+ 194
Mt Lemmon
Cycling Route
Details
79.96 mi
7,189 ft
For a nice day in the saddle you can ride the full route or you can try shorter options from either Le Buzz(parking lot @Tanque Verde and Catalina Highway) or Mile Marker Zero. This route climbs nearly 9,000 feet over just 30 miles, making it one of the most challenging and rewarding rides in the state.
The ascent begins in the Sonoran Desert at 2,557 feet, winding through rocky canyons before gradually transforming into pine forest and, at the summit, cool groves of aspen. With each pedal stroke, the landscape shifts—cacti give way to oaks, then tall pines, until you find yourself in alpine terrain that feels worlds away from Tucson.
Mount Lemmon regularly sees snow in winter and is home to a small ski area, so plan accordingly if riding in the colder months. Weather at the summit can be drastically different from the desert floor.
The views are spectacular: sweeping canyon vistas, sheer cliff overlooks, and seasonal waterfalls. This climb demands effort but rewards with unmatched scenery—an essential ride for any serious cyclist visiting Arizona.
The ascent begins in the Sonoran Desert at 2,557 feet, winding through rocky canyons before gradually transforming into pine forest and, at the summit, cool groves of aspen. With each pedal stroke, the landscape shifts—cacti give way to oaks, then tall pines, until you find yourself in alpine terrain that feels worlds away from Tucson.
Mount Lemmon regularly sees snow in winter and is home to a small ski area, so plan accordingly if riding in the colder months. Weather at the summit can be drastically different from the desert floor.
The views are spectacular: sweeping canyon vistas, sheer cliff overlooks, and seasonal waterfalls. This climb demands effort but rewards with unmatched scenery—an essential ride for any serious cyclist visiting Arizona.
Created By
Fair Wheel Bikes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| MP 0 to Molino Basin | 5.64 mi | 1,509 ft | 5.1% |
| True Mile 0 to 7 Cataracts Parking | 9.11 mi | 2,470 ft | 5.1% |
| Mt Lemmon MP 0 to Windy Point | 13.96 mi | 3,596 ft | 4.9% |
| Mt Lemmon Milepost 0 to 1 | 1.00 mi | 276 ft | 5.2% |
| Lemmon opening scene | 0.57 mi | 161 ft | 5.4% |
| Mile Post 0 to Bad Bad Dog | 2.55 mi | 666 ft | 4.9% |
| M0 To Summerhaven | 25.01 mi | 5,305 ft | 3.7% |
| Mt. Lemmon Official | 20.08 mi | 5,000 ft | 4.7% |
| Team GARBAge AST | 0.74 mi | 184 ft | 4.7% |
| 1st turn to 5th | 0.82 mi | 213 ft | 4.9% |
| MP1-MP2 | 1.02 mi | 262 ft | 4.9% |
| FOR HARAMBE | 0.21 mi | 72 ft | 6.4% |
| Attack | 0.25 mi | 62 ft | 4.7% |
| The flat part | 0.86 mi | 200 ft | 4.4% |
| MILES 3-4 | 2.03 mi | 528 ft | 4.9% |
| MILE3 | 0.99 mi | 246 ft | 4.7% |
| Bad Dog Sprint | 0.19 mi | 36 ft | 3.4% |
| Bad Dog to MP3 | 0.32 mi | 98 ft | 5.8% |
| MILE4 | 1.00 mi | 266 ft | 5.0% |
| MILE5 | 0.99 mi | 269 ft | 5.1% |
| MILE 6 | 1.00 mi | 256 ft | 4.8% |
| Pay Booth to Molino | 0.38 mi | 72 ft | 3.6% |
| Molino to Gordon H Interval | 1.71 mi | 479 ft | 5.3% |
| molino to top bugs road climb | 5.89 mi | 1,476 ft | 4.7% |
| Molino to 7Cats | 3.45 mi | 935 ft | 5.1% |
| Mile 7 | 1.02 mi | 295 ft | 5.4% |
| Gordon to Thimble Peak Vista | 1.14 mi | 361 ft | 6.0% |
| 9 Mile Sprint | 0.28 mi | 72 ft | 4.8% |
| CH M10 to M21 | 11.50 mi | 2,861 ft | 4.7% |
| 7 cats to windy point | 4.91 mi | 1,276 ft | 4.9% |
| The Canyon to 6000ft marker | 2.08 mi | 515 ft | 4.7% |
| Mile-11 | 1.00 mi | 308 ft | 5.8% |
| 11ish to 12 ish | 1.20 mi | 243 ft | 3.8% |
| fast and flat | 0.68 mi | 121 ft | 3.4% |
| 08/08/10 Tucson, AZ | 1.01 mi | 289 ft | 5.4% |
| Final Push to Windy Point | 1.98 mi | 636 ft | 6.1% |
| General Hitchcock Hwy Climb | 1.80 mi | 509 ft | 5.3% |
| Final Sprint to Windy | 0.33 mi | 89 ft | 5.0% |
| Windy Pt to Geology | 0.39 mi | 105 ft | 4.8% |
| windy point to ski run | 10.63 mi | 1,473 ft | 2.1% |
| Windy Point to Palisades | 5.55 mi | 1,316 ft | 4.5% |
| Mt Lemmon Hwy Climb | 1.02 mi | 289 ft | 5.4% |
| Mt Lemmon Hwy Climb | 0.90 mi | 279 ft | 5.9% |
| Mt Lemmon Hwy Climb | 0.99 mi | 299 ft | 5.5% |
| Lemmon Descent | 21.59 mi | -5,003 ft | -4.3% |
| Down from Windy Point Vista | 13.74 mi | -3,392 ft | -4.7% |
| gordon hirabayashi slingshot | 0.48 mi | -157 ft | -5.9% |
| Zoom Zoom | 0.44 mi | -125 ft | -5.1% |
| Molino Basin to MP0 | 5.53 mi | -1,467 ft | -5.0% |
| Final Kick | 0.63 mi | -187 ft | -5.6% |