Motorcycle Ride Planner · Routes · United States

Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway (Catalina Highway)

United States · Catalina Hwy / Hitchcock Hwy

Climbs over 6,000 vertical feet in just 27 miles, carrying riders from Sonoran Desert saguaro cactus forests to Canadian-zone alpine spruce and firs. High-friction asphalt, perfectly radiused switchbacks, and massive panoramic drop-offs looking over the Tucson valley basin.

Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway (Catalina Highway) runs 27 miles between Tucson (Tanque Verde Base), AZ and Summerhaven / Mount Lemmon Summit, AZ. We count about 210 corners along it, which is consistently bendy. Demanding, and not a road to meet in the wet.

Tank-bag quick reference

• StartTucson (Tanque Verde Base), AZ32.3089, -110.7417
• High2,800 ft - 9,157 ftelevation range
• EndSummerhaven / Mount Lemmon Summit, AZ32.4431, -110.76

T-CLOCS before you go: tyres and wheels, controls and cables, lights and electrics, oil and fluids, chassis and stand.

Repair within reach

• 13 miRideNow Powersports TucsonTucson, United States

Straight-line distance from the start of the route, not driving distance.

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• The Snake 421 (Holston Mountain Pass)33 mi · 489 corners
• Coronado Trail (The Devil's Highway)92 mi · 460 corners
• Lolo Pass (Lewis and Clark Highway)132 mi · 450 corners

Questions riders ask

How long does Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway (Catalina Highway) take to ride?

About 27 miles. At an unhurried pace with stops that is roughly 1 hour of riding, longer if you are stopping for photographs.

Where does Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway (Catalina Highway) start and end?

It runs between Tucson (Tanque Verde Base), AZ and Summerhaven / Mount Lemmon Summit, AZ. Either end works as a start; the route reads the same in both directions.

Is Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway (Catalina Highway) a twisty road?

We count about 210 corners across 27 miles, which is consistently bendy.

Is there a GPX file for Mount Lemmon Scenic Byway (Catalina Highway)?

Yes. The GPX is free, there is no account, and the planner will build a route that includes this road alongside others nearby.

Where these numbers come from

Distances and corner counts come from the route's own geometry, not from ratings or votes. Nothing here is crowdsourced and nobody paid to appear.