Mount Lemmon Fall Colors 2026 Are HERE! 7 Stops + The Ultimate Travel Guide | The Arizona Show

MOUNT LEMMON FALL COLORS ARE HERE! Come along for one of Arizona's most beautiful scenic drives, just outside Tucson! This week on The Arizona Show, we're exploring the 27-mile Catalina Highway (Sky Island Scenic Byway), climbing from the Sonoran Desert into the forests of Mount Lemmon! I've sped up our drive to 2X and condensed the adventure into just under 53 seconds, but this is absolutely an ALL-DAY trip! FALL COLOR UPDATE – OCTOBER 26, 2026 • Mt. Lemmon Recreation Site: PEAK fall colors! • Summerhaven: Getting close to peak! • Upper mountain roads and forested areas: Fall colors are just getting started in some areas, with peak potentially arriving in the next week or two. Colors typically begin changing in October, with peak foliage varying by elevation, temperature, and weather. Some areas can remain colorful into early November! OUR 7 STOPS ON THIS DRIVE 1. Babad Do'ag Vista – Panoramic views overlooking Tucson and the Sonoran Desert. 2. Seven Cataracts Vista – Gorgeous canyon views and seasonal waterfalls when water is flowing. 3. Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin – We drove through Summerhaven for their famous MASSIVE cookies! The chocolate chip and white chocolate macadamia nut were delicious! 4. Mt. Lemmon Recreation Site – Beautiful golden fall colors throughout the forest, currently at peak! 5. Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley – We hoped to try the Iron Door Restaurant's famous chili, but they had JUST closed! Ski Valley also offers scenic chairlift rides and winter skiing when conditions permit. 6. Aspen Vista Point – Beautiful forest scenery during our drive down. 7. Hoodoo Vista Point – Our final scenic overlook as we descended around sunset! MORE SCENIC OVERLOOKS Don't miss these other incredible stops along Catalina Highway! • Windy Point Vista – Huge granite formations and spectacular sunset views. • Thimble Peak Vista – Dramatic rock formations and canyon scenery. • Geology Vista – Fascinating rock formations and mountain views. • Manzanita Vista – Beautiful scenery along the mountain highway. • San Pedro Vista – Expansive views toward the San Pedro Valley. • Palisades – Gorgeous high-elevation forest scenery. BEST MOUNT LEMMON HIKING TRAILS • Meadow Trail / Mt. Lemmon Loop – Approx. 1.8 miles round trip. Great for fall colors! • Marshall Gulch Trail – 1.3 miles one way, following a beautiful wooded canyon. • Aspen / Marshall Gulch Loop – Approx. 4 miles round trip through mountain forests. • Sunset Trail – 1.3 miles one way, with beautiful forest scenery. • Mint Spring Trail – 1.7 miles one way, above Summerhaven. • Butterfly Trail – 5.2 miles one way, with mountain views and varied terrain. • Aspen Trail – 3.9 miles one way, with beautiful forest scenery. IMPORTANT: Marshall Gulch-area trail access is affected by construction in October 2026. Check current Coronado National Forest closures before visiting. MORE FUN THINGS TO DO • Rose Canyon Lake – Fishing, picnicking, and beautiful forest scenery. • Palisades Visitor Center – Learn about the mountain's natural environment. • Summerhaven – Restaurants, shops, cabins, and mountain charm. • Ski Valley Sky Ride – Scenic chairlift rides when operating. • Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter – Incredible astronomy experiences by reservation. MOUNT LEMMON THROUGH THE SEASONS FALL (October–November) Golden aspens, colorful maples, crisp mountain air, and spectacular foliage. Peak colors usually arrive in October, depending on elevation and weather. WINTER (December–March) SNOW in southern Arizona! Ski Valley offers skiing and snowboarding when natural snowfall permits. Snow-covered forests are beautiful, but winter storms can close the highway. SPRING (March–May) Wildflowers, seasonal waterfalls, greener landscapes, and great hiking weather. Higher elevations can remain cold or snowy. SUMMER (June–September) Escape Tucson's desert heat! The upper mountain is commonly 20–30°F cooler than Tucson, with temperatures often in the 70s and 80s when the desert exceeds 100°F. Watch for monsoon thunderstorms! PLAN AN ENTIRE DAY! This drive is LONG, and there are SO many trails, overlooks, restaurants, shops, and fun places to explore! Arrive EARLY, bring comfortable shoes, pack water, dress in layers, and plan to spend the whole day enjoying the mountain. We actually RAN OUT OF DAYLIGHT before we could do everything we wanted! GOOD TO KNOW • Catalina Highway is approximately 27 miles one way. • Mount Lemmon's summit reaches over 9,100 feet. • Temperatures can be 20–30°F cooler than Tucson. • The scenic drive is free; some recreation areas require fees. • Cell service can be unreliable. • Check weather, highway conditions, closures, and business hours. • Give yourself plenty of time to descend before dark! Mount Lemmon is one of Arizona's most incredible destinations, and every season offers something completely different! Save this guide, and follow me for more fun in Arizona! #MountLemmon #ArizonaFallColors #tucsonarizona