Sky Island Scenic Byway

State: Arizona
National Forest: Coronado National Forest - Arizona
Length: 27.2 mi / 43.8 km
Time to Allow: Plan for 3-6 hours to drive, including backtracking.

Start your journey among giant saguaro cacti of the Sonoran desert and climb to shady conifer forests at nearly 9,000 ft., passing biological diversity equivalent to a drive from Mexico to Canada in just 27 miles. Enjoy spectacular views and recreational opportunities from hiking and camping, to picnicking and skiing.

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• Skiing the Southwest: Sky Island's Winter Paradise
  

  Can you imagine going snow-skiing on an 80-degree day? It’s not as far-fetched as you might think. Head to Arizona’s Sky Island Scenic Byway and you’ll discover Mt. Lemmon, a downhill skiing oasis in the Santa Catalina Mountains only an hour's drive from Tucson. Leave behind the cacti and the desert heat and spend a cool day in knee-deep powder snow in the heart of the Coronado National Forest.

• Sky Island Parkway Overview
  

  Travel along the Sky Island Parkway, one of the most scenic highways in the Southwest, complete with mountain forests, canyons, deserts, and breathtaking vistas. One of the only paved roads leading up to the top of Mt. Lemmon, it begins in the Lower Sonoran region and climbs up to the forests of the Canadian zone, providing a unique chance to experience four seasons in one trip. The parkway gets its name from areas of biological diversity in the Coronado National Forest that rise dramatically from the desert floor to stand wreathed in clouds as twelve widely scattered "sky islands."

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• 1-Day Trip: Driving into the Sky Islands
  (Arizona)

  From the quaint villlage of Summerhaven to a day spent along the shores of Rose Lake; the Sky Island Scenic Byway treats you to a diverse landscape...