You know it's fall in Tucson when we flock to Mount Lemmon to see the leaves change color.Β
If you head up the mountain right now, you'll see lots of yellow, plus some pops of red and orange. Much of the color is beyond Windy Point Vista, and you can see a lot of it from Catalina Highway, aka the road up the mountain. Here are some spots to see the color.
Bear Wallow
Bear Wallow is filled with fall color right now, including mostly yellows in addition to some reds and oranges.
Year after year, Bear Wallow remains a favorite for experiencing fall color. You'll probably see dogs prancing through the crunchy leaves on the ground, families taking photos for holiday cards and hikers enjoying the view.
Bear Wallow is one of the most popular areas to see fall color in Mount Lemmon.
To get there, you'll see a street sign for Bear Wallow Road on your right as you're heading north on Catalina Highway. Just before you get there, you'll start to see the colorful trees. It's a couple miles after the Palisades Visitor Center.
Much of the area is yellow right now, but some trees are showing red and orange.
Ski Valley
Ski Valley in Mount Lemmon is flaunting lots of yellow trees right now.
As the road winds into Ski Valley, you'll start to see glorious yellow trees welcoming you to the area. They line the area around the ski lift and the Iron Door Restaurant known for its chili.Β
Summerhaven
Yellow trees surround the homes in the Summerhaven area.
You may not get to be up close to the yellowing trees in the quaint town of Summerhaven, but you'll see them surrounding the homes on the hilltop. It's a beautiful view.
Other spots
In the fall season, yellow trees welcome you to Ski Valley in Mount Lemmon.
If you simply drive up Catalina Highway, you'll see the color as it lines the roadway. Here are a few more spots if you're the driver and can't pay full attention to the leaves out your window:
- Aspen Vista Viewpoint
- Butterfly Trail
- I've also seen recommendations for the hike in Marshall's Gulch and Mt. Bigelow Trail
Some tips
As I'm writing this, Mount Lemmon is 37 degrees. The highs this week are mostly in the 50s and the lows are in the 30s. There was actually a very light dusting of snow at the very top of the mountain this morning.
You can find lots of yellow, plus pops of red and orange, in Mount Lemmon's Bear Wallow right now.
With that being said, you'll probably want to dress warm.
If you want to be certain that the leaves are still colorful before making the drive up the mountain, I suggest checking out the Mount Lemmon Weather and News group on Facebook. Users there often post updates about Mount Lemmon and you can also ask if fall color is still around. You can also sometimes find updates on social media from Mount Lemmon businesses, such as Mt. Lemmon Hotel.
