Mount Lemmon, Tucson

Mount Lemmon is the highest point in the Santa Catalina Mountains, located in the Coronado National Forest north of Tucson, Arizona, United States. Peak elevation is 9157 ft. It receives about 57 inches of snow annually. 250-million-year-old rock 9157-foot Hohokam sites from 1200 years ago and plenty of snow during the winter to ski. Mount Lemmon received its English name in honor of botanist Sarah Plummer Lemmon, who trekked to the top of the mountain with Native American guides by mule and foot in 1881.

A wide range of birds can be seen as you travel up this route through varied habitats. At higher elevations, look for greater pewee, yellow-eyed junco, Arizona woodpecker, Steller’s jay, plumbeous and Hutton’s vireos, hepatic and western tanagers, red-faced warbler, painted redstart, black-headed grosbeak, mountain chickadee, violet-green swallow, pygmy nuthatch, and broad-tailed and magnificent hummingbirds. Mammals include white-tailed deer, black bear, mountain lion, bobcat, ringtail, gray fox, Abert’s and red squirrels. Reptiles and amphibians include Sonoran mountain kingsnake, Arizona black rattlesnake, tiger rattlesnake, Sonoran whipsnake and canyon treefrog. More info can be found here.