Mount Lemmon
Meadow and Mount Lemmon Loop

Trail Facts at a Glance

Name: Mount Lemmon, Meadow and Mount Lemmon Loop

Park agency: US Forest Service, Coronado National Forest

Contact:

Supervisors Office, 300 W. Congress St., Tucson, AZ 85701, (520) 388-8300

For road conditions on Mount Lemmon Highway

call 520-547-7510.

Location: Mount Lemmon Trailhead Entrance,

E Ski Run Rd, Mt Lemmon, AZ 85619

Parking fee: $8/day, $10/week,

NPS Golden Age Passport honored

Trail hours: Open 24 hours, 7 day/week

General Store and Gift Shop:

12856 N Sabino Canyon Pkwy.,

Mt. Lemmon, AZ 85619

Transit: None

Trail length plus more: 2.4 miles, Gain 370’, Elevation 8900’, Grades >8°

Trail surface: Rugged natural surface with sand, ruts, rocks and roots; stairs to fire lookout station

Date of last visit: 30 August 2025

Disclaimer: The information provided is for general guidance only and may not reflect current conditions. Users must assess trails for themselves, consider their own abilities, and assume all risks associated with trail use. Tucson AccessTrails, a nonprofit corporation, is not responsible for any injuries or incidents that may occur. Always use caution and prepare appropriately when visiting trails

Description:

The spectacular Mount Lemmon summit is only a 30-mile drive from Tucson along a scenic byway. Nestled in the Coronado National Forest, Mount Lemmon offers more than 40 trails with an overwhelming variety of difficulties and amenities.

The Meadow & Mount Lemmon Loop is a good choice for a cool hike in mid-summer. It has a moderate gain of 370’ but it does pose some challenges such as rocky sections, narrow paths, and steep slopes of >8°. Dogs are welcome on leash.

This hike is at the peak of Mount Lemmon – trail elevations range from 8700-9200’ – with panoramic views of the Santa Catalina mountains and the city of Tucson. The trail winds for 2.4 miles through an open forest of ponderosa pine and aspen trees. A highlight is a staircase to the fire lookout station, perched mid-hike on a rocky outcrop with 360° views of mountain ranges in all directions.

In 2020, the mountaintop and nearby town of Summerhaven burned for nearly two months in the Bighorn Fire, which was caused by a lightning strike and named after the native bighorn sheep. Today, Summerhaven has been largely rebuilt and the forest is beginning the natural process of regeneration. The hike along the Meadow & Mount Lemmon Loop crosses several burn scars where hikers can view forest regrowth.

A suggested route is to start on the Mount Lemmon trail, taking a spur to the left to view the fire lookout station. Then, connect with the Meadow trail for a one-mile hike back to the parking lot. This 2.4-mile loop can be followed in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Signs are posted at each trail intersection to keep you on route.

Hikers can rest on boulders and fallen logs but don’t expect any benches, restrooms or drinking fountains along this backcountry trail. In contrast, the hike can start or end with a delicious meal at an outdoor café in nearby Summerhaven.

This loop is ideal during the hot season in Tucson - May through October - when Mount Lemmon shows off wildflowers in late spring and golden aspen leaves in early autumn. Always check the road conditions for snow on Mount Lemmon Highway before heading out.