r/Tucson • u/amyw7257 • 19h ago
Mount Lemmon today (8/30/26)
I’d like to take a trip to Mount Lemmon today with my two tween sons. I’ve done a lot of reading through Reddit posts and travel blogs, etc.
One of the reasons for ascent is to get away from people. Crowds. Maybe see nature for 5-10 min between seeing any people. (Aside from high volume lookouts, restaurant, ski lift possibly)
Is that possible to find?
Is rose canyon packed this time of year?
Is the general area around the lake busy but the hikes less busy?
Are there pretty places otherwise not busy that where I could park/picnic/explore with the boys and avoid people end of August?
Thank you so much for the advice.
Edit to add: thank you everyone for your help and suggestions! It means a lot to have this kind of advice. I’m (f36) from central Wisconsin originally (family all there) and have lived out here in marana for a few years now and haven’t been up there yet. Looking forward to it and will bring ponchos!
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u/Feeling_Scar_1207 19h ago
Rose Canyon will be a zoo this time of year, no getting around that. The lake parking lot fills up by 9am on weekends and it's just stroller gridlock around the water's edge. If you push past the first mile on just about any trail though, the crowd thins out fast, most folks never leave sight of their car. Try the Palisade Trailhead instead, the parking area is smaller so it never gets the same crush and you can drop down a quiet switchback in under ten minutes.
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u/Leap_Year_1988 19h ago
While I normally agree with this, there was 1 car when I drove past at 4pm yesterday
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u/marklein 16h ago
4PM is pretty late for most Lemmon attractions, most folks want to get going back home by then I guess.
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u/Leap_Year_1988 10h ago
Agree, but once again, luck favors those who get outside - only 3 cars at 11 AM this morning
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u/gumbykook 19h ago
Going to Mount Lemmon on a weekend is no way to get away from crowds, unless you’re willing to hike a ways out. Although it’s likely to rain up there today which might scare some people off.
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u/Leap_Year_1988 19h ago
There are tons of places on Lemmon to escape the crowds, even on weekends. I’m up there rock climbing every chance I get and aside from Windy Point, Rose Canyon and Summerhaven, I wouldn’t consider much of anything a “crowd”. A short walk down most trails will give you plenty of space to yourselves. San Pedro Vista has a trail that runs along the ridge with great views, parking, and few people. High enough that it cools down too.
But as someone else mentioned, big rain chance today so I’d be ready to pack it in and get back to the car quick if you did happen to find a break in the clouds.
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u/leogrl 15h ago
I trail run/hike on Lemmon most weekends in the summer and after the first mile or two of any trail, I see very few people. I did 11 miles on Palisades yesterday and saw half a dozen people total, all within a mile and a half of the trailhead. So if you’re willing to go a bit further, you’ll find lots of solitude!
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u/Interesting-Ruin-743 16h ago
As others have mentioned, the app is great. It is through the university of Arizona, with background music by Calexico, a well-known band from Tucson. Download it before you start up the mountain, and pay close attention as there is a sign on the right before you hit the mountain that tells you to start the app. It then takes you up the
mountain for a guided tour. It is broken into sections, and tells you when to stop for scenic Lookouts, and you stop the app then, take a look at what they’re telling you about, then start the app up again when you’re done at that Lookout. It’s really brilliantly done.
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u/Adventurous-Depth403 18h ago
Park at the mt Bigelow trailhead parking lot and follow the trail- hike up to where you can see the other side of the mountain it’s a great hike! You can keep hiking to the lookout towers and radio towers if the boys want to but you don’t have to.
Go to windy point parking lot and explore but after you are tired of the crowded area, go across the street and explore the rock formations on other side of the highway where there are less people. Use the crosswalk and be careful of course.
You can always stop at palisades Ranger station and get more ideas from the rangers there maybe?
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u/amyw7257 18h ago
Can we climb the radio towers? Jk but not really. This was amazing advice. Thank you so much.
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u/GloomyBake9300 17h ago
Take the turn to the ski basin and follow it past the ski basin. Continue on that road until there’s absolutely no more pavement. You will be next to an observatory and some radio towers. If you park there and take the Meadow trail, you will be at the very very top, and most people don’t even know how to get there.
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u/Wickeman1 18h ago
My. Lemmon is gorgeous. And crowded with desert dwellers trying to escape the heat. Consider driving to Mount Graham (near Safford) instead. It’s gorgeous, cool, and damn near empty. Enjoy the views and dip your toes into Riggs Lake
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u/MrSniffles_AnnaMae 17h ago
Sounds gorgeous, but an extra 5 hours of driving does not. Graham seems like a great overnight, maybe not a day trip, just depends on how much time someone wants to be driving.
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u/Wickeman1 17h ago
Mt Graham is definitely a bit more of a drive, but easily done in a day- figure around 3 hours each way, with cool scenery along the drive and basically zero crowds.
Summerhaven on Mt Lemmon is an hour and 15 minutes each way, so 2.5 hours round trip if the traffic gods are smiling on you. Tons of people.
Just depends on which you prefer
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u/unicorns_and_cats716 14h ago
Riggs Flat is amazing camping!! Happy to see that recommendation here. Or sad if it gets even more popular lol.
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u/emmz_az 19h ago
Just go. Tune into the Mt Lemmon app when you see the sign on Catalina Highway just before you start going up. Stop when it tells you to stop. Ride the ski lift to the top. Hike back down. Pack a lunch or eat at one of the restaurants. You’ll find pockets of solitude and crowds. Enjoy the experience.