Mount Lemmon Highway

The Catalina Highway — the Mt Lemmon Highway to nearly everyone who drives it — is the only paved road into the upper Santa Catalina Mountains above Tucson, and it is designated the Sky Island Scenic Byway. From Tanque Verde Road it climbs through the Coronado National Forest from giant saguaro cactus to conifer forest near 9,000 feet, a change the Forest Service likens to driving from Mexico to Canada in 27 miles. There are turnouts at scenic overlooks, campgrounds and picnic areas along the way, and some stops require a use pass. The Pima County Sheriff's road-condition hotline has current status.