here, open spring through autumn. The campground beside it runs roughly April through October and the gate closes in winter, leaving walk-in fishing only.
How hard is hiking at 9,000 feet?
The summit sits at 9,171 feet, where the air holds noticeably less oxygen than Tucson. Temperature also drops about 5°F per 1,000 feet, and Summerhaven gets close to 30 inches of rain a year against Tucson's 12, so the mountain makes its own weather. Most people are fine on the shorter high trails but feel the altitude on climbs like Mount Lemmon Trail #5 or the Lemmon Rock descent, which drops about 2,000 feet in two miles. Drink more than you think you need, and treat a headache or unusual breathlessness as a signal to ease off.
Sleep Where the Trails Are
21 private cabins in the pines of Summerhaven — full kitchens for pre-hike breakfasts, parking on site, and trailheads minutes from your door. 12 of the 21 are pet friendly with no pet fee.
Check Availability Text (520) 277-2478Keep Planning
Trail numbers, distances, elevations, fees, closure dates and dog rules on this page come from current Coronado National Forest trail pages and the Forest Service Marshall Gulch closure order 03-05-05-26-009. Ranger district information: (520) 749-8700. Road information hotline: (520) 351-3351. Conditions change with weather and construction — confirm before you drive.