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Mount Lemmon is our personal getaway, connected to us by a road where saguaros disappear into pine trees.
When it’s too hot in Tucson, we go to Mount Lemmon where it’s typically 20 degrees cooler. When we want to see the leaves change color in October, we go to Mount Lemmon. When we want to build snowmen, we go to Mount Lemmon.
If you’ve lived in Tucson as long as I have, you’ve probably been to Mount Lemmon too many times to count. Maybe you’ve already hiked along the tree-clad trails, maybe you’ve already dined at all the restaurants at the top of the mountain in Summerhaven.
While the old favorites are still very fun options, here’s a bucket list of low-key things to do — maybe things you haven’t yet tried — the next time you visit our beloved mountain.
1. Eat lunch on the patio of Iron Door
The chili and cornbread at Iron Door are said to be famous. The chili has a little kick and you’re served a big slice of cornbread on the side. The lunch menu also features sandwiches, salads and a baked potato served with chili on top. Homemade pie is on the dessert menu.
But if you go for breakfast instead — the menu has traditional favorites plus specialties like quiche, potato pancakes and cinnamon raisin French toast — you can get 50% off your ride on the neighboring ski lift.
More than the food, though, ask for a spot on the patio which overlooks tall trees and fluttering hummingbirds. It’s especially cozy when the weather is 100-plus degrees in Tucson but only 80 on the mountain.
Pro tip: If you’re more in the mood for a burger, head to Sawmill Run. They have a beautiful patio, too!
Details: Iron Door is at 10300 E. Ski Run Road. Free parking is available at the restaurant. Chili and cornbread combo is $16.49. More info here. For Sawmill Run, head to 12976 N. Sabino Canyon Parkway. Free parking is available at the restaurant. More info here.
2. Get on the ski lift when it’s not snowing
Of course, the primary purpose of the ski lift is for ski season, when the mountain is covered in fluffy snow. But it actually runs year-round and for whatever reason, I hadn’t actually hopped on until I was in my twenties.
You’ll get lovely views of the mountain and florals beneath you — I think it’s well worth the $17.
Details: 10300 E. Ski Run Road. Free parking is available at the ski lift. The ski lift is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors, military and youth ages 13-17. Kids ages 4-12 can ride for $12. More info here.
3. Indulge in the sampler cookie at Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin
I love the peanut butter cookie at Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin, but my partner loves the brownie. The sampler cookie is the best of both worlds because it combines our two favorites, plus four others. Get it topped with ice cream and see if you can still figure out which cookie flavor is which. (The Cookie Cabin also sells pizza and chili if you want something savory.)
Details: 12781 N. Sabino Canyon Park. Free parking is available in front of the restaurant and along the roadway. Sampler cookie is $10, plus $4 for ice cream. More info here.
4. Bring an activity to complete at Rose Canyon Lake
I don’t have to tell you this, but Tucson isn’t home to a whole lot of water. Take advantage when you’re on the mountain — bring a sketchbook, a coloring book or an easel with watercolors. Bring a deck of cards, knitting needles or a book that’s sat for way too long on your TBR shelf.
Details: The campground is clearly marked and on the west side of the road, about 10 minutes from Windy Point. Parking is $11 per vehicle. Walk-ins and bicycles are $1. More info here.
5. Search for a mushroom
Mushroom hunting is absolutely a thing on Mount Lemmon and you can even forage for them with local groups! Walk around your favorite trails and keep your eyes peeled for a mushroom — though I wouldn’t recommend touching them.
Check out these resources for mushroom foraging: Desert Alchemist, University of Arizona MycoCats and Arizona Mushroom Society.
6. Try a new flavor of fudge — or order it deep-fried
Fun fact: In 2000, the very first customer who walked through the doors of the Mt. Lemmon General Store asked if the shop carried fudge. By the next week, the answer was yes.
It’s hard to stray from our favorites — for years, my favorite fudge flavor has been raspberry chocolate swirl. But the shop carries more than two dozen options and I have a feeling they’re all worth a try. (I’m eyeing the pistachio flavor next.)
If you head to The Miner’s Sweet Tooth, you’ll find even more fudge in flavors like orange and German chocolate. There’s even a deep-fried option for $1.99 per piece because “everything’s good deep-fried,” they say.
Details: Mt. Lemmon General Store is at 12856 N. Sabino Canyon Park, more info here. Limited parking is available in front of the store and is free. Fudge is $21.99 per pound, $10.99 for half-pound and $5.49 for quarter-pound. The Miner’s Sweet Tooth is at 10300 E. Ski Run Road and free parking is available in an adjacent lot. More info here.
7. Show love to your home with a pin on a map
Two Summerhaven businesses have maps hanging on the wall. They aren’t maps of Mount Lemmon, nor are they any help if you’re lost. Instead, they’re used so guests can indicate how far they traveled to get to the tiny Summerhaven town.
Head to new shop Monsoon Monkey or the lobby of Mount Lemmon Lodge where maps hang. Put a colorful pin where your home is.
Details: Mount Lemmon Lodge is at 12833 N. Sabino Canyon Park, more info here. Monsoon Monkey is at 11217 E. Turkey Run Road, more info here. Reserved parking is available for registered hotel guests. For the public, free parking is available along the roadway.
8. Catch a movie or music
No, there’s no official concert venue or movie theater on the mountain but Mount Lemmon Lodge hosts a slew of events. You might catch live music by Sophia Rankin & The Sound or Connie Brannock & Little House of Funk. Maybe you’ll catch a movie screening of “The Thursday Murder Club” or “The Wild Robot.” Paint workshops are also on the calendar of events.
Details: 12833 N. Sabino Canyon Park. Reserved parking is available for registered hotel guests. For the public, free parking is available along the roadway. More info here.
9. Take home a Mount Lemmon souvenir — bonus points if it’s made by a local artist
Mount Lemmon is home to seven local shops. Let’s break them down:
- Motherlode Gift Shop — Located in Ski Valley, this is where you go for something cozy. There are sweaters, gloves and stuffed animals. If the Matterhorn in Disneyland had a gift shop at the end of the ride, it would be The Motherlode.
- Monsoon Monkey — This is one of the newest shops in Summerhaven and it’s quirky and funny. The sign on the door says “dogs welcome, humans tolerated,” if that’s any indication of the shop’s vibe. Find miniature trinkets, dog accessories and even oracle readings.
- Sky Island Trading Co. — They call themselves a “bougie mountain boutique” for a reason. This is probably the most curated shop on the mountain with beautiful candles, wall prints and T-shirts. Beyond the items that were designed in-house, there are lots of goodies from local artists, too — I spotted Brushes & Boots, Tanna’s Botannas and Popped Artisan Popcorn.
- Robin’s Nest and Bob’s Adventure Shack — This just might be the tiniest gift shop you’ll ever see. It’s packed with treasures ranging from jewelry and books to trinkets and crafts. Next door is Bob’s Adventure Shack which carries custom-made knives. Say hi to shop dog Boots!
- Mt. Lemmon General Store — The general store has everything. Beyond the fudge, there are snacks, batteries, tools and ingredients for the s’mores you’re craving if you’re staying on the mountain. You’ll also find souvenirs and trinkets including picture frames, coffee mugs and ornaments.
- Mount Lemmon Lodge Gift Shop — Located inside the Mount Lemmon Lodge, this shop is loaded with gifts from dinnerware to games to apparel to gemstone jewelry. You could spend a whole lot of time (and money) looking at everything they have to offer.
- The Living Rainbow Gift Shop — This is maybe the craftiest vibe of them all, carrying dreamcatcher jewelry, wind chimes and cards amid the motto: “You can’t sink a rainbow.” It’s been in Summerhaven for decades.
Pro tip: Most, if not all, of the shops carry affordable items like stickers and magnets if you’re just looking to snag something small.
10. Pack a lunch from a new-to-you restaurant and have a picnic
Before you head up the mountain, pick a restaurant you’ve been dying to try. Order food to go, take it up the windy road and have a picture-perfect picnic. There are plenty of picnic tables along the road or you can pack a cozy blanket to sit on.
Some suggestions for good picnic food: Quisty’s for sandwiches, Sydney’s Sweet Shoppe for pies, LeBuzz for pastries, Roma Imports for charcuterie, salad from Time Market (with dressing on the side), pizza from Bear Canyon Pizza.
11. Download the Mt. Lemmon Science Tour
Mount Lemmon is home to the University of Arizona Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter, which has a nighttime 5-hour stargazing program. But what I’m really here to talk about is the UA’s downloadable phone app that provides an hour-long narration as you make your way up the mountain. You’ll learn about the hoodoo rocks, how much rain and snow the mountains receive, the importance of fire and the history of saguaros.
Search “Mt. Lemmon Science Tour” in your app store to download the free app.
12. Take home snow
You know you’re from Tucson when you’re driving home from a snow day on Mount Lemmon and you see slush lining someone’s truck bed. You can jar up some snow to remember your winter day — but if it’s mid-summer, you can head to the Mt. Lemmon General Store for a bag of it.
The shop sells snow to-go, available in bags for $14.50 and jars for $24.50. If you’re hesitant before buying, try it for yourself — there are samples! It’s fluffy and cold just like the real thing.
Details: Mt. Lemmon General Store is at 12856 N. Sabino Canyon Park. Limited parking is available in front of the store and is free. More info here.
13. Watch the sunset or stargaze
As you head down the mountain to go home, make a stop at one of the viewing areas (like Windy Point) to watch the sunset. Or if the day escapes you and the sun has already set by the time you make your way south, take in the starry skies and the twinkling lights from the city below you.
Businesses + things to do on Mount Lemmon
- Birding
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Beyond Bread — sandwiches, salads, soup
- Elevated Espresso — coffee with handcrafted syrups
- Iron Door Restaurant — breakfast favorites, chili, sandwiches and specialities like quiche and brats
- Monsoon Monkey — funny and quirky gifts
- Mount Lemmon Lodge — Alpine-style rooms and suites
- Mt. Lemmon Cookie Cabin — giant cookies and pizza
- Mt. Lemmon General Store — drugstore, gift shop and homemade fudge
- Mt. Lemmon Hotel — individual cozy cabins
- Robin’s Nest and Bob’s Adventure Shack — jewelry, art, trinkets and knives
- Sawmill Run Restaurant — burgers, sandwiches and apps like wings and poutine
- Sky Island Trading Company — curated gifts and art
- Sky Ride — ski lift that runs year-round
- The Living Rainbow Gift Shop — whimsical art and souvenirs
- The Miner’s Sweet Tooth — fudge, candy, ice cream
- The Motherlode Gift Shop — sweaters, T-shirts and souvenirs
- University of Arizona Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter — stargazing program, day tours and astronomer nights
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