Camping on Mt. Lemmon Near Tucson, Arizona

Camping on Mt. Lemmon Near Tucson, Arizona

Posted at h in Camping, Locations, US by Johnathan

One of the great natural resources in Arizona is Mt. Lemmon, rising more than 9,000 feet above sea level. The mountain provides a convenient escape from the Sonora Desert’s heat, and draws bicyclists, hikers, sightseers and birders. Relatively few visitors camp on the mountain, but those willing to spend a night or more are rewarded with cool tranquility.

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Mt. Lemmon in the Coronado National Forest, Arizona

Mt. Lemmon is 9,157 feet above sea level and 6,600 feet above Tucson’s airport. The Catalina Highway, or Sky Island Scenic Byway, climbs from 3,000 feet at milepost 0 to more than 9,000 feet in 25 miles.

This drive is spectacularly scenic, winding around rugged cliffs and sweeping vistas until reaching the village of Summerhaven. The drive takes visitors through six vegetation zones, comparable to driving from Mexico to Canada. Trails and picnic sites are found all along the highway, and eight campgrounds provide a wide range of camping experience.

Campgrounds Available on Mt. Lemmon Near Tucson

Of the eight campgrounds along the Catalina Highway, two (Showers Point and Whitetail) are for group camping only and require reservations. Bigelow Campground is fee-free, but undeveloped and typically used by campers waiting to get into other campgrounds.

Molino Basin Campground on Mt. Lemmon

Located at approximately 4,300 feet, Molino Basin is Mt. Lemmon’s winter/spring campground, open from late October until late April, a period when the 2 largest campgrounds close. Molino Basin is just past the fee station (milepost 5), on the left side of the highway. The fee station sells Catalina Highway permits (five dollars), which are required to use the facilities and vista points along the way. Holders of Golden Age or Golden Access cards are exempt from this fee (display your card when you park your car), but note that campground fees are extra.

This is desert grassland, with some Arizona live oaks, Cottonwood and Mesquite trees along seasonal Molino Creek. The Arizona Trail, which runs from Mexico to Utah goes through Molino Basin Campground. There are 37 single-use sites and one wheelchair-accessible group site with a covered ramada. Each site has a table, bear-proof container and fire-grill. There are pit toilets available. Note that there is no drinking water provided. Trailers and RVs under 22 feet are permitted, but no pack or riding animals are allowed. There are mountain bike-accessible trails to the east of the campground. The fee is $10 per day, discounted to $5 for Golden Age or Access card holders.

Gordon Hirabayashi Campground and Historical Site

Less than two miles up the scenic byway from Molino Basin is a left turn into Gordon Hirabayashi Campground, at just under 5,000 feet. The area here is characterized by oak woodland, chaparral and a seasonal creek. The Arizona Trail also passes through this campground.

This area is the site of a federal prison that “housed” prison inmates who constructed the Catalina Highway during the 20 year period to 1951, when the road was completed. The “federal honor camp” also housed conscientious objectors and Japanese Americans during World War 2, including Gordon Hirabayashi, a senior at the University of Washington who challenged the constitutionality of Japanese American internment.

There are 12 single-party campsites and a corral for pack and riding stock. Tables, fire-grills, bear-proof containers and toilets are provided, but no drinking water. The campground is open year-round. The fee is $10 per day, halved for Golden Age or Access holders.

General Hitchcock Campground on Mt. Lemmon

General Hitchcock Campground is located at mile 12, and is at 6,000 feet. The campground is on seasonal Bear Creek, among Ponderosa pine, junipers and oaks. There are 11 sites with tables, fire-grills, bear-proof containers and pit toilets. There is no garbage service, no drinking water and it is not recommended for RVs or trailers. Horses and pack stock are not allowed.

Rose Canyon Lake and Campground

Rose Canyon is the largest campground, with 75 sites. Some camping areas are reserved for RVs and trailers, and there are large group sites as well. Rose Canyon is well-developed, and even offers a small store. The access point is about 17 miles up the Byway and at 7,000 feet. The forest consists of Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir, and a trout-stocked lake is located just beyond the campground area.

This is a managed fee area, with a nightly charge of $18 for individual sites, again reduced in half for Golden Age or Access card holders. Campsites include the same amenities as detailed at the other improved campgrounds, with drinking water also available. Rose Canyon is closed from late October until late April.

Spencer Canyon Campground Near the top of Mt. Lemmon

The highest campground, at 8,000 feet, is Spencer Canyon, with 66 sites. The area here is mixed conifer, with lots of wildlife and birds. RVs and trailers up to 22 feet in length are permitted. The camp sites include tables, fire-grills and bear-proof containers. There are pit toilets and drinking water faucets.

Spencer is a no-reservation campground, providing sites strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. The nightly fee is $18 for individual sites, again halved for Golden Age or Access card holders. The campground is open from late April until late October, and is located approximately 22 miles from mile 0.